What to get

[12poundbass]

Hopefully in the next month or two I'll be purchasing my first boat bigger than a john boat. I'm obviously going to equip. It with a couple units. My budget is going to be right around $1300. I emailed BBG and he's out of non Plus Echomap units which I was looking to get 2 93SV units. It looks like the 93SV non Plus is getting harder to find. What do you suggest I get. Brian quoted me a couple Striker 9SV which is well within my budget and I could live with, but they don't have mapping. I know they have Quickdraw and like I told him my biggest lake is about 300 acres, I don't want to spend a bunch of time mapping my lakes if I don't have to but will. I would prefer to only use Quickdraw on fishy looking areas but with the Striker units that's not really and option that I know of. So what do you guys suggest? Thanks in advance!

[ring fry]

You can use QuickDraw while you are using other functions on your unit. It doesn't have to be on the screen to work. So you just fish using your downvu and/or sidevu and record at the same time.

SE Kansas grass grower

[12poundbass]

Yup. I've never used Quickdraw but I'm familiar with it's functions. My only hang up and it's really not that big of a deal is getting to the lake having no mapping and not getting a ton of mapping done just by fishing.

I've used the non Plus Echomap but don't own one. So currently I fish blind beat the banks whenever I go out. I'm afraid I'd continue to do that without mapping. I could spend a couple hours mapping the lake. Like I said I've never used Quickdraw before so maybe it wouldn't take more than a couple hours to map a 300 acre lake.

Just a little background to help you better understand where I'm coming from. I currently have a 14' flat bottom with a trolling motor, I fish very small lakes that are 20-30 acres at most. When I upgrade boats I'm going to upgrade lakes as well with 300 acres being the biggest around and quite big for what I'm used to. I've fished bigger of course being from Michigan but not in 20 years. Maybe I'm over thinking this, which is why I'm asking you guys.

[hays47]

If you don't mind used units. I would haunt the electronics forum on this site. Garmin MFD'S are a little tougher to sell and good deals can be found. I expect that in the not too distant future. That this is going to change. As more and more Humminbird and Lowrance users switch to Garmin.

By picking the chirp series you will be able to run all the panoptix but not live scope. The new high definition SI is also not compatible. The good news is the used PS 21 , PS 22 , PS 30 , PS 31 are selling for about a third of their original retail.

Whenever possible incorporate one of the Panoptix ducers into your system. Not only will it improve your catch but your mapping results also. I have not personally used Quickdraw with my Panoptix but others have liked their results. Hint: if you ice fish opt for the PS 22.

[ncredbear]

One thing you need to do before you dismiss creating your own maps is to check and make sure your lakes are even on the LakeVu map list and to what level. One of the lakes I fish is about 1200 acres but the only Garmin map available is "shoreline only". Meaning there are no contour lines on the map shown on the Garmin unit unless I map the lake myself using QuickDraw. I just mention this since you said the largest lake you fish is 300 acres. It just depends on the area. There is a much smaller lake also nearby that has full HD 1' contour coverage so some small lakes are covered but again it would be wise for you to check if you haven't already so that you know before you by a unit counting on the maps.

[12poundbass]

One thing you need to do before you dismiss creating your own maps is to check and make sure your lakes are even on the LakeVu map list and to what level. One of the lakes I fish is about 1200 acres but the only Garmin map available is "shoreline only". Meaning there are no contour lines on the map shown on the Garmin unit unless I map the lake myself using QuickDraw. I just mention this since you said the largest lake you fish is 300 acres. It just depends on the area. There is a much smaller lake also nearby that has full HD 1' contour coverage so some small lakes are covered but again it would be wise for you to check if you haven't already so that you know before you by a unit counting on the maps.

Good point and I've checked and the quite a few if not all I fish have maps. I'm not sure if any of the bigger lakes have 1' contours. I'm not, not going to use Quickdraw I'd just like having something to start with. You guys might laugh but going on a 300 acres lake with no contour mapping would be daunting to me. I want to start fishing offshore structure instead of beating the banks all the time.

[Rick Collis]

thegpsstore.com has the 94sv chirp with Lake Vu Ultra Hd package for $699.https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-e...dle-P5586.aspx

[12poundbass]

thegpsstore.com has the 94sv chirp with Lake Vu Ultra Hd package for $699.https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-e...dle-P5586.aspx

So this will get me inland lakes with the LakeVu package?

[12poundbass]

thegpsstore.com has the 94sv chirp with Lake Vu Ultra Hd package for $699.https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-e...dle-P5586.aspx

So this will get me inland lakes with the LakeVu package?

[LWINCHESTER2]

No. The echomap CHIRP 9x unit are functionally the same. The last digit indicates which map you get.
92 Basemap
93 Lake maps
94 Blue water
95 Canadian

[12poundbass]

No. The echomap CHIRP 9x unit are functionally the same. The last digit indicates which map you get.
92 Basemap
93 Lake maps
94 Blue water
95 Canadian

Well crap. I knew the 94 was coastal, I thought maybe the Lakeview Ultrad HD package was a special one to get people to buy them considering the 94s are kind of a limited market IMO.

[Rick Collis]

So this will get me inland lakes with the LakeVu package?

Yes. The Ultra maps are the best that Garmin has and that is what comes with this bundle
You could also get a Lake Vu HD card if you want.

[Rick Collis]

No. The echomap CHIRP 9x unit are functionally the same. The last digit indicates which map you get.
92 Basemap
93 Lake maps
94 Blue water
95 Canadian

The Ultra map card comes with this particular bundle. https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-e...dle-P5586.aspx

[12poundbass]

Ok so I'm understanding this I order the 94sv CHIRP with this bundle shown and I have mapping of my Michigan lakes? Is this what you're saying?

[12poundbass]

Just clicked on the link and it says transom mount transducer. This isn't the same as the 93 where it's either a transom or TM transducer?

[Rick Collis]

I have a new 94sv and a 93 sv side by side on my console. The Ultra card shows the exact same maps on either unit. So I would say the Ultra card will show your local lakes. Good luck

[jprovencher80]

Pm Tim @fastbassmarine. You might be in the ball park of you order one plus 93sv with transducer and one without