Combo sounders

[LandyAndy]

Hi Guys
Saving up for some new electronics for the boat.
Was VERY interested in a Lowrance DSI,but they only come in 5".
I had a really good chat with a BCF bloke in Mandurah who actually knew his stuff,normally they only have pimply faced kidz there that know diddly squat.
I prefer the HDS7/HDS8 dispay wise(more room to display GPS/Sonar at once),but no down scan imaging.The BCF bloke pointed out that the DSI 5 isnt very good in deep water as the beam for the down scan becomes too wide.
He suggests I get the HDS7 and then later add the structure scan that is better than the DSI,it does both downscan and sidescan.

Any of you guys have these units or similar in a different brand?(Furuno/Hummingbird),Simrad is Lowrance(same company).

Thanks
Andrew

[isuzurover]

Watching with interest, as this is my next boat purchase also...

Btw - I have been told this place has good prices: Shop Trolling Motors, Electronics, Boat Seats, Kayaks, and Watersports. Shipped Free from Gander Mountain.

How do they compare with the prices youi have been given Andy?

[Bearman]

Andy, A combo sounder/gps is a good combination as long as you get one that that has a large enough screen to read easily when you are underway in med/rough conditions. Being an elder gentleman myself I find it hard to read some screens while underway especially if it is a bit lumpy. Currently running a big Navman combo and a Lowrance one as a backup. As I go a long way (up to 150K offshore) out to the reef I have two of everything, GPS, sounders, VHF etc. even a 6 man RFD (hope I never have to use it but it's there in case I do). Get the largest screen you can afford as it will make life easier for you. I usually set the Navman up with the map (zoomed in) on the top section of the split screen and the navigation highway on the bottom section and on the Lowrance I set it up with the map (zoomed out). Dual frequency tranducers are good in deeper waters. Must admit I have no experience with the later model sounders with side scan etc. Remember looking at something on the showroom shelf is quite different to using it in the boat, usually you are rolling or pitching when you are trying to read it so big screens and big display numerals are best (especially for oldies like me)

[Ean Austral]

Gday Andrew,

Interesting that you are looking at a sonar style sounder.. With the amount of water your boat would draw, would be curious as to how these units work.

I know when we had our boat hire business ( 4.6 mtr tinnies ) I found after all the test units I used a single freq Lawrence sounders with a seperate gps/plotter style unit was as suitable as any.

Its not something I know alot about in small boats, but would be more inclined to look at the transducers output power than the glossy sounder/sonar functions.

I have used the same sounders in 10 mtrs of water to 450mtrs and never heard of a sounder beam being to wide before..

I am sure you will get what suits, and hope the fish are plentiful.

Cheers Ean

[LandyAndy]

Cheers Brian.Great advice.The 7" screen looks so much bigger than the 5" models.
Ben,only got BCF prices,wich are dearer than EBay.I personally will only buy in Australia.
The DSI 5 with GPS is around $1000,very good value for what it does,not as good in 40m+ waters as the beam is too wide.
The HDS7 is a better unit,as a normal sonar,you need to buy the transducer and the mapping,if you get structure scan(side and down scan) all up around $3000 If you do get a HDS,be aware there is a new model out,it explains the price difference on Ebay
Have you met Dylan(DSWatts on here,he helped out with Sarahs old Series)???? He can get you anything through BLA at trade he tells me.Pretty sure BLA are the Hummingbird distributors in WA(they do have a side/downscan model I believe).
When I have the coin I think I will go the HDS7 or HDS8 then add the structure scane later(plug/play option,around $600).If you buy the better mapping with the HDS units you get VERY GOOD underwater 3D mapping,structure scan adds to the underwater info,have a demo somewhere.As you are into diving I think you will like what they can do.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Ean
Have a look at the simulated demos on the Lowrance website,I would appreciate your feedback as to what what you see as a big boat steerer,especially in the Structure Scan demos.
Would be happy with the Down Scan 5" but the screen just isnt big enough to use GPS/Sounder in one go.
Cheers
Andrew

[Chenz]

When I bought my barcrusher it had as the standard package the Lowrance HDS 5. I compared this to the HDS 7 and that two inches makes all the difference. I use it as a combo split screen almost all the time and find it very easy to read. After learning to fly the thing - why they all have the have 2,000 functions, 1,950 you will never use, I can now fly it pretty well.

If you want to go the Lowrance go the 7 not the 5. It fits well into the dash and is easy to read

[jonesy63]

Hi Guys,
Digging up an old thread - to see if there is any feedback on the Lowrance HDS7? I'm about to buy a new combo for my 6.5m boat - and am looking at this one:
Lowrance Elite-7 CHIRP 83/200 Combo - BCF

Any suggestions or comments?

Cheers,
Rob

[PAT303]

I'm a Yak fisher and Lowrance sounders haven't got a very good rep on them,in a boat they may be good but on a yak coping spray they corrode badly,mines an X67c model and doesn't work half the time because of corroded conections,spare parts for them are easy to get but the price they charge doesn't make fixing them viable.Hummingbird are the make to have. Pat

[LandyAndy]

I went HDS9 touch with the sidescan and a 1KW downscan.Yep top of the range.
Only used it once,did have issues with the downscan loosing the bottom at speed and not regaining it at rest.Was re-starting it to fix.
The sidescan/downscan and 3D imaging was brilliant,as is the 3D mapping.
Andrew