Sounder / Plotter combo

[kaman]

The Mrs has been asking what I want, what I really really want for Xmas.
I quite fancy a finder / plotter combo.
I've been looking at The Raymarine Dragonfly 5.
It comes in varations - with / without maps / transducer etc.
I already have a Garmin 300 c fish finder which has been flawless.
For mapping I've been using an old android phone with MX Mariner installed.
This too has worked well but when it's wet the touch screen on the phone goes haywire !
Quite fancy the Dragonfly 5 with CHIRP and Navionics installed. Having both on the same screen snd being able to scroll on the nav screen when wet would be a bonus.
The Dragonfly 5 is coming in at 400 squid with CHIRP and Navionics so I might end up with a black eye for my efforts
Anyone out there able to recommend a decent finder / plotter combo????

[Jeff Stevens 763]

I like lowrance great for fishing force four chandlers had some deals on recently Kaman, I like a big screen too

[sparerib]

My wee lowrance elite is pretty good, but I'd like a bigger screen

[Jeff Stevens 763]

My wee lowrance elite is pretty good, but I'd like a bigger screen

I have the 7 inch but my elite sounder failed at 14 months, lowrance replaced it FOC for the new hook model result and costumer service is second to none from them in my expearence

[Paul]

I've a Lowrance and it's been loaded with Navionics maps.
It's performed well but both Jeff and Sparerib comments are worth taking note of
Force Four do some great deals from time to time (after Xmas) and big screens are the way to go as we grow older

[9-R]

We have the Lowrance HDS7 1st gen that came with the boat. Friend of mine has the 2nd gen version which is much better. What I like about his is the touch screen and quick wireless download of his charts to this phone. Both have side sonar but we've both struggled to make them useful. Both have been finicky and it seems I have to soft or hard reset mine often. I have lowrance standard charts but he has Navionics which I like more but the ones we have are fine and still useful.

Our boat manufacturer has recently been installing Raymarine's on their boats. I've heard good things about that brand as well. I would just make sure it has touch screen because it makes it so much easier scrolling around.

In our boat the 7" is fine with split screen and of course wouldn't mind larger. I tend to make the chart area larger and the depth scan about a 1/3 of the page. I think 5" would be fine but may start being too small for my poor eye sight. Either way, I think you will be very happy with it!

[kaman]

Cheers guy's for the feedback.
I've not looked at Lowrance models yet so I'll swot up on them before I go to bed tonite.

[kaman]

Looks like some good deals on Lowrance Combo's.
Pardon my ignorance - I was looking at Lowrance Hook-5 Combo with - UK C-Map MAX-N Chart.
I've heard of Navionics etc.......
How good is UK C-Map MAX-N Chart and how easy / expensive is it to change / upgrade the mapping?

[kaman]

Looks like some good deals on Lowrance Combo's.
Pardon my ignorance - I was looking at Lowrance Hook-5 Combo with - UK C-Map MAX-N Chart.
I've heard of Navionics etc.......
How good is UK C-Map MAX-N Chart and how easy / expensive is it to change / upgrade the mapping?

[Martin]

I’m a cheapskate lol (well I am a Yorkshireman)
I run navionics app on my iPad on the boat, the navionics is superb and only £27 ish a year to update. It’s coupled to the vexilar sonar kit (when I need it) which comes with a transducer, downscan works at slow speeds but is pretty useless over 10mph ish.
If you have an iPad, you can get a 30 day free trial, you’ll be amazed how in depth the system is for the price. The 10” screen is great for viewing whilst on the move. I have my iPad in a lifeproof case, water doesn’t bother the screen much and it’s easy to work.