Raymarine vs Garmin sounder

 Hi guys I am looking at putting a sounder/chartplotter combo on my new aluminium 5.5m centre console and as I have no experience with either would like to hear what people think of either brand or any other good value brands. Price range is up to $3500 and I was buying 2 ,run one as a sounder the other as a chartplotter only.

Depth wise I would be fishing no deeper than 70m , as I live down in Mandurah.

 cheers!


Posts: 145

Date Joined: 09/01/12

 How big do you want the

Wed, 2020-12-09 20:24

 How big do you want the screens ? Any reason why you wouldn't include Simrad/lowrance in the list ? 

Posts: 81

Date Joined: 18/01/18

 Was thinking 9 inch, and not

Wed, 2020-12-09 20:53

 Was thinking 9 inch, and not sure of the lowrance, have heard the simrad is not that good, maybe someone might be able to tell me diffferent:)

ROCKPOM's picture

Posts: 628

Date Joined: 23/04/07

 New sub 2k head unit out

Thu, 2020-12-10 17:34

 New sub 2k head unit out EliteFS have a look

quadfisher's picture

Posts: 1146

Date Joined: 28/09/10

Spotting snails at 50m?

Thu, 2020-12-10 09:52

 Sounder wise i can only suggest Furuno....straight out of the box they are a quality sounder with more features than you will ever use.

 The 628 is great for boats below 6m ( approx $1400)  or if the budget or dash allows the 588 ( $2100) ...you dont see too many trading in there furunos 

 to buy something else , there just saving up for a bigger one.

 Chart plotters too my mind are slighly less important in a smaller boat and either lowrance or raymarine will do the job.

 Lowrance are very popular for a reason ( simple operating systems) and connect well to hubs , data cables etc...also good value.

 raymarine seem slightly more technicly more advanced if thats your thing but you pay for it...............

 best idea as you say is too run two seperate units , far better that way.

 

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quadfisher

Posts: 1086

Date Joined: 21/05/12

 i would go 2 lowrance 7 inch

Thu, 2020-12-10 11:33

 i would go 2 lowrance 7 inch lives

price of 1  9 inch

i just put one in for shallow work in denham 

its an amazing sounder for the price and  2 units gives u an  option to see downscan side scan bigger than a on split 9 inch

i had one of the 1st gen 1  hds in 12inch - i still use it as a plotter- the downscan and side scan is prehistoric compared to the new ones

used it up to 35m with great results - transducer placement is critical( put it forward facing on the hull- so cable end even in the back with the transom the rest of the unit facing the bow - the way the manual says not to do it  ;p - more chance of damage - put fkme it reads well at speed) and if u buy 2 7 inches - get 2  transducers for the extra 100$ the price between the uniot with and wiothout a trannie is nothing

 

i havent had it over 35 m - i have a 295  furuno for that but in shallower than 35m - the lowrance live ran rings around the furuno in definition  and discremanation of targets- furuno would show - lowrance i could pick out detail - and the sidescan was showing 35 plus m out to a side  -so i could cover 70 m on a sweep looking for ground

dmck's picture

Posts: 440

Date Joined: 07/03/19

I have HDS and Simrad

Thu, 2020-12-10 12:54

 HDS Gen 1 networked to a Simrad NSS9 Evo2, THey are both made by NAVICO and essentially just variations of the same product.

 Both are very good and the latest iterations/generations are incredible. Having said that... latest generations of all the BIG names are also incredible.

 

I havent had anyone prove to me that Furuno are worth the reputation they have.  My fishing mate has a 588 and I havent yet seen any better displays than my HDS/NSS.

 

If I do... I have a 622 sitting in my shed that I was given....... the person replaced it with a Garmin from memory.

 

Note: Most of my fishing is in around 10-20m, occassionally 55-60m....  A furuno with a 1Kw transducer bay be very good in deeper waters... but those trannys are available for other brands too.

Feral's picture

Posts: 1508

Date Joined: 01/11/06

 Very happy with garmin

Thu, 2020-12-10 20:04

 Very happy with garmin units. I have the original echomap 95 and just ordered 2 of the new UHD echomap 95's for my new flats boat. 

Bending's picture

Posts: 11

Date Joined: 01/12/20

My votes Simrad

Fri, 2020-12-11 10:13

Used the hds Live but with the little knob to adjust settings on the evo3 makes life so much easier as well as the ability to adjust gain. Have a mate with an Axiom and it isn't that flash imo. Can't say anything about the Garmin gear.

clarky29's picture

Posts: 48

Date Joined: 15/04/15

Pretty happy with my garmin

Sat, 2020-12-12 13:43

 Running a Garmin 7410 and just added a 952xs. Was out with a mate the other day who has furuno and his comment was gee my furuno doesn't show anything like that.

Posts: 1111

Date Joined: 19/06/14

Simrad

Sat, 2020-12-12 17:03

Did I say Simrad?. 

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 My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....

 

Posts: 81

Date Joined: 18/01/18

 Thanks for all the feedback,

Thu, 2020-12-17 10:02

 Thanks for all the feedback, I am thinking I will choose between the Furuno  and the Garmin, not sure on models but will keep on looking.

Posts: 574

Date Joined: 24/04/11

Sounder

Thu, 2020-12-17 11:53

 I run both a Furuno 585 with TM260 and a Garmin 8410XSV with M265HL.

I prefer the Garmin, but its a pretty tough decision...they are both pretty good.

I also have a HDS gen 2, and as a sounder its not as good as either of the above. As a GPS, its easier to use than the Garmin.

Stevo81's picture

Posts: 1278

Date Joined: 16/04/12

 Im running 2x Garmin 7410xsv

Sat, 2020-12-19 19:30

 Im running 2x Garmin 7410xsv with a B265LH & GT51M, awesome!

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