How offten do the maps actually change enough to NEED updating?

Im in SA. I havn't seen anything different over the years apart from bouys being set around Garden Island etc. 

Chasing help if any one has any seatalk cables / junction boxes or parts suitable to link an RC530 Chartplotter and connect to external aerial (GPS) receiver. If you have parts or connectors lying around gathering dust let me know and what you are chasing....

Cheers and thanks in advance.

Mark

 Hi guys, I just got a new sounder and wanted a little advice. I have noticed crews posting screen shots. How is this done?

is the LSS2 worth getting or do you think the def. on it is sufficient?

i got the wifi set up thinking I could control unit from phone etc. I can't do that, am I doing something wrong?

Hello all.
I'm considering getting a side scan chartplotter combo, either a Lowrance HDS or Humminbird and keen to get feedback from people who may have used both. Current prices show the Lowrance to be more expensive so was wondering if they are worth the extra dollars? I'm looking at either a 5 inch or 7 inch screen.
A side question that I have not been able to find out yet is whether my old SD map card out of my Lowrance LMS 334 will fit the HDS units? They say they use a micro SD but maybe that fits into an SD size carrier card so I might be right? It could have a bearing on what I get considering the map card costs.
Thanks.

 Hey guys,

Recently invested in a new FCV 587 and bought a second hand tm260. The tm 260 came without a plug at the end of the cable but did come with the 9 pin furuno plug separate. Been doing a bit of research and I'm getting some conflicting views. Spoke with a guy from Furuno today who thinks I can just join the same coloured wires together. But have had others saying I'll need a mb1100 matching box to wire it up. I don't want to stuff something up so anyone on here with any experience in this your help will be very much appreciated.

On a side note if it is as simple as joining the same coloured wires together should I just solder and insulate them or is there a better way?

Cheers

Chris 

 Gents,

I'm chasing a tm260 1kw transducer for my lowrance hds10 and I was wondering if anyone could tell me where they got theirs from? I can get one off ebay for around $1100 but I want to know if anyone has got them locally for cheaper?

cheers

Been doing a bit more on my HDS9 install,finally got the Aimar 1kw transducer installed today.

The LSS-2 Structure scan transducer is next.

Anybody got one of these???

I will be mounting it close to the Aimar,but lower as all the good oil suggests.My issue is the thing will be having a jolly good look at the leg of the outboard,unless its trimmed a fair way up.

Just spent the last hour trolling the net,it seems its the norm with these things,just lift the motor to allow a clear view to the left as its only a low speed transducer anyhow.

I have no flat spot under the hull so it can only be transom mounted.

Would appreciate any input from those who have the structure scan and how you find it.

Thanks Guys.

Andrew

Earlier I posted a screenshot from the other day and got some queries on some of the problems I'd had with my sounder so I'd thought I'd start a seperate thread in case others are having similar issues.

By way of background I was lucky enough last year to purchase a brand new Signature 632F and waited patiently for delivery in December. During that period Lowrance released the touch series of sounders so I upgraded to the HDS12 and ended up with one of the early units in WA in January this year.  As part of the build spec I also committed to a 1kw in hull wetbox transducer (Airmar M260) which was installed in the factory.

On delivery I was impressed with the ease of use and the quality of soundings, then the unit would start "cutting out".  It was one of those annoying intermittent errors that I had a hard time reproducing, although it would generally happen cruising between marks.  Sometimes it would also happen during a drift.  

By cutting out, what the unit would do was suddenly show the depth as 0.3m as though I was ony in a foot of water.  you'll see in the pic attached.

I tried turning the unit off and on, performed a soft reset (losing settings in the process), disconnected the structure scan transducer to see if that was interferring, and upgraded the software which was released around July from memory.  Sometimes those things would work, sometimes they wouldn't, but t because every posthe problem continued.

Before a trip to Exmouth early September the head unit was sent back to Lowrance and was replaced, but the gremlins didn't disappear.  Really frustrating on a trip like that.

The whole lot then ended up back at the dealer where they tested everything.  They did discover the cable had been kinked during the install and they replaced it, did some sea trials and all seemed OK except it was losing contact with the bottom from about 19 knots.  We together bit the bullet and elected to install a through hull unit (Airmar SS164) which is what I should have done in the first place.  This has given me a better quality sounding, better quality at speed, and temperature sensing as well.

Since doing that the boat has had two long days on the water and the problem hasn't (touch wood) come back.  I still think this may be a software problem so I half expect a reoccurence but we'll wait and see.

I have heard that a few Signature owners have had similar issues with a wetbox install, something to do with the variable deadrise?? 

I was asked for a pic of the setup, in the photo of the top of the transducer the in hull unit was installed on the left where the white patch now is fyi.

This is the third Lowrance unit I've owned and I've never had any issues before.  What also makes this problem difficult is the four parties involved - Lowrance, Airmar, the dealer, and the factory.  The dealer has been very helpful and I cannot complain about their service and whilst it would be very easy to point fingers elsewhere they have been trying to help my along the way.

