Sounder/GPS Information-Photos-Reviews
Lowrance Sonichub review
Submitted by milsey on Mon, 2016-02-22 20:10Hey guys, I'm looking to replace the stereo in my little CC and am chasing any input from others who have, or have used a lowrance sonichub. I'll be connecting it to a gen 1 HDS 5 which is a dedicated GPS. The unit is already a little slow so I'm after info regarding if it will slow the GPS down even more, what the sound quality is like compaired with the Fusion gear and also if it detracts from using the GPS given it isn't a huge screen.
Thanks in advance
Miles
- 5 comments
- 3941 reads
Garmin GPSMAP 7412xsv 12 inch For Deep Drop
Submitted by Leapin Lena on Sun, 2016-02-21 21:01Has anyone got any experience with these Garmin GPSMAP 7412xsv 12inch sounders with 1kw tranducer and chirp for fishing beyond 300m. I heard they might be a decent alternative to the Furuno 295 with 2kw tranducer for the money at around $5,000. Cant seem to find any reviews online at all from any fisho's. Only standard Garmin blurb. Any feedback would be great. cheers
- 8 comments
- 6109 reads
tm 260 on a barcrusher
Submitted by holth on Sat, 2016-02-13 17:21Im fitting out my mates 620 barcrusher with his new furuno that will be running a TM260. Im stuck on the transducer angle due to the transom being vertical.
Im running the same tranny on my trailcraft and was going to set it up like mine using 1 wedge that has the trailing edge slightly lower and l get a great reading at speed. The difference between the boats is the transon on the trailcraft is slight forward of vertical so l dont need alot of wedge angle.
Now with the Barcrusher and the vertical transom lve used the 3 wedges and l still cant get the trailing edge lower. Best l can come up is flat with the transom using 2 wedges and a 10mm packer in at the top. For me to get what l want l still need to pack it out at top another 5 mm.
Can you get shims for these trannys that give a better angle or is it a case of packing it out like lm doing.
Is anyone running the same tranny and how did you over come this. If your got pics even better l would love to see them.
Heres some pics of what lve had to do. Tranny is only mounted loosely atm until l can come up with a solution
I hope it all makes sense. Ha
Cheers Paul
- 16 comments
- 4884 reads
Thoughts?????
Submitted by Jadeo on Fri, 2016-02-12 05:40chasing some opinions on a Garmin emap for a simple gps for the boat. Done a bit of reading and seem pretty good for a hand held. Cheers in advance Jadeo
- 1 comment
- 3796 reads
sounder shot... thoughts? Lowrance hdi7
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2016-01-31 11:23Still trying to work out what I'm looking at. One thing I have noticed a lot of sounder shots with good ground on here have a thick red line representing solid ground. Do you think I have my colour line set to low, gain is probably a bit low too? Or am I looking at a rocky sandy bottom with patches of weed? Any thoughts would be appreciated. This was taken 30km west out from warnbro...
- 19 comments
- 9215 reads
Lowrance plotter experts!
Submitted by Rob H on Sat, 2016-01-30 07:57Any of you Lowrance experts know how to add to your charts an area such as a marine sanctuary, besides just adding it as a plotted course?
- 5 comments
- 3122 reads
Barcrusher and internal GPS antennae
Submitted by ctan1968 on Wed, 2016-01-27 23:35Hi all,
After having to retire my old 2006 Lowrance GPS with an external antennae, I have inherited a newer Lowrance Elite 5M from my cousin with internal antennae. Are there any barcrusher users out there who use internal ants? I have the model with the small ali hardtop (C model) and have heard that GPS is affected by the top. The Elite 5 is a 5 - 6 year old GPS so don't know if the antennae was that advanced in those days
Thanks in advance.
- 3 comments
- 2809 reads
Storage of GPS waypoints
Submitted by ctan1968 on Sat, 2016-01-23 20:04Hi all. I have accidentally dropped my GPS and the tech man reckons something is wrong with the main board...another words...kaput. Just wondering if waypoints are stored on the navionics card or in the machines memory. I have all waypoints recorded into a book but just wondering as the old Lowrance models had a facility called icons which was great. Those marks I have not recorded. Thanks in advance.
- 1 comment
- 2673 reads
Touchscreen vs buttons
Submitted by whaler235 on Mon, 2016-01-18 12:47Hi there
planing on getting a new plotter/sounder combo just want to know people's experiences on touchscreens, Iv got a centre console that Is a pretty dry boat for a center console but if water does get on the screen, will it effect the use of it or are touch screens made for dry cabins and pilot house boats. Also I want to get a 12 inch combo but not sure on brands, Iv had the NSE 12 simrad for a while but it had the old tech on it, I'm looking for something with detailed charts and clear fish and ground finding cababilities? Any suggestions.
cheers
- 14 comments
- 4387 reads
Wet Box
Submitted by stebol on Fri, 2016-01-01 12:34Got a echomap 75sv and want to build a wet box for the tranny to shoot through the hull. But not sure if the tranny has enough power. Any one done this with a 500w tranny>
Thanks in advance, the boat is a 585 Streaker.
stebol
- 1 comment
- 3582 reads
Sounder GPS Combo - Choices
Submitted by Browndog on Thu, 2015-12-17 17:40Hi FW crew, hoping for some advice here. I've been thinking for some time of getting a cheap sounder/GPS combo unit, and even considered getting something second hand after everyone gets an upgrade for Christmas. My boat is a 5m ally runabout, most of my fishing is done between 2 and 40m depth around the Five Fathom Bank. The boat currently runs a cheap sounder only, which I'll probably keep on there just because I'm too lazy to take it off.
