Garmin or Lowrance

[Dr Doof]

Hello, I'm looking at Garmin 750s or Lowrance HDS7.

Does anyone have an opinion on either to help me make a decision on which one to purchase?

Pros and cons of each?

Thank you in advance.

[BogMonster]

Not those models but I specified a Garmin 556s for my new RIB and now wish I'd gone for a Lowrance because having seen the photos on RIBnet I now want to add the Lowrance Structure Scan module - so might be worth looking at that and seeing if you think you'll ever want it because it only works with Lowrance chartplotters.

Other than that I have no idea which one is best but it's something I am cursing!

[Dr Doof]

Thanks for the reply.

The structure scan looks really interesting, I think its around £500 extra.

I'm not sure what the Garmin sounder images look like?

Also if adding radar at a later date the Garmin is around £1000 and the Lowrance is £1770.

Just don't know which one to go for, maybe Lowrance is worth the extra cost?

[BogMonster]

Can't help you with the Garmin sounder images as my boat is not quite here yet (8 days and counting ) - but I'm sort of stuck with that now as my Garmin has an in-hull transducer so I'd need to chisel that off and replace it if I swapped to Lowrance so what I'm currently planning is to get the Lowrance HDS-5x sounder at some point in the future and fit that and the structure scan module and tranducer, which seems to be the cheapest option. Plan B would be to flog the 556s on Ebay and get a larger HDS head unit to do both plotter and sounder/structure scan but I haven't made that decision yet. As far as I know nothing that Garmin offers is anything like the Structure Scan though.

Not being somebody that is ever likely to put radar on my rib I can't say I have done a lot of research into that but from what I have read with passing interest on the subject in the mags, the one that looks to be head and shoulders above the others in terms of image resolution is the Lowrance broadband radar - I have no idea what it costs nor what its max range is but the level of detail looks amazing compared to a normal radar.

I'm starting to sound like a Lowrance salesman despite not owning anything made by them

[markymarkP]

go for the lowrance, both good bits of kit, but the lowrance have extras you can add later

also you may find the HDS 5 screen a bit small, the HDS 7 is better!

[Dr Doof]

Thanks again.

2 votes for Lowrance then.

The Garmin is touch screen but that could be a downside, its already getting a bit colder so will have to get the gloves out soon, I don't think touch screen works with gloves.

You can add radar to both units at a later date, they both look good.

Lowrance looks a bit more robust? and the structure scan looks fantastic.

Still unsure , bound to go for the wrong one...

Thanks for the replies

[markymarkP]

we are just installing teh lowrance one on our rib, with the sidescan. its beautiful!

[ashbypower]

We were looking at both these makes to fit to the new RiB due in a month
Decided on Lowrance as before. Was put off by the Garmin Touchscreen, it wont work with gloves!!
So it's a lowrance HDS for us, and add structure scan later.

[Dr Doof]

Which one are you installing, is it the HDS7?

[markymarkP]

yep. the HDS 7 it is!

this week, so cant wait!

also the thing to remember with Lowrance is that it is Plug in and Play,
nothing technical to do, its all sorted beforehand.
even when you want to add stuff in, it simply plugs in.

you can have 3 screens attatched with the sidescan too! so you can have one in the console, one in the front, one atthe back! how's that for cool!

so, it gets my vote every time!

garmin is good stuff, no getting away from it, but i really do think that Lowrance have pipped them on several areas.

[Dr Doof]

Sounds good.

Think I'll get the lowrance ordered then, want to get it fitted this week if possible.

Thanks for the advice.

[Dr Doof]

Spoke to Marine scene and there selling the Lowrance HDS 8 for the same price I can get the HDS 7 locally and delivery is free!

Ordering tomorrow.

Thanks for advice, very helpful and good luck with your new ribs.

[markymarkP]

even better!

i will have a bet with you, you will have the structure scan within weeks as well

[Dr Doof]

I know, really tempted to just order the side scan now. Then I can get on with fitting it all at the same time.

Not very good at being patient.. will definitely have to wait for radar though.

Is yours fully installed now? Have you tried it yet?

[markymarkP]

nope, this week, but i am like a kid in a sweet shop!
i was going to just get the HDS, but the side scan is only a teeny bit more......
at least, thats how i thought!!

its no good, they come as a pair, shame to split them up!!

hoping to try mine saturday for the first time, so i will report back

[Dr Doof]

Sounds fantastic, look forward to hearing how the first outing goes.

Didn't manage to order anything today so I'll get on the them first thing tomorrow.

[markymarkP]

mine arrived yesterday, and by 6pm last evening it was up and running! took about two hours to fit, very simple, and looks great.

try out will be this weekend.

review so far on the Lowrance HDS8 is that the screen is so clear, operating it looks reasonably simple, but loads to learn yet!

very well chuffed! Lowrance is the best IMHO

[Simon B]

We have the HDS7, important difference between it and the 8 is 2 MMC slots on the 8 and soft keys but only 1 MMC slot and no soft keys on the 7.

I'm interested in sonar logging, being able to save to an alternate card and still keep map card in place may be an advantage. Not used an 8 so cannot comment on the value or not of the soft keys.

I'm a Lowrance man so am biased, shame our fueling information is still very temperamental.

[BruceB]

The sonar logging works to the internal memory which you can then download into an MMC card when on shore.
It does log but I was a bit disappointed in the detail level when logging side scan info..

[Dr Doof]

Ordered HDS 8 last week.

Should be here Tuesday.

Glad you got yours sorted. I'll let you know how I get on when it arrives.