LostPiker Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Hi Spent yesterday sanding the hull at a marina with a force 4 chandler's that had a display of chart plotters and fish finders. Being weak willed magpies we spent a while looking at them and speaking to the guys there. He recommended the Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 with triple shot transducer. £449.99 plus the maps or a Garmin one that I can't remember the model of. What would you guys recommend for a combined plotter/fish finder, about 7 inch screen and about £5 - 600? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 This is a bit like the petrol vs diesel debate; everyone has their own point of view and there isn't really a right or wrong answer. Personally I'm a Lowrance user, and I've had their kit on each of my boats. I like their user interface, which I find very intuitive to use out of the box. I also like their side scanning transducers and the detailed images they can produce. Lastly I like their wide range of peripheral kit e.g. their Point 1 electronic compass and GPS module, or their VHF's. There's an inherent advantage in using nav and comms kit from the same supplier as it all integrates and works seamlessly together. Garmin and other manufacturers will do the same, so it may be helpful to consider what other kit you might want later down the line and make a decision based on the full range of kit available, with one eye on later integration with other products from that range. The Hook Reveal is a decent bit of kit for the money. Can't remember if it is a standalone unit or whether it has network ports or wifi connectivity. These will be helpful if/when you decide to connect your plotter to a VHF, or a second plotter for example, so worth checking before you buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzook12 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Another point to consider is connectivity/expandability, for example, you may decide you want to run a second display unit so you can run maps and sonar on seperate screens.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostPiker Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Any pointers to what is available for them both? I have a standard horizon vhf that has NMEA connection but don't know what the two could share? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 There’s stuff like AIS, Radar, autopilot etc, but the n a smaller boat you probably won’t bother with that stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 4 minutes ago, LostPiker said: Any pointers to what is available for them both? I have a standard horizon vhf that has NMEA connection but don't know what the two could share? Connect your VHF to your plotter for GPS info so that your VHF can send DSC alerts if it's DSC capable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 I have a full Garmin setup. 2x 8410 mfd ais 4k xhd radar. It’s all amazing at helping me blank!! Geoff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 28 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: I have a full Garmin setup. 2x 8410 mfd ais 4k xhd radar. It’s all amazing at helping me blank!! I was really impressed by the way we could watch those fish go swimming passed us in total safety. captin slows old outlaw and Saintly Fish 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 11 minutes ago, JonC said: I was really impressed by the way we could watch those fish go swimming passed us in total safety. It’s always better to watch them than catch them. They make a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDP Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Saintly Fish said: I have a full Garmin setup. 2x 8410 mfd ais 4k xhd radar. It’s all amazing at helping me blank!! Killed my simrad evo 3 and cracked the glass on the 8410 on the run home in the rough stuff yesterday, don't make them tough enough!!!!! Edited August 22, 2021 by JDP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostPiker Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 The vhf has built in gps so I don't think there is any advantage to linking them. Went and put some primer on the boat today and force 4 was open so went and had another look, ordered the Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 with triple shot transducer. Haven't got a map card yet but thinking the navionics hole of uk one for £229 is the one to get unless someone thinks otherwise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 27 minutes ago, LostPiker said: Haven't got a map card yet but thinking the navionics hole of uk one for £229 is the one to get unless someone thinks otherwise? Only if you’re planning on fishing the whole of the UK?? If not, just get one that includes your area. When I got mine it covered the south of England and the channel isles. More than I’ll ever need! Hows the transom rebuild coming along? I guess your done if your AF’ing the boat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 25 minutes ago, LostPiker said: The vhf has built in gps so I don't think there is any advantage to linking them. Went and put some primer on the boat today and force 4 was open so went and had another look, ordered the Lowrance Hook Reveal 7 with triple shot transducer. Haven't got a map card yet but thinking the navionics hole of uk one for £229 is the one to get unless someone thinks otherwise? Just looked them up and the Hook series doesn't have any networking capability so I guess connecting to a VHF is moot. As for a chart card, I use Navionics