Question is, which brand/model to buy? Budget is an issue, the best options I have found so far (on special at the moment) are:
Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp Combo $599 (base maps only)
Garmin echoMAP 55dv Combo $629 (base maps only)
I've searched on here and the rest of the interweb, and there doesn't seem to be a lot between them. Any preferences, and reasons why, would be appreciated. Or should I be looking at something else entirely, or hang out for a used one after Christmas? I have seen a few used units on Gumtree, but pricing is either way too close to new, or if it's well priced it is sold within 30 minutes of the ad being placed.
Keen to hear any thoughts or suggestions.
Cheers,
BD.
- 10 comments
- 3718 reads
Saving waypoints on Navionics
Submitted by ctan1968 on Wed, 2015-12-02 17:32When a GPS waypoint is saved on a GPS with a navionics SD card loaded, is it saved on the card as well? or does the card just provide better background data for the GPS.
- 3 comments
- 3154 reads
Dropped GPS
Submitted by ctan1968 on Wed, 2015-12-02 17:16Hi all, I accidentally dropped my GPS head unit whilst carrying it. It certainly wasn't a high drop but now the screen is filled with purple/blue/white vertical bars with no more picture.
Damaged LCD? Nothing is rattling inside. Its an old Lowrance LMS 332.
Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance
- 2 comments
- 2937 reads
SS264 or B164 Plastic isolation spacer
Submitted by JohnF on Tue, 2015-11-17 21:01Hey guys
Does anyone have one of the black plastic spacers from a SS264 or B164 transducer that isolates the tranny from the hull, which is not generally used unless you have an ali hull. It is the black ring in the attached.
I am dicking about making up some prototype fairings and need one for a mound. If it works I will be happy to share the idea with you.
Cheers
- 1 comment
- 2508 reads
IPAD for GPS
Submitted by Garker on Mon, 2015-11-16 21:16I have set up an IPAD 2 on the dash so that I can use GPS software. All good except in heavy seas when I cannot fully see out of the windscreen or clears and this is when I need navigation guidance most. Water drops and spray can sometimes enter the cockpit area under such conditions and the IPAD is at risk of water ingress so I have to pack it away, However if it had a sun guard or splash shield it would most probably be safe. Does anyone know of something that might do the job?
- 5 comments
- 3195 reads
GME G Combo- performance beyond 100m
Submitted by Mc Zen on Wed, 2015-11-11 16:49hi, has anyone have experience with the g combo from GME in deep water between 100 and 500m? The specs on the unit say 0-600m.......?
- 2 comments
- 2701 reads
Furuno FCV 585 or 587 swivel mounting bracket
Submitted by JohnF on Thu, 2015-10-22 11:24Does anyone have a spare FCV 585 or 587 mouting bracket they are not using. They are not used when you flush mount the unit so I am hoping someone has one lying about they don't need. I am looking to cut one up to make a custom temporary mount (log story but involves new toys so all good!).

Any help would be much appreciated.
John
0430166552
- 7 comments
- 4102 reads
Old vs New GPS
Submitted by paulbazza on Thu, 2015-10-22 08:57well my old Magellan GPS Tracker handheld has a flat internal battery, and i cant find anywhere to fix it, it is around 14 years old.
I was told that new GPS units are more accurate than the older units, i always assumed that all GPS units were equally accurate????
Also can anyone recommend a handheld GPS unit, used mainly in the boat, just want to get from point A to point B, have 12v capability, be waterproof, and easy to connect to a PC ?
- 1 comment
- 2515 reads
chartplotter options
Submitted by fishcrazy on Wed, 2015-10-21 07:57Hey all is there a chartplotter avail that will run cmap and navionics? cheers
- 11 comments
- 2886 reads
Lowrance 45696n vs ray marine 46090n
Submitted by Toddzilla on Wed, 2015-10-14 19:39Hu brainstrust
Thoughts on both these units or other 7 inch displays?
Thanks in advance
- 1 comment
- 2332 reads
Airmar transducer spanner wanted to borrow.
Submitted by dodgy on Fri, 2015-10-02 11:21Was hoping someone out there might have a airmar transducer spanner I could borrow for a few hours. Wanting to install in hull transducer tomorrow and the right tool makes it so much easier.
I'm Sor but happy to come for a drive.