So thats been my journey, happy to share my experiences more with people if they wish.  Have attached photos of the screenshot, the new transducer setup from the bottom and the top, and for good measure a nice Chinaman caught in Exmouth on a PE2 jigging outfit because its a fish!

Cheers,

Andrew.

Sounder shot from Monday which I thought was pretty cool.  Got hammered by big fat sand whiting through this area out behind Stragglers with a couple of small yellowtail flathead as well.  The whiting were well and truly on the chew and I was even catching them on bare hooks.

Sounder is a HDS12 Touch with a 1kw through hull transducer.  Need to fiddle with it a bit more yet but very happy with the performance.

Cheers.

I have bought my new HDS 10 from a certified dealer with receipts, however am having it inistalled by a friend, who is a marine mech in his day job but is coming around to help me install at home saving considerable dollars. In the event of a failure of the unit (which i hope never happens) does the install affect a warranty claim?

Has anyone had a chance to check out the new Raymarine A78 combo unit. Im in the market for a new combo and this has just come on the market. It is basically a dragonfly unit only its touchscreen and has a 7" screen. It retails at around $1600 bucks with tranny and Navionics gold. The alternative is the Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 2 units but to get all the gear with it is almost another thousand bucks more than the Raymarine. Any advice would be appreciated before i part with the hard earned guys. 

 http://www.raymarine.com.au/view/?id=4977

Hi People.

I have an EP60R fuel flow meter to add to my HDS9.

Just been reading the fitting instructions.They state to fit the sensor as close to the fuel tank as practical.They also go on to state a fuel filter MUST be fitted between the sensor and the tank.

I believe the BEST place to mount this is downstream of my filter/water seperator on the rear bulkhead.I can secure it there to prevent vibration.

I dont like the idea of a fuel filter below the deck where the tank is.

Anybody else running these fuel flow sensors???? How did you go about instalation????

Thanks

Andrew 

Please help me communicate with Mr. Brett Martin.  I need to contact him by e-mail or via Private Messages on Fishwrecked.com.

Please pass this request to him if you happen to know him.

Thanks

James1900

Was thinkinh of getting the Raymarine A78, the bigger screen version of the dragonfly unit they do. Any thoughts on it and does someone have one these units already and any reviews or advice ?? 

In a previous thread by Bradz I mentioned I had a TM260 mounted on the back of a signature and someone wanted to see a pic.
Here they are.

Hi guys

Im just about ready to punch myself in the face.

A bit of background. I predominantly fish between 20m and 50m for bottom species. I still want a transducer that will work to 100m if push came to shove. After having P66 transom mounts most of my life I figured I would take the plunge and fit a 1kw. (Yes, my sounder handles 1kw).

Anyway, due to the set up of my boat (Haines Signature 600c), I have a very small bilge area in which to fit the transducer. Pretty much have to go for a 0 degree element and fit it on the planing plank (flat keel). This is cool because the water will be undisturbed.

I wanted an M260...but it wont fit. So, after much discussion and contemplation I worked out that the SS264W (200hz) was the right one for me. However, Airmar no longer stock the 0 degree element version so that is out the window.

Was about to commit to the B164 (thanks JohnF for the chat) but, the cone angle is only 6 degrees at 200kHz (very narrow) and 22 degress at 50khz.

Then I had a revelation...is the B117 (equivalent of the B60) , 600w through hull actually the best one for me.

I really want to get the 1kw but not if it wont suit my most common type of fishing.

If anyone has the B164 and uses it in reasonably shallow water (ie 20 to 50m) I would love to hear if you think it is the right way to go. Anyone else with an opinion...please feel free to chime in.

Finally got around to installing my new transducers in my boat on the weekend.  There are other posts on the same subject, but I've got an aluminium boat, and I haven't see a post on that yet.

There are a couple of photos I took:

1. This is the ballsy bit, drilling a big hole in a perfectly good hull...no going back now.  Once I measured where I wanted it, I drilled a pilot hole from the inside with a dremel tool, then used a bigarse Sutton hole saw from the outside.  The instructions say to use a 105mm hole saw, but I did a test on a scrap piece of aluminium and 102mm with a slight touch up with a file was good enough.  This part was quite hard, as that hole saw kicks like hell when it bites.

2. Taping over the whole tranducer dry fitted, then using a stanley trimmer to separate the bits.  This is slightly harder in aluminium, as the isolation sleeve also separates.  This is how it looks once the transducer is removed ready for the glue

3. Once all glued up (Sikaflex 291) and the locking nut is tighted it looks a bit like this.  I went overboard with glue and the excess fell on the ground which is a pain.  Still, rather have too much than not enough as you can't add it later.  BTW, had to use the spacer provided with the transducers as the hull is only 5mm think.  I trimmed around 10mm off of it so that there was around 4 full threads showing once the nut was tighted down. Thanks to John F for the loan of his tightening tool he made.

