CaptSpike

I installed my Autopilot and I had already had Hydraulic steering. I will say that it is going to be very boat dependent on how long it would take to install. If everything is easily accessable then obviously it would take less time. There also has to be room to place all the needed components. I could see it taking 8 hrs again depending on the layout of the particular boat. Spike

Managed a couple walleye this spring fishing at night in the river by the hotels. Headed back up late Aug. and was wondering if it's worth targeting walleye at night that time of year. Thanks Spike

My unit had preloaded maps on it. When I called Garmin to complain (hoping there were upgrades to the installed maps) I was told that their best maps were loaded on the screen. Yup it looked great it just wasn't accurate. My biggest beef was their not highlighting the top or bottom of the contours. So you didn't know how shallow it might get if you were going over a hump. Then again the readings were so far off I guess why would they bother giving the highs and lows, lol. Don't believe me go to the store and play with their plotters. You will see what I'm talking about as far as lack of detailing of the depths on the maps) For accuracy unfrtunately you need to be on the water to see that big fail. Spike

http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/topic/52342-garmin-mapping-on-their-ffgps-combo-and-i-assume-stand-alone-chart-plotter/ Yup same issue with me I returned the unit. Spike

Had that happen to mine before. Once it was the switch. Next two times (each rigger) it was the board. Either way easy to change yourself. Good luck. Spike

It was preloaded on the machine. It is supposed to be the max def chart. Had a ton of contour lines but failed to label the high and low spots so you didn't know a hole from a hump or what to expect for min. depth if you ran over one. That along with inaccurate depth labels (machine labeled 175' actually 90') made my decision to return it. Maybe it was only that map but it is the map I use most so I couldn't live with it. Check yours out and see if it labels high and low points. Spike

Well I got up to look at some units today. I was unable to check out the lake 4d mapping in the Furuno GP1870F due to the place only carrying coastal maps. The unit itself looked great and for someone who has navigated electronics it was fairly easy to find what you were looking for. If you were a beginner I don't think the same would apply. I got hung up on the C-map and my unfamiliarity of them. I also checked out the Si-tex SVS 560, which seemed small after looking at the GP1870F Furuno unit, lol. The Si-tex was also easy to navigate and looked good. The only thing I got hung up on was the Si-tex wouldn't take the 4d maps just the Max maps along with Navionics maps (whitch was a plus). The SVS880CF was just a tad larger than the GP1870F. I was talking myself into the larger unit because they looked so much better and I figured with a RAM mount I could find space to mount it. Needless to say I left without purchasing a FF/plotter. After I got home I started to research the Lowrance models and figured maybe I'll just drop one back in and deal with the menu navigation issues I didn't like about Lowrance. So after comparing apples to apples I found that Lowrance units in the same size range were pretty close in price to what I could get the Furuno or Si-tex units for. In some case more expensive due to touch screens and down vision. I had pretty much ruled out touch screens. I can't stand a finger print on my FF/plottter now nevermind a days worth of finger prints. So after careful evaluation and reading countless reviews I decided to order up the Furuno GP1870F. It will be a gamble on the maps for me as I am not familiar with C-map. But I figure the sonar will be hands down the best. I don't see myself needing downscan for the type of fishing I do and from what I read about CHIRP it doesn't really help that much either. The Si-tex was a close second but I'd figure I'd jump into the latest mapping technology out there (plus I could get the Furuno cheaper). The mapping may or may not be a big deal. Guess I'll find out. I'll let you know what I think after I get it installed. Spike

I was hoping when I called to complain about it they would tell me there was an upgrade or something for it, but not the case. The unit looked great in the store, easy to navigate and easy to install. I was just disapointed with the depth detail. All the bouy's were in the right place but they seemed to have missed the boat on marking tops and bottoms of contours. An important piece of info fishing Lake Winni. Maybe if I didn't down rig and require somewhat accurate info I would have been pleased with the unit. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Spike

Just got an email from fed ex saying it shipped today.........................................Due here on the7th.............................. Oh well Spike

Anyone have a good contact number for Cisco.I got my new planer mast but it was short a backing plate. I called a few times and emailed before someone finally answered and said they'd send one right out. Well two weeks later and I'm still waiting. I've been unsuccessful trying to reach them thru email or the phone. Is this typical from these guys? I didn't get that impression reading about them on here. However it is what it is. Hoping someone has a better number for me to reach them. Thanks spike

Anyone running the Furuno GP1670F or the GP1870F? Also looking for reviews of the Si-tex SVS560CF, SVS760CF or the SVS880CF. Was also recommended to look at Raymarine, but my last impression of their combo units was not good (A65). I'm told they have come a long way. Anyone confirm that? Thanks, Spike Not interested in Lowrance , Garmin, or Hummingbird.

I did find the map listings. It is on a map itself where you zoom into an area and refresh and it shows the first 100 maps. Apparently the guy at Garmin doesn't know how to use their own software. Lake Winni is a MAX def map according to this chart. So I was right their mapping is horrible. Time to make another call. Spike

Warning to everyone considering a Garmin FF/chart plotter combo from Garmin. I purchased one due to the increased detail of the map over what I had on a hand held unit. What I didn't realize was I assumed the detail was accurate. After a trip to Lake Winnipesaukee (in NH) I realized their mapping of the lake wasn't even close to accurate. It said I was over 175 feet of water when in fact I was only over 90 feet. That isn't quite close enough for my liking. The next thing I didn't like was the map didn't have enough ft markings around structure. I could see contour lines but I didn't know if it was a hole or a hump because the sounding wasn't labeled. This was on the "most" setting. So I picked Garmin due to the easier navigation on the menus I found the unit lacking in the detail of the lake I was on that day. I called Garmin to complain and was told we can't send someone to every lake in the country to survey and detail the maps accurately. OK then why detail them at all? I told them I found their detailing to be very misleading when I looked at the unit in the store. I assumed it was a HD graph of the lake due to the amount of detail. I asked how the maps were generated if they didn't have someone survey the lake. I was told by Satellite imagery. Well that doesn't appear to be working to good for them. I then asked if they had a list of the detailed (surveyed) maps? He told me it was on their website. I couldn't find the list. I'm still baffled why they wouldn't choose the largest lake in the state to detail accurately???? So in conclusion I will be returning the Echo43 and selecting another brand that uses the Navionics chip that I know is pretty close for detail, and if it isn't they don't populate the map with "estimated" contours. Garmin may make a great Autopilot and GPS for over the road, but there mapping on the water at least in my one lake experience is horrible. I can only assume any non-surveyed lake to be just as bad. Stay away! Spike

I just ordered some up for my new planer reels. Any specific knot work better than another? Thanks, Spike

I'm not positive but it looked like you could tie up on the east side in front of the hotels. If not there I'm sure the marina there should have some place you could tie up. I didn't see anything on the west side other than Wrights landing. Spike

Not sure how to change it from for sale to sold. I figured it out before but now I don't see how I did it..... Spike

Sold pending payment.