- 4 comments
- 2635 reads
Navionics - Platinum vs Gold card
Submitted by Katman on Sun, 2015-09-13 17:33Hi guys
Chasing info on whether to buy a Gold or Platinum Navionics card
What can Platinum do that Gold cant and why is it better
Cheers Katman
Transducer pole for tm260 transducer
Submitted by nathan hume on Mon, 2015-09-07 13:20Hi I'm after a bit of advice on the idea I have made up a sliding bracket to lower and raise my TM260 transducer ! Just wondering if there would be and benefits from doing it and how far would you recommend lowering it when at drift or searching for ground
- 1 comment
- 2789 reads
Sounder trouble
Submitted by Jadeo on Mon, 2015-08-31 15:27Hi peeps, I am new to this site and I must say what an awesome site it is. Now to my my prob. I have a sounder that will work for a about 3/4 of an hour and then lose power. It does not matter on the conditions it does the same thing. I isolate the battery, turn it back on and have power again. As soon as I engage gear to move again , it drops power again. Once I anchor up it does not miss a beat. Origionally I thought it was the wiring. Got it re-wired by a sparky and next trip tha same thing. Took it back to the sparky and checked the wiring and no probs. I then left the boat where I bought the sounder from (thinking it was the unit) and as I suspected, no problems with it running for 8 hours on land. He mentioned to to me something about voltage spike or drop from the engine side. Does anyone know of this and if so how do it rest for it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am about lose my s@&$. Cheers
- 14 comments
- 4623 reads
transducer placement help part 2
Submitted by Ranz on Sun, 2015-08-30 09:03Okay based on advice from the original thread plan is to drop transom mount transducer lower and move left or right as after checking I think its to close to the strake. Blue tape in picture shows strake locations. The right one goes to the back of the hull the left one stops 1.7 metres short of the transom.
Question is to move transducer left or right? Left is deeper but maybe getting too close to motor? So thinking right. Opinions please
- 6 comments
- 3777 reads
Transducer Placement Help
Submitted by Ranz on Sat, 2015-08-29 09:02Having trouble getting transducer to read at speed. Bottom image becomes broken at 10-15 km/h. Transducer is m260 in hull in commodore 670 allrounder (hull design based on fraser if that helps).
New location at front of pic thru deck. Old location was in bilge between deckwash pump and bilge pump in photo.
Blue tape shows old location 700cm in from starboard side 400cm from rear
Blue tape in this pic shows new location 500cm in from starboard 1100cm from rear (can not go further in due to fuel tank)
600w transom mount also not reading well at speed. Blue tape shows original location done 100% to manufacturer specs. Actual location is an improvement but still not great. Blue tape on underside shows old in hull position. New positon is further forward just inside the chine
- 13 comments
- 4192 reads
DEPTH SOUNDERS
Submitted by jonya masel on Fri, 2015-08-21 15:20Hi guys,
I was wondering if I could please get some advice from all of the fishwrecked depth sounder guru’s.
I have a 28 foot glass boat which is set up with –
CP450C 1 Kw Chirp Sounder module
M265 1 Kw Chirp in Hull Transducer
The style of fishing I do is mainly 30-100m Demersal/Dhufish/snapper fishing. I find the current set up is quite clear and I am able to read bottom at 30knots.
However, I would like to be able to read bottom in depths of 500m to target broadbill, blue eye and other deep drop species.
I am open to having a second Transom Mount transducer.
From what I understand I am oppose to having a through hull as it may affect the ride due to the size of the boat.
It seems everybody is saying go to the FCV295 but this may not be an option as I have no helm space to mount a massive Furuno Unit.
I am quite keen to stick with Raymarine.
I guess the questions are;
1) has anyone had any experience in mounting a 2kw raymarine transducer on the transom or only possible to mount a 1kw?
2) Would a 3kw or 2kw in hull transducer beat a 1kw Tm if I wasn’t able to fit a 2kw TM?
3) I understand they are different applications but what would be the ultimate set up for fishing depths of 10-100m and deep water say 500m?
- 13 comments
- 7471 reads
Garmin 1020xs sounder/gps
Submitted by matty77 on Wed, 2015-08-05 12:34hey guys, looking at a new chartplotter/sounder combo for the tub. ive been looking at the garmin 1020xs. has anyone out there got one or had any experiences with one?? any help would be great. cheers.
Humminbird - Navionics Gold Problem
Submitted by Katman on Wed, 2015-07-29 22:39Hi guys
Just bought a secondhand Gold Card for my Humminbird 958
Inserted card but do not get any map info , depth , contour lines , nav markers
Is there a trick to setting it up or is the card a dud
I believe the card was previosly in a Lowrance but do not think it is a bundled
card from what Navionics rep told me
Please put forward your thoughts
Cheers Katman
- 2 comments
- 2873 reads
Just bought a tinny u here in Broome
Submitted by Meeuwissen on Tue, 2015-06-30 21:44Its got a lowarance elite 5x fish finder on it but not maps. What are some good apps to get charts and type in coordinates that use your phones GPS?
- 1 comment
- 2605 reads

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