4. The finished job once the tape was removed.  The tape ensures there is very little glue actually on the hull or transducer.  Note the black isolation sleeve.

Then it was on to the second one.  The hardest part is getting access to the inside of the hull.  My engine well has too reasonably small round inspection hatches..the screw type ones.  Getting in there with one arm and reaching down to work was hard.  I dropped a couple of LED headlamps in there for light.

Now I have to install the sounder (Furuno FCV-295) and get it all connected for the test.  I'll throw the boat in the water next weekend to make sure she doesnt leak

 Hi all,

I am about to add a new sounder to the boat (Furuno 587) with a 1kW transom mount tranny.

question is, where do I locate the tranny?

i currently have a couple of lowrance units set up for GPS and sounder, with a normal 600w tranny on the back, and ideally would like to keep it as a backup and use the Furuno independently, but also want the 1kW in the best position.

photos below show where the current one is.

option are to replace current tranny with the 1kW and then refit the 600w?

install the 1kW on the opposite side of the keel and just leave the current one where it is?

there are twin outboards on the boat (not counter rotating), so I am thinking that having it in between the port engine and the keel, bolted straight onto the transom should be ok.

thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Cheers,

brett

Hey guys the brother in law has just gone to check the Northstar M121 Chartplotter/ sounder combo and the unit appears to power on beeps and makes noises, screen goes white but nothing else appears visible on the screen.

The unit is not kept on the boat so hasn't been dropped or gotten wet however the problem has us stumped.

Northstar no longer appear to be trading and support limited.

Does anybody know what the white screen may be caused by and if there is a fix. Alternatively anyone know a good repairer who doesn't just want to sell you a new unit...

Any help will be greatly appreciated and passed on....

Mark

 Hi all,

Hi Guys.

Went into JB Hifi to get a SD card for my new HDS9.

I was going to get a 64GB or 128GB.

Salesboy tells me Im wasting my money as many devices cannot acsess the full storage of discs over 32MB.

Anybody know if he is correct???? What size SD card to you guys use in your sounders(lowrance or other brands)????

Andrew

For anyone thats interested or contemplating the purchase of a new sounder.

Bias Boating in Claremont are doing a sale on some Furuno gear. FCV-587 (without transducer) going for $1,795 and get $250 cash back as well from Furuno. Thats $1,545 net which is cheap for a quality 1KW sounder.

cheers

Hi People.

Will I do any harm firing up my new HDS9 touch using a 12V source in the house without transducers connected???

Wanting to learn how to use it in the comfort of the house.I have a GOOD CTek battery charger that has a 12V supply mode.

Andrew

Hi fellas,

I just wanted to know how much you guys have paid for a furuno 587 as I am thinking if buying one. As they are just a sounder unit with no gps maps ect I have found an american supplier that can do them for around $2k and thats with a 1kw transducer. Anyone have any thoughts or opinions?

Cheers guys

Hi People.

Im about to instal a Lowrance structure scan transducer and an airmar 1kw transducer,both are transom mount to go on my Stacer 525.

Anybody with advice or photos of their install would be greatly appreciated.

Very little info in the paperwork,structurescan trans diagram shows 1 foot away from a standard transducer with the standard transducer closer to the engine.

Thanks

Andrew

 Hi

Iv just installed a Lowrance Elite 7x HDI its just a sounder with downscan imaging, transducer is a 50/200 455/800 im after a bit of feed back on what you recon of them if any one out there has the same unit.Like to here what you think of the downscan imaging quality. Theres plenty of info on the net but theres nuthing like feed back from someone who actualy has one Thanks

Looking at getting it from C.H online. just checking if this is a good idea, also does it give temp and speed readings?

thanks

 Would interpret the picture attached as being reasonable fish on the sounder?

Went out on a mates boat on Sunday and we are just trying to get our heads around the finer details of the Raymarine's. This pic was taken in 40 odd metres of water with the screen on the left at 6m bottom lock. The rises you will see there are 2m or so off the bottom. 

My guess would be a good school of fish but I am used to seeing fish on lowrance sounders, not anything on Raymarine.

scano

Ok have Epirb that says batteries due to be replace dec 13. Is it worth getting batteries replaced or just buying a new one. This one is in good nic. Also can you register more than one epirb to your boat. I would like to purchase a 2nd epirb to mount at just on the edge of the start of the half cab. The current epirb is located right up front at the windscreen and if swamped whilst fishing etc means you would have to swim in and under the boat and cab to get at it.. Thinking a 2nd epirb mounted at the start of the cab where I fish from would make a better option?

Has anyone on here had any personal experience http://www.thegpsstore.com/ there prices look great wondering if they are to great...

Any help would be brilliant possibly looking at Furuno and Garmin products cheers.