JAWallace
12-03-2013, 10:20 AM
I replaced a Raymarine sonar and Airmar transducer, which I seriously hated and could never seem to read well, with the new Lowrance unit recently. I LOVE this unit and wanted to give a quick review.
First, in the 7" screen size don't waste your time looking at competitive models around that price point, because there are none. Lowrance has broken the $1000 barrier with the Elite 7 and no one can touch it. I paid just over $700 out the door from West Marine for the unit, 'ducer, and Navionics Gold Chip including tax. It looks like some people are starting to discount the Elite 7 now so you might do better elsewhere.
I did have to swap the 'ducer as it was missing a part, so I'm glad I bought it locally. West actually has a couple of people who really know the unit and they have been extremely helpful. I don't normally have high expectations there.
GPS
This comes with an internal antenna, and I have had no problems with the satellite locating my position on the Delta. It does take a minute or so, but once you're found it holds. Lowrance has vastly improved the user experience with this unit, and zooming in or out is push button easy. The Navionics Gold Chip is probably necessary for the Delta--the base system is severely lacking in contours. The cursor is very easy to move around, even while running. This is a light years improvement over my previous Lowrance GPS units.
Sonar
Same as always, a little more clear, and fairly easy to adjust the sensitivity. My old transducer was mounted on the port side of the transom. My 12' skiff has a hull similar to a Whaler, and for whatever reason Whaler recommends mounting the 'ducer on the port side. After researching I decided to install this one on the starboard side and it's a big improvement. I do lose the screen at about 19 mph, but that's only about 3 mph below my top speed and I am sure I can adjust this so it won't drop out. I'm sure the Doel Fin backwash doesn't help either.
DSI
This is an incredible feature, and based on what I had read I didn't expect it to be of much value. It's also a rare case where the actual display is better than what Lowrance shows in their pictures. It's like having a camera below the boat.
I was fishing a skinny slough in the Delta, and wasn't marking any fish. I was toggling between the DSI and Sonar, when suddenly the DSI screen picked up dozens of stripers, 2' above the bottom. It was like an underwater snapshot it was so clear. I backed off, made two casts, two fish to the boat. I would totally have missed these with the sonar alone.
You can view any combination of the three features on the screen. Full DSI, half DSI, half sonar, GPS and sonar, or all three at once. It's extremely easy to do this too, with one button and "enter."
The Elite 7 can be networked with NMEA, but I no longer need that capability. The Lowrance documentation is skimpy, and doesn't explain the non NMEA installation well, but you'll figure it out or hit me up if you have questions. The other minor negative is that you have to buy a cover separately. $20 on eBay.
I like the 7" screen for two reasons. One, there's a lot of real estate to see, and with my small boat I can swivel the unit in the RAM mount to face the bow and read it pretty well. That eliminates the need for two units for small craft. Two, my eyes aren't great and I can read this easily with my regular prescription sunglasses. With a smaller screen, I'd have to use reading glasses which is another huge PITA.
For the younger folks, or for a setup with two units where you're fairly close to them, the Elite 5 should be fine and it's a lot less money--$350 ish now on sale not including the Nav chip. I will probably rig another RAM Mount for using the Elite 7 on my pontoon. The GPS won't help without a lake chip showing contours, but the DSI is so good it seems less like overkill now that I've used it.
Don't think you can depend upon the iPhone/ipad Navionics app for GPS. Last year I was in the San Joaquin and missed my turn (discovered 5 marker buoys later) because my cell reception dropped without me realizing it. It is a GREAT app for contours and tracking IF you have cell reception. I am considering buying a chip for our local lakes, but for the most part the iPad/iPhone with a water proof case should be OK--it's just more stuff in the boat. The Nav Gold isn't perfect, but it's a big improvement over the Lowrance base.
Upgrading Tip:
If you want to sell your existing unit to help fund this one, consider parting it out. I sold my Airmar transducer and Raymarine head separately, and totally parted out an old Lowrance unit. I sold each cable, NMEA connectors, and the transducer and head separately and raised almost $1000. I paid $700 for the Lowrance in 2006 and the Raymarine came with the boat. I would have netted half that by selling them as complete packages.
