I currently have a Garmin GPSMAP 441s on my boat. It does everything I want it to do and more and, there is nothing wrong with it but, I wish the screen were bigger. My near vision isn’t what it used to be so I’d love a bigger screen. My boat is only 18’ with limited console space so 7" is about all I can squeeze on it. Price goes up a lot after 7" as well.
I am starting to save my pennies for a new unit. I just put a new Airmar P66 transducer on the boat so, if there is something that would match up with it, that would be good.
Anyway, looking for some recommendations for reasonably priced Chartplotter/sounder in a 7", preferably in a Garmin if I can get something to match up with my transducer. If not, I’m all ears.
I fish coastal SC, Florida and the Keys.
check out the garmin echmomap 74sv. Comes preloaded with their bluechart g2 maps and has chirp traditional, down view, and side view sonars. Alot of features for the money. We do alot of them on new boats. Great unit for the price.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot.”
I love the Simrad GO units for budget needs. You can snag the 7" with totalscan ducer for $599 and cheaper sometimes when on sale. My experience with the other brands’ newer models is limited, but the Lowrance units (same company as Simrad) are nice too. But the intuitive and easy to learn user interface sold me. Add on a Sonichub media center unit under the console and run your radio, bluetooth, USB, satellite radio, etc. all through the unit and eliminate some dash clutter. I love mine, but it’s still more than I need.
Good luck, it’s a hard decision. Try and get out on the water with a few different ones and check em out if possible.
I have a Garmin 7607XSV, its a decent unit. The 74SV is good too, but the actual dimensions/cut out in dash are larger than the XSV…touchscreen VS buttons on the side. I haven’t had much luck with the sidescan part of the unit.
That Simrad Go7 is what I would get. I have an hds7 gen2 touch on my boat, and the go7 is basically the same thing in a newer and nicer package with even more bells and whistles. For less than half the price of what I paid for mine a few years ago. The trackback function is the bomb!
Initially I was hoping to stay with Garmin and find something that would work with my brand new transducer (which was a ***** to install) but, if I am going new, I guess I should be open to any/all units out there in my price range. Also, I am comfortable using the Garmin but, I don’t guess I am so stupid I can’t learn how to use something newer. SHUT UP Peapod.
Thanks for the input so far.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Have the same combo until as you. I decided to just add a second screen. Not sure if you have the room, but I found the 4" Garmin fine just for gps. Then added a Lowrance Elite 7" sonar and scrapped the sonar on the Garmin. Love having 2 screens so I can have dedicated controls to change each function separately. Lowrance is the way to go on sonar. Love the Garmin for gps. Not sure if this route will help you.
Don’t rule out the raymarine dragonfly 7. Powerful unit with a nice size 7" screen. Easy to use and a great chirp sonar, down vision and navigation as well. I’ve enjoyed having it as a second unit as well as my dad.
Another vote for the Simrad GO7 xse. I am still figuring out new ways to make use of all that it will do. I have mine connected to my i-Pad to serve as a second (larger) screen. It lets you control the unit through the i-Pad as well which is helpful. I run the sonar on the Simrad and then use the Navionics app on the i-Pad for navigation. It gives me the features of two units for the price of one since I already had the i-Pad.
