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Bduck

Bduck

Flaming Gorge Forum MODERATOR
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
2,717
Location
Harrisville, Utah
With newer generations of electronics in sonar and GPS units looming in the market today, has anyone seen anything that they have there sites set on? vs some of the not so new you may now have? About 1 1/2yrs ago I upgraded to combo Raymarine A57D unit for $650. This unit is not made anymore but it's features are in a newer unit which sells for about $1500. I'm still running 2 separate units lowrance global map 5200c gps with hot lakes card which seems to be doing very well still and an x100c lowrance color finder which it doesn't seem to be picking up signals as much anymore but I like it to keep me in touch with the bottom. My A57D is used on the back utilizing 50hz and picks up a false bottom signal coming off of the dr weights. The fish signals are far superior than the lowrance unit. What's on your wish list? As time goes on in the electronic field the price seems to keep elevating.
 
I think it has gotten out of hand. The new, tech units costs thousands of dollars and do very little to actually put the fish in your boat.
 
I purchased a Garmin 740S model 7 inch colored screen about 3 yrs ago when they first came out it has all the bells and whistles with I do like. I had a Lowrance model 15 that I was very happy with also. It got salt water some how in the chip compartment on a crabbing trip and Lowrance advised it was two old a model to fix $2.000 down the tubes. It was a 4 yr. old model. It just seems this newer units I have has to be upgraded all the time what ever that means. These newer units are just to complicated for me. I agree with SuperD todays technologies are doing nothing different, this market is catching fisherman not fish they know have units that give side view / adjustable from 50 to 200 hz units.
 
I know that I have caught countless numbers of fish that I never saw on my graph. I also know that I have not caught millions of the ones I have seen on my graph. Maybe my catch rate is better when I don't see them? LOL!
 
Just the simplest unit would work. Don't necessarily have to see arches but knowing where the thermocline is the fish will be around and reading the bottom helps to adjust to depths. Getting sucked into being spendy is either in our nature or we just have to have or both. I'm guilty of wanting to keep up with the Jones mentality. bandmyhead
 
Some of the stuff has its place. The airmar transducers allow one to travel at much higher speeds and still get signal. If someone is hunting for bait balls to fish under, this saves an enormous amount of time as one can search in cruise mode rather than trolling speed.
 
I have the Airmar P66 on my Lowrance. I have picked up more in the water column than my stock xducer. The quality in difference is superior in my opinion. My A57D came with an Airmar P58. Another member here AFDan has installed the P66 upgrade to his unit and has good reviews as well. Maybe he will chime in here.

For more information on Airmar and the latest electronics you can contact;

Gil Travis
Marine Electronic Sales
1-800-925-0341
 
I have always used stock xducers on my Lowrance and Humminbirds and have never been happy with their ability to identify the thermocline. Does the airmar do a better job on thermoclines?
 
Signal is in the magnitude of 100 X stronger than a stock transducer. When someone sees an Airmar transducer for the first time, they are usually shocked by the size difference versus the stock transducer. I run a P66 on an older Lowrance so I get enhanced performance but not as much if I had a newer model finder. David, the reference that Roger left for Gil Travis is the absolute source for all things technical. While an Airmar transducer might do well for thermoclines, it is also about the capabilities of your sonar unit. He can talk you through all that.
 
Ok, I'll play along;) I'm extremely guilty of newtechitus and managed a full blown spending spree on my new boat. Although I spent a small fortune, I couldn't be happier with this new fishing machine. So, here it goes..... 2014 23' North River Seahawk with a yamaha 250 connected to a GHP 20 smart pump autopilot, T9.9 with Tr1 Gold, HDS 12, 9, and 5, Lowrance 4G radar, Cannon mag 10 downriggers, The HDS touch features are wonderful!! Structure scan is flat out mind blowing, and 4g radar with beam sharpening is out of this world! I have it connected to the ghp 20 heading and GPS for flawless radar overlay. I can clearly see moorings and crab pot floats. The hds 12,9,and 5 all communicate with each other so that any screen can be displayed with shared data. I have the hds5 flush mounted in the dash and use it as a standalone engine monitoring source with fuel economy info as well...which is provided by the f250 ecu. The vhf has GPS as well. The GHP 20 smart pump autopilot has a feature called shadow drive where you can turn the wheel while autopilot is engaged and it gives you the helm. The autopilot will be a very nice feature for the 2 hour tuna runs or just allowing you to kick your feet up and drink a cold onethumbsup. I would have to say that the most impressive advancement to me is the broadband 4g radar. I've had radar on other boats 15 years ago that can't compare. Night time navigation is so much safer and if you do get caught out in the fog.....it's a life saver! New technology is a wonderful thing in my opinion. Cheers
Joe
 
Holy mackerel Joe sounds like this is beyond chasing kokes? That is some cool technology you have amassed! How long did it take to figure out how to run it all?

Sounds like you spent the children's inheritance. I tell my children; take a look at all this tackle it's your inheritance when I die. We have a blast fishing from trout to salmon and everything in between.

Tight lines and thanks for sharing - Alan
 
Haha:) yea, now I need fishing buddies to buy fuel and beer because I'm boat poor:). I had the boat built by North River which gave me a lot of time to keep adding goodies...oops. I love Kokanee fishing, but this boat will see plenty of Bodega Bay trips as well. Offshore in the dark and fog, I need all the goodies. Cheers
Joe
 
Fr8tdog, I hope you can post a couple pictures of your boat in our "Boat Picture" thread stickied at the top of this forum.
 

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