I will be purchasing a new boat in the next couple of weeks. Have not looked at electronics in the past 9 years and would like some advice and suggestions.
The boat manufacturers and some of the salesmen I have spoken to seem to be more pro Garmin for GPS/Sonar combos these days. I am partial to Lowrance products having used them for so long. However, I have not seen any of the newer Lowrance or Garmin products, so I am trying to keep an open mind. I will only be using the boat in fresh water for striper fishing. Which GPS/sonar is preferred these days for stiper fishing on Murray? Garmin or Lowrance?
Should I get one with a Side Scan capability?
Which model of Lowrance or Garmin should I get? I bought a Lowrance LCX model when the price went down as they were introducing the HD units years ago. There seems to be a lot more choices these days from Lowrance and I am not sure what the differences are in the different models. Don’t want to underbuy.
What type of sounder should I use? Should I just get the one that comes with the Lowrance unit and fits on the back of the boat or should I get a more expensive in-hull or shoot through the hull type from Airmar? (Assume the Airmar and other after market sounders are more for off shore fishing.)
The boat comes with a 30 gallon recirculating live well. I have used the Vest tank in the past. What/how do I add air to the live well so that it works for herring? Do I need to worry about adding a filter for 1/2 days trips? (If so, what/where to get?) How many herring would I be able to keep in a 30 gallon tank in the summer with the modifications? Also, should I have the manufacturer run any wires or do anything during construction to make the addition of an aerator easier? (I am somewhat handy and plan on doing the installation myself if I can get some guidance.)
The boat will be a 22.5 foot deep vee boat rather than a bay boat. (Need the extra seating as it will be a family boat and not just a fishing boat.)
On the depth finder, I would go with the Lowrance Touch, down and side scan included, and get a Navionics map chip. Humminbird has some good stuff out too, maybe better than Lowrance, but I’ve not really heard of anyone using Garmin for sonar.
1,2,3,4- Most of the Striper fishermen in our areas use Lowarance for both Sonar and GPS. I use a first Generation HDS model that has worked great. I do recommend the side scan and down scan. You may not think you need it, but it will allow you to have a competative adavatage on the bottom that you won’t get with 200khz sonar. I have a friend that showed me the latest Hummingbird unit (I think it is going to be released around the first of the year). I was really amazed at the clarity and abiliies to use soft buttons on the touch screen or use the hard buttons as well. You need to go look and touch them to see what works for you. The Hummingbird will be a good bit higher in price.
5- I use both in my boat. When I am doing short trips I use my on board 30 gallon. I wired it with a Marine Metals DC bubbler from Acadamy Sports. The bubbler is simple and functional for what I do. As long as you keep the temerature cool you can easily put 7 dozen blue backs in there all day. There are other products that I have used that do filter but I personally find them to be combersome and time consuming when the filter material becomes cluttered with scales.
6- Definately a 24 volt 70-80 lbs thrust will work for your boat with 60 inch shaft. Buy the i-pilot…you won’t be sorry but you will regret it if you don’t!
7- We use them sometimes but not alot.
8- I flush mount and love it. If you have a T-Top or something to keep it from getting direct weather, I think you will be fine.
9- I use Acid and maintain them with a on board charger when boat is not in use. You can ask 5 different fishermen and get 5 different answers to this question.
10- Get the most amps per bank that you can afford. I use Minn Kota MK-330D
11- I like loud stereos so I would make sure my speaker wire was run…
“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.”
Having already done all this to my Sea Pro 2100cc Bay Boat I can tell you that a lot of your questions have already been answered by the previous post … but my 2 cents for what it’s worth …
1-3 - I was told to get the biggest screen and most options you can afford … I’m actually doing a 2 step process because of some “deals” that have come my way … I’m using a 10" Garmin for my chart plotting and a Lowrance Elite 5 DSI for my FF … the Elite 5 DSI doesn’t have side scan, but I couldn’t pass on the price … then again ANYTHING is an upgrade from a Humminbird Matrix 10 … Since I literally just installed the Lowrance and I’m still waiting on the Garmin I can’t tell you how either performs - therefore I defer to those who know much better than I …
4 - My research on thru-hull applications indicates that on downscan and sidescan FF’s the thru-hull can interfere with the transducer readings and that the SS & DS options are better suited to a mounted transducer …
5- My Sea Pro comes with 3 built in live wells and I’ve used all three for Herring and Shad … In all cases I could not use the built in live well pumps to circulate the water because the bait like colder than surface temp water … Easy enough to turn it off and install a 12 volt bubbler system … then it’s just a matter of icing down the water in the summertime … I did get a Grayline tank (another “deal”) that I have been using for transportation purposes - since I just got the tank I can’t speak to whether or not I’ll use it in the summertime, but it has defiantly paid off using it in the winter …
5 & 9 & 10 - I also just got (another “deal” - man, I’ve spent alot of money on the boat this year) on the Minn Kota i-Pilot (Saltwater) … 70lbs - 54" shaft - 24volt system … it has spot lock and cruise control and autopilot and it runs GREAT!!! Love Love Love this trolling motor … I have NEVER run the batteries down under 75% and I have the Grayline wired into the trolling motor batteries … My trolling motor batter
Sans a fish ,the MSC has it’s Dec meeting tomorrow ,tues night at the flight deck in Lex .You can get all your answers face to face from Ritchie or many other knowledgeable member’s in our club and maybe even join up. Come between 6 or630 and break bread with us y’all.Great fisherman and woman in this club I’m sure you can learn volumes on Striper fishing.
Thanks everyone for their continued input. The boat will either be a Sportsman or a Sea Fox. I have been a member of the club, but not for the past 3-4 years as I have boys in cub scouts and they meet on Tuesday nights. I will do my best to come by tomorrow night after the meeting. In the meantime, please let me know what other advice you may have. Thnaks again.
On my sportsman heritage 229 I have a 62" shaft, 101 lb. 36 volt I pilot. I do fine with it and I wouldn’t go with anything smaller or less powerful for the size and weight if the boat. Now this is a great boat as far as I’m concerned. Great for family time and striper fishing!
Sportsman Heritage 229 CC
Yamaha 200 HP
Jeremiah 29:11 !!
Alot of good points here! I like AGM batteries have had a set of Deka’s 31’s using a Minn Kota Riptide ST80 and then IPilot since 2005 have only run them down one time and the wind was 25mph all day. Make sure that you have at least 15" of TM in the water I hade a problem and had to go to a 72" shaft I also use 2 AGM 31’s for starting and house. I use a pro-mariner 4-bank charger that has worked well for me.
All good suggestions. I’ll add my $.02 worth concerning #7. Recently, I’ve taken my portable VHF with me and left it on scan. I’ve yet to hear anybody on any of these trips on Murray.
Hoping to communicate with some club members I hollered out on Channel 72. Never heard a peep. I think everyone has gone to cell phones and text.