~John
First, in the 7" screen size don't waste your time looking at competitive models around that price point, because there are none. Lowrance has broken the $1000 barrier with the Elite 7 and no one can touch it. I paid just over $700 out the door from West Marine for the unit, 'ducer, and Navionics Gold Chip including tax. It looks like some people are starting to discount the Elite 7 now so you might do better elsewhere.
I did have to swap the 'ducer as it was missing a part, so I'm glad I bought it locally. West actually has a couple of people who really know the unit and they have been extremely helpful. I don't normally have high expectations there.
GPS
This comes with an internal antenna, and I have had no problems with the satellite locating my position on the Delta. It does take a minute or so, but once you're found it holds. Lowrance has vastly improved the user experience with this unit, and zooming in or out is push button easy. The Navionics Gold Chip is probably necessary for the Delta--the base system is severely lacking in contours. The cursor is very easy to move around, even while running. This is a light years improvement over my previous Lowrance GPS units.
Sonar
Same as always, a little more clear, and fairly easy to adjust the sensitivity. My old transducer was mounted on the port side of the transom. My 12' skiff has a hull similar to a Whaler, and for whatever reason Whaler recommends mounting the 'ducer on the port side. After researching I decided to install this one on the starboard side and it's a big improvement. I do lose the screen at about 19 mph, but that's only about 3 mph below my top speed and I am sure I can adjust this so it won't drop out. I'm sure the Doel Fin backwash doesn't help either.
DSI
This is an incredible feature, and based on what I had read I didn't expect it to be of much value. It's also a rare case where the actual display is better than what Lowrance shows in their pictures. It's like having a camera below the boat.
I was fishing a skinny slough in the Delta, and wasn't marking any fish. I was toggling between the DSI and Sonar, when suddenly the DSI screen picked up dozens of stripers, 2' above the bottom. It was like an underwater snapshot it was so clear. I backed off, made two casts, two fish to the boat. I would totally have missed these with the sonar alone.
You can view any combination of the three features on the screen. Full DSI, half DSI, half sonar, GPS and sonar, or all three at once. It's extremely easy to do this too, with one button and "enter."
The Elite 7 can be networked with NMEA, but I no longer need that capability. The Lowrance documentation is skimpy, and doesn't explain the non NMEA installation well, but you'll figure it out or hit me up if you have questions. The other minor negative is that you have to buy a cover separately. $20 on eBay.
I like the 7" screen for two reasons. One, there's a lot of real estate to see, and with my small boat I can swivel the unit in the RAM mount to face the bow and read it pretty well. That eliminates the need for two units for small craft. Two, my eyes aren't great and I can read this easily with my regular prescription sunglasses. With a smaller screen, I'd have to use reading glasses which is another huge PITA.
For the younger folks, or for a setup with two units where you're fairly close to them, the Elite 5 should be fine and it's a lot less money--$350 ish now on sale not including the Nav chip. I will probably rig another RAM Mount for using the Elite 7 on my pontoon. The GPS won't help without a lake chip showing contours, but the DSI is so good it seems less like overkill now that I've used it.
Don't think you can depend upon the iPhone/ipad Navionics app for GPS. Last year I was in the San Joaquin and missed my turn (discovered 5 marker buoys later) because my cell reception dropped without me realizing it. It is a GREAT app for contours and tracking IF you have cell reception. I am considering buying a chip for our local lakes, but for the most part the iPad/iPhone with a water proof case should be OK--it's just more stuff in the boat. The Nav Gold isn't perfect, but it's a big improvement over the Lowrance base.
Upgrading Tip:
If you want to sell your existing unit to help fund this one, consider parting it out. I sold my Airmar transducer and Raymarine head separately, and totally parted out an old Lowrance unit. I sold each cable, NMEA connectors, and the transducer and head separately and raised almost $1000. I paid $700 for the Lowrance in 2006 and the Raymarine came with the boat. I would have netted half that by selling them as complete packages.
~John