Sounder/GPS Advice
Ok need some advice. I Have read posts about furuno and lowrance HDS Sounders. But thought I would put my personnel situation out to seek the experience and recommendations of yourselves.
i have an 6.1ali boat with room on top of console to put another sounder if needed. Currently my boat is fitted with a Lowrance LCX-110c and transducer on transom. LCX has been ok , not bad on gps, sounder is average on showing fish, bottom seems really detailed when driving at about 6 to 10 knots. I think it gets a bit of interference from the noise at the transom, motor, hull etc.
Was thinking of updating to the lowrance HDS10 just replacing old with new unit to improve what I see when sounding and to prevent clutter on my dash. I do like the big screen with combo capability. Also the connectors, cables and transponder will connect straight up.
But one of my options is to leave the old lcx in the boat for the GPS and put in a furuno FCV-587 or simiilar. If so I would then have to think about transducer type and position. Some recommend the 1kw tranni etc is that the way to go or is the 50/200 std furuno transducer sufficient. Also can that be fitted in hull on an Ali and what would I need?
sorry about the lots of questions but would like to hear experiences and thoughts re lcx110 vs hds10 vs furuno and then transducer recommendations given what I have.
scotto
Posts: 2473
Date Joined: 21/04/08
yo,
Leave the lowrance as a plotter and smash in a 587 with 1kw aye.
Sulo
Posts: 256
Date Joined: 13/08/11
Before you drop a couple of
Before you drop a couple of grand on Scottos great advice and help...
How deep is the water you generally fish?
What transducer are you running at the moment, I know it is transom mount but there are a few and it makes a bit of difference. Potentially getting a better transducer on your current unit could remove the issues you have not to mention most of the issue could well be from not having it installed/ set up properly.
If the transducer is not set up properly it does not matter what name is printed on the head unit... It will not work as it should and potentially could.
Bluedog
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/07/11
I get a pretty good reading
I get a pretty good reading from my HDS combo but it doesn't compare to the reading from the Furuno 627 that sits beside it. Both with their standard trannys Lowrance runs 500w, Furuno P66 600w. I'd recommendthe 587 too if you have the cash to drop.
Rob H
Posts: 5833
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Yep as above. I have an
Yep as above. I have an LCX37 which i just use as a plotter, and a 620.
The Lcx isnt a patch on even the 620 but makes a great plotter.
I have only the P66 and works fine for me out to 110m though mostly we are less than 60 at Gero.
Personally i wouldnt drop a few thou on a setup hoping it will be the magic bullet
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
trueblue_10
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/06/11
Fishing in
I Usually fishing anywhere from 10 to 100 metres but would like to concentrate up to 200 m. Currently have 50/200mhz transducer that came standard with lcx. Has been pretty good up to those those depths at slow speed. I was using it in exmouth a lot at 70 to 100 m range and was piccking up the good ground provide I went pretty slow. At depth and speed it loses signal.
I know I am getting get a bit of interferance from the bottom of the boat and motor but it is not to bad and i carefully adjust sensiitivity. I set my sounder up manually generally and set my depth limits etc. I still think my sounder misses a lot of fish or they are hard to distinguish and new Sounders today may have a clearer pic. My unit is 9 years old. Input appreciated people.
triggy
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 14/09/11
I don't think you could go
I don't think you could go too wrong with the Furuno 587, with 1 kW transducer for work up to 200m. After all you have a chartplotter.
I'd be more focused on what type of transducer will work best on/in the Ali hull. I've used a TM260 with awesome results but that was on a glass hull.
Search on here for Furuno recommendations, there are plenty of them
trueblue_10
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/06/11
Fishing in
I Usually fishing anywhere from 10 to 100 metres but would like to concentrate up to 200 m. Currently have 50/200mhz transducer that came standard with lcx. Has been pretty good up to those those depths at slow speed. I was using it in exmouth a lot at 70 to 100 m range and was piccking up the good ground provide I went pretty slow. At depth and speed it loses signal.
I know I am getting get a bit of interferance from the bottom of the boat and motor but it is not to bad and i carefully adjust sensiitivity. I set my sounder up manually generally and set my depth limits etc. I still think my sounder misses a lot of fish or they are hard to distinguish and new Sounders today may have a clearer pic. My unit is 9 years old. Input appreciated people.
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
ive got a hds 8 gen 2 and
ive got a hds 8 gen 2 use it as my sounder plotter and its simple to use great for the fishing i do up to 70mtr mark. having said that ive seen the pics of the furunos on here and my mates furuno also and if i was to have my time again or the space i would have gone furuno. all that aside i still like my hds and its finding me fish
seaswirl
Posts: 268
Date Joined: 29/08/10
furuno
I can't imagine that you would ever regret going Furuno. I can't wait to get my new 3kw installed.
Mattyb84
Posts: 388
Date Joined: 28/12/12
Mate I've got hds 9 and a
Mate I've got hds 9 and a 585 sitting next to each other and there is no way I would take a hds over a furuno as a sounder. If I was you I would keep the old and get the 587 with a tm260 and you will be forever happy. Well until you see a tz14 that is
Pgfc member