Electronics upgrade - Furuno 627 / Humminbird 798cxi

[xxMothxx]

I've managed to crack the screen on my trusty old Humminbird 757 so I figure it is time to upgrade. I have a Makocraft Frenzy 500 which I mainly use around the Gold Coast (both estuary and offshore) and also like to take it north once a year or so.

At this stage my plan is to get a Humminbird 798cxi HD for the GPS and estuary work and to get a Furuno FCV-627 for offshore. I want to have the GPS talking to the sounder and also to my VHF.

I'm keen to hear from anyone that has used this kind of set up and whether this is better than getting one of the bigger combo units. Also, if I put in this combo, is the 587 worth the extra coin over the 627, especially as I don't tend to fish in more than about 80m of water when offshore.

[xxMothxx]

Other options I'm considering on this set up are:

Get a Garmin 557xs with TM150M CHIRP transducer instead of the Furuno. This gives me a better GPS than the Humminbird with maps but I'm not sure which is a better sounder for my purposes.

The other approach is to get a Simrad NSS8 with Lowrance Structure Scan and 83/200 transducers and just have the one unit.

Price is about the same for all three setups so I'm looking for peoples opinions on any of the above as I'm unsure at this stage.

[Giffo65]

I have a combo unit in my boat, and it is driving me crazy swapping between screens, I know you can split the screen but it is like a matchbox , it is a HDS5 and was in the boat when I got it.

[chocolatemoose]

garmin is a fine unit. i dont think the TM150M is a chirp transducer. i think atm the only chirp transducers available for the new 557 & 751 are through hull 600w's 95khz-155 and 130-210options
but that being said the HD-ID 77/200 is a pretty decent bit of kit for a sounder like that. 870 bucks for a great chirp capable mapped HD 5"unit with WIFI
plus inland maps if you do head into those estuaries

[xxMothxx]

i dont think the TM150M is a chirp transducer.

I'm pretty sure the TM150M is a CHIRP transducer. Either that or it is the most expensive 300W pulse transducer on the market today

I think I'm leaning towards the 557 with a 798cxi as the best combo for me. I've thought about the NSS8 set up but I think two 5" screens are better than one 8" screen and I can get side imaging and a CHIRP sounder for under $3k.

[chocolatemoose]

sorry total mental cafuffle . i got confused with another transducer. all good

[Jarrah Jack]

sorry total mental cafuffle . i got confused with another transducer. all good

Winter in Melb can do that to anyone.

[xxMothxx]

Well after plenty of umming and arhing I've placed the order and hopefully everything will arrive next week. I've ordered the Humminbird 798cxi HD and the Garmin 557xs locally and then ordered the TM150M transducer from the US as apparently nobody in Aus has any stock.

[chocolatemoose]

oh i would say winter has shown some nice days on the bay. i was on the water with sean clancy from humminbird on tuesday morning at the outer artificial. playing with 360 and ipilot link. . and it was magic on the water. clear . windless. wenesday was the same

great units you got going on there moth. grab a TOPO card and a G2 card get the best of all worlds