2016 Garmin Package
 

Reaching out for some good recommendations for my new to me Seafari. I will primarily be using this rig in the Gulf out of Hernando Beach, hoping for 50 to 60 miles out for grouper, but also plan to travel around the state for fishing and rendevouxs. My first and only experience was a 2005 545s, which was more than acceptable. Had an upgraded transom mounted transducer which held bottom throughout most speeds on a refurbed 82 BW Sport 15.

I also am considering learning to free dive. I like the idea of mounting a transducer in hull in a custom bath of antifreeze. Not sure if this could save some money on the transducer, but I've heard that it works well. My budget is roughly 1500 to 2000 tops because I still need to purchase the Smart gauge tach for the Etec 150. Windlass anchor temporarily on hold. Would really like to stay with Garmin and will need an installer in Hernando County, as well.

Thanks,
Part II

you may not need the tach... just pick up the $100 cord to hook it to whatever unit you buy... I use lowrance .... but with that budget would step up to Simrad... I have 2 HDS 7s the last one I picked up online for 699 from academy with a 100 rebate... I am networking them, the motor, sonic hub and plan to add the 3 or 4 g radar .... the addition of the radar and sonic hub was why I went with lowrance .... their radar is lighter and uses less power with better clarity than the others ... I am using the transom mounted transducer for now.... and haven't really planned to change this so I can get water temp readings .... I did get to use a 12" garmin and liked it a lot .... easy to use ... good clear screen even in sunlight... I installed all of my stuff with very little effort... nothing too difficult with any of it .... I have a good bit tied up in my noise maker also with 4 Rockford fosgate 6 1/2's a 10" completion bazooka sub running off a 600 watt 5 channel amp... ( my old mariner was loud so I needed a LOUD radio... Good luck on the endless choices ...

Mike, Stay with the internal tub or thru-hull in Bayort - too much grass with all the bait shrimpers working all night for a transom mount. You will be "blinded" before you get to the Sea bouy ("HB" Tripod). You will go nuts backing up to clear the grass. Get out there off shore in a couple of weeks and on a cloudless day you can see the rock pile in 30' of water. Try a little north of west and look in approximately the 15' depths, 24' depths and 32' depths. That's what Conner taught me in the 70's and he's really old and sneaky.
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Mike,
The Garmin 94 SV Chirp is an exceptional unit that I was allowed to test for Garmin before it was released. It's a 9" unit that does has everything including the engine monitoring features you want as well as traditional chirp, downvu and sidescan. I have tested all of the transom mount ducers and have not had one issue with weed loading in the worst conditions as Garmin radically changed design over the Airmar transom mounts. Garmin also offers a good in hull, liquid filled ducer but you loose sidescan with that and that is what really helps finding new bottom. This set up would be well within your budget and give you all that you want in bottom finding and awesome plotter functions. Installation is a breeze and I would be more than happy to help you do it right at my house. I have water near by so testing is not an issue.

Here are some real screen shots from my boat during testing.

More

Plotter

Moree

Cabelas website has a garmin in their bargain bin currently for half price ...

That's the 73 SV non chirp and was a first generation of the SV models prior to Garmin adding chirp to the SV line. It's still a great unit but it's lacking chirp and other good features such as offshore maps. It has lake vu maps included but by the time you spend the money on a map chip for saltwater you still have a non-chirp unit and I don't think it does engine data. Another feature the 94 SV Chirp has is screen shot captures and real time bottom contour mapping. Yep, you can now build your own private detailed bottom mapping as you go. The 94 SV Chirp also has a very cool quick release mounting option that keeps you from having to disconnect the power and transducer cords. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it at first but I grew rather fond of it after dealing with the cables on my 7610 xsv. You also have to consider screen size. the 9" screen is a huge jump over the 7".