2016 Garmin Package

[Vezo, Part II]

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

[RUSTYNTABATHA]

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 ...

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

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

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.
.

[kmoose]

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.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by kmoose

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.

My brother just got this on Moose`s rec and loves it. Makes my Runo 1650 look like a dinosaur.

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

Makes my Runo 1650 look like a dinosaur.

Maybe the "Runo" screen sees the same thing when it looks back at the helm. - OLD! It could be a Kelvan Hughes 8" paper machine! You can have stuff on board that lights up like a Chrismas tree with all the bells and whistles but at the end of the day you gotta' ask - what's in the fish box?

[Vezo, Part II]

I got a good price from SemperFi, Gil Travis, but forget to ask about synchronizing Etec. Called my local dealer and they stated that the NMEA cable does not run back to the outboard but to the gauges. Duh? So will I end up having to replace/upgrade the gauges/tach? Trying to get down this weekend because my 2006 Etec was purchased as a leftover in 2009 and installed. Maybe the current guage will work.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Terry England

Maybe the "Runo" screen sees the same thing when it looks back at the helm. - OLD! It could be a Kelvan Hughes 8" paper machine! You can have stuff on board that lights up like a Chrismas tree with all the bells and whistles but at the end of the day you gotta' ask - what's in the fish box?

I still fish by landmarks.

110 off the Tiara. 142 off the Church. Line up the Eiffel tower with the south dome in 90.
7 windows, the rock pile and on and on. We look at ugly condos whilst fishing here and they look back at us.

Ziggy was down from Vahmont and got a 30 lb blackfin off 7 windows.

Vezo, try etecownersgroup.com
They are all knowing.

Do you have system check or ICom?

[Vezo, Part II]

All I can say at this point is my 99 Johnson on the MA has the old system check. The Etec I would guess is still a "system check" because it ain't like Denny's...

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by Terry England

Maybe the "Runo" screen sees the same thing when it looks back at the helm. - OLD! It could be a Kelvan Hughes 8" paper machine! You can have stuff on board that lights up like a Chrismas tree with all the bells and whistles but at the end of the day you gotta' ask - what's in the fish box?

That is the truth brother, all the stuff in the world won't put fish on the deck but I have to say this new gear is pretty amazing. I have found tons of new spots with the side scan that the JRC missed. That said the ol girl still earns her keep on the dash as nothing can see a 6" ledge at 30 knots like that old box can.