which chartplotter?

[markg]

finally sorted some summer storage and have to get some gear fitted before it leaves home, i have a standard horizon gx1500 on the way and would like to fit gps while the boat is here. dont want to spend more than i need to, reccomendations for model and supplier would be very welcome, cheers, mark.

[BogMonster]

I've not tried others but am very pleased with my Garmin 556s.

[Channel Ribs]

Value for money you cannot beat the Garmin 750, but if space is tight the 556 is great. Both now come with Bluechart napping data preloaded and both are available in sonar capable versions.

We will try and match any English chandlers ex-vat price.

[markg]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Value for money you cannot beat the Garmin 750, but if space is tight the 556 is great. Both now come with Bluechart napping data preloaded and both are available in sonar capable versions.

We will try and match any English chandlers ex-vat price.

do you stock the lowrance hds-5m or 7m ? i like the option to add the structure scan kit in the future

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by markg

do you stock the lowrance hds-5m or 7m ? i like the option to add the structure scan kit in the future

Yes indeed we do, Structurescan and broadband radar are both fantastic.

I will check on the latest price of the M models, but to give you an idea the HDS5 is 490 and the HDS7 is 849.

[markg]

whats the difference between the hds7 and the hds7m, do they both work with the structure scan kit? cheers, mark.

[Dr Doof]

I think the HDS7 is a plotter / sounder combo, the 7M is plotter only.

I've got a HDS8 plotter / sounder with structure scan. I think its great, very easy to use and really crisp screen images.

I think the 7 comes with a transducer so you just have to buy the chart.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Dr Doof

I think the HDS7 is a plotter / sounder combo, the 7M is plotter only.

Quite right. Though both work with Structurescan, but if you want planing speed sonar then the M version is a no go.

[markg]

from what i have found via google the structure scan gear seems to work best at around 8 knots would i be wasteing money to buy the hds7 when the hds7m would do the same job for a bit less money, the structure scan kit comes with a transducer doesnt it?
a plotter would do me for now but the option to add the structurescan gear when funds allow would be better

[Channel Ribs]

Structurecan does come with the transducer, but it is sometimes good to have depth info (albeit less detailed) while at passage making speeds.

[markg]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Structurecan does come with the transducer, but it is sometimes good to have depth info (albeit less detailed) while at passage making speeds.

thats what i am trying to weigh up, if you had the hds7 and structurescan do they run off the same transducer or do they need separate transducers, basic depth info would be on the plotter display wouldnt it?
many thanks for your help, its a bit confuseing for me

[Dr Doof]

The structure scan uses a separate transducer, its larger than the normal transducer you get with the HDS unit.

[Dr Doof]

The depth reading on mine works fine at all speeds up to around 35 knots.

[markg]

Originally Posted by Dr Doof

The depth reading on mine works fine at all speeds up to around 35 knots.

thanks for the reply, what model do you have the hds7 or the hds7m? if the hds7m is the depth reading comeing from the structure scan transducer or the transducer that comes with the hds7 what i am getting at is does the structure scan gear replace the transducer that is supplied with the hds 7 or work along side it ,do you need both?

[Dr Doof]

I've got HDS8 which is pretty much the same as the HDS7. Depth reading is supplied by the transducer you get with the HDS unit. The structure scan transducer is larger and a different shape to the one you get with the HDS unit.

You need to fit both transducers.

[Dr Doof]

Its a bit hard to see on the photo but the transducers are both to the right side. The larger lower one is the structure scan, the smaller higher one is the HDS sounder.

Its in the marina so I can't take any better photos.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by markg

thats what i am trying to weigh up, if you had the hds7 and structurescan do they run off the same transducer or do they need separate transducers, basic depth info would be on the plotter display wouldnt it?

You will only get basic depth with the none M version, the Structurescan transducer is separate to the basic transducer and does not work at planing speeds. Structurescan is only for slow detailed scanning.

I would recommend getting the dual purpose (nine M) version with the standard transducer, with the option to add Structurescan and radar.

[Dr Doof]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

You will only get basic depth with the none M version, the Structurescan transducer is separate to the basic transducer and does not work at planing speeds. Structurescan is only for slow detailed scanning.

I would recommend getting the dual purpose (nine M) version with the standard transducer, with the option to add Structurescan and radar.

The M models are plotter only aren't they?

The HDS 5 and 7 come with a transducer, the HDS 8 and 10 don't, you have to order the transducer separately.

You need one transducer for your HDS unit.

The structure scan comes with its own transducer. Its a different shape and size to the HDS one. You'll need to fit them both.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Dr Doof

The M models are plotter only aren't they?

Yep

I made a typo on nine instead of none in the brackets.

[9D280]

I'm going to chuck a curveball in here.

Could you use the NMEA2K input and a generic NMEA transducer to get depth as a number, which might widen the possibilites of which plotter you buy? That would potentially mean the only future issue would be "does it talk t othe Structurescan?"