for navigation and CMap Reveal for sea floor cartography. Either would be fine to get you up & running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostPiker Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 11 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: Only if you’re planning on fishing the whole of the UK?? If not, just get one that includes your area. When I got mine it covered the south of England and the channel isles. More than I’ll ever need! Hows the transom rebuild coming along? I guess your done if your AF’ing the boat!! Yes, transom is all done. Really happy with how it turned out. We got the hull sanded and primed this weekend and hopefully will get a top coat on one evening in the week. Once it's painted just need to refit the engine and take it for a service and fit the new lowrance and glue glue floor down and we are ready Saintly Fish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 I hope you took lots of photos Adam? If so it would be nice if you were to put up a project report incase anybody else reading is going to, or may have to tackle the same issue! Andy135 and suzook12 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostPiker Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, Andy135 said: Just looked them up and the Hook series doesn't have any networking capability so I guess connecting to a VHF is moot. As for a chart card, I use Navionics for navigation and CMap Reveal for sea floor cartography. Either would be fine to get you up & running. As for the charts, the small map seems to stop just east of the IoW which means if we launch at Chichester we can't go east. The whole of the south coast is only £20 less than the whole of the Uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Just now, LostPiker said: As for the charts, the small map seems to stop just east of the IoW which means if we launch at Chichester we can't go east. The whole of the south coast is only £20 less than the whole of the Uk Well, you do trailer. So I suppose £20 extra makes sense, just incase you fancy a trip to black water where @JonC is king! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 25 minutes ago, LostPiker said: As for the charts, the small map seems to stop just east of the IoW which means if we launch at Chichester we can't go east. The whole of the south coast is only £20 less than the whole of the Uk I have the whole of UK. Not needed to use it for outside of my home patch yet but as I have insurance cover to the Bay of Biscay I will use the maps at some point to do a Channel Islands crossing. For the price you may as well get the full UK version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captin slows old outlaw Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 will you be informing the coast gard on your return you might have picked up stow aways on the way back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 I’m a Lowrance fan (Simrad) Tbh, Garmin vs Lowrance comes down to what feels comfortable. My main worry is reliable charts, AIS and Radar as my fishing is bit different. Structure scan etc is not needed for me as I don’t drift fish. I can pick up features on a normal sounder to uptide on or check depth is deep enough for sharks…. As for charts, Navionics is great, whole of U.K. is helpful as you may want to travel and it’s useful when you upgrade your boat (it’ll happen 😉 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostPiker Posted August 26, 2021 Author Share Posted August 26, 2021 On 8/24/2021 at 4:19 PM, Odyssey said: I’m a Lowrance fan (Simrad) Tbh, Garmin vs Lowrance comes down to what feels comfortable. My main worry is reliable charts, AIS and Radar as my fishing is bit different. Structure scan etc is not needed for me as I don’t drift fish. I can pick up features on a normal sounder to uptide on or check depth is deep enough for sharks…. As for charts, Navionics is great, whole of U.K. is helpful as you may want to travel and it’s useful when you upgrade your boat (it’ll happen 😉 ) re boat upgrade - spending time in a marina is very bad for my future bank balance... we have already started discussing our next boat and we haven't even lauched this one yet. Arvor 230 type boat is current favorite although this one is for sale by the marina entrance, just about £50k short at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 41 minutes ago, LostPiker said: re boat upgrade - spending time in a marina is very bad for my future bank balance... we have already started discussing our next boat and we haven't even lauched this one yet. Yep, that's the one thing no-one tells you before you get into boats... there's always a reason to upgrade 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 4 hours ago, Andy135 said: there's always a reason to upgrade 🤣 As you are starting to realise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 26, 2021 Share Posted August 26, 2021 4 hours ago, LostPiker said: re boat upgrade - spending time in a marina is very bad for my future bank balance... we have already started discussing our next boat and we haven't even lauched this one yet. Arvor 230 type boat is current favorite although this one is for sale by the marina entrance, just about £50k short at the moment Those Oqueteau boats are nice. They have a very good if not niche name. More popular on the continent than here but for what reason I don’t know. ive drooled loads over the large 975!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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