North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Rossco, I have the Raymarine A57D for the same type of fishing you want to do. The big selling point for me was their reputation and the THREE Year Warranty! Pretty hard go past that. I was very impressed with a mates Lowrance Structure scan on the Daly. I will buy a second sounder most prob a HB for structure scan, but forking out big bucks again for a 12 month warranty is a little concerning after my last Lowrance. Additionally the RayMarine comes pre loaded with silver charts. Check BIAS for their special on the RayMarines.

doors off wrote: but forking out big bucks again for a 12 month warranty is a little concerning after my last Lowrance.

Hey DO,
I just got a HDS7 last week and was told 2 years waranty, have has a play in the driveway but not on the water yet, seems simple enough to me to use, I & O did a good price, cheaper than the net!

Bullet,

that is great to hear. About time they started increasing their warranty periods. Lowrance might be back on the radar. Did you have to online register for the extended warranty? Good to hear some of the retailers are coming back to real world of pricing. No doubt you will have it on the water real soon sounding out some new Barra haunts. Look forward to the posts and articles, which are always great.

Cheers,

Doors Off

doors off wrote:Bullet,

that is great to hear. About time they started increasing their warranty periods. Lowrance might be back on the radar. Did you have to online register for the extended warranty? Good to hear some of the retailers are coming back to real world of pricing. No doubt you will have it on the water real soon sounding out some new Barra haunts. Look forward to the posts and articles, which are always great.

Cheers,

Doors Off

Hey D.O.

Pretty sure the 2 years is standard now, Michael from I & O was saying that now simrad are mix up with Lowrance they've had far less issues with them. The ones that have come back he said a reboot usually sorts them out.

Rossco if you have any questions RE the bird v's Lowrance, Michael at I & O is a guru with the sounders/GPS stuff.

I have a HB997c on one of my boat and replaced the hds 5 with a new hds 10 on the other boat. I still prefer using the hummingbird as the quick set buttons on the right can be customized to save your most used screens and only takes one button to switch. It has down and side scan which was upgraded free via a software download!

The hds screen itself looks great, colour is awesome and can be set to use different colour palettes. I don't like the fact you have to purchase a separate transducer to run down and side scan where as it's free on the HB. I did pay extra to purchase the network cable which runs from the Suzuki to the lowrance unti where I can see actual fuel usage rates, temperatures and levels which is great although I can't figure out how to get the trim gauge working properly!

To conclude although the screen on the HB is smaller, it is so much easier to use, easier to locate way points and I prefer it to the lowrance. I find the lowrance harder to get exactly on a waypoint as the zoom function isn't as easy to use.

Ive got a new HB 798c SI and the side imaging is OK. I got it mainly as a GPS and for the Side Imaging. Good job cos it doesnt even get close to my old raymarine in the bluewater sounding stakes - the Raymarine kicks its ass.

If your after sounder performance and dont really care about structure scan go Raymarine.

If your after SI/Structure Scan then save up your pennies and get the biggest screen you can afford - the 7xx series is just a bit small ...

What model R.M did you have pred'? ive got a A65 and don't really rate it that highly.

DS500X - shes pretty old now but still works great

ken_dog wrote:What model R.M did you have pred'? ive got a A65 and don't really rate it that highly.

I am supprised .... As I have seen and used a few raymarine sounders and when set up correctly there the ducks nuts..

mmmmmmm "set up correctly" being the key

I'm also going to give Michael at I&O a shameless plug for setting me up with a HDS 7 with Structure scan at a internet price.

If you look on eBay in&out are about the cheapest in aus... About time a Darwin company with high turn over of a product did the right thing.