Sonar upgrade questions

[Bass Junke]

I have a Striker 4CV currently. I want a unit with side scan. I am looking at the 7SV. I noticed on the BPS website that the Echomap UHD 74sv is only 350.00$. The 7SV is 519.00$. Now the UHD 74sv is a marine unit. I believe in the Garmin world that means the maps loaded to the unit are marine maps only. Is this correct? Now the 7SV doesn't have any loaded maps. The mapping feature is actually more important to me the the pre-loaded maps. Most of the bodies of water I fish would not be represented on their software. Is there a reason not to but the UHD 74sv? Thanks everyone. 

[MN Fisher]

Ya...the 74sv comes with Bluechart - which is saltwater. If you're going after stripers, cod and flounder in Cape Cod Bay or Nantucket Sound it'd be perfect....if you're fishing freshwater, you want the 73sv

[Bass Junke]

@MN Fisher Thank you but I think you are missing the point. Let's try this. Which unit is better the 7SV or the 74sv? Will the 74sv operate in fresh water? Wouldn't adding the lake card for aprox 200$ make this a fresh and salt sonar? Wouldn't that put me back in the 519$ range but now owning a better unit?

[MN Fisher]

Other than the maps - the units are identical...that's the only difference between the Strikers and the Echomaps...they even use the same transducers.

 

Yes, you can put an Inland Maps card into the 74 and get your lakes...just seems a round-about way of doing it.

 

 

[Bass Junke]

Thanks again @MN Fisher. The pre-loaded maps are not important to me. I will most likely not even buy the lakes card. I am trying to get a better or equal unit for less money. I am guessing there isn't a huge difference in technology but the 74 has a touch screen, and if I am not mistaken, can be upgraded to live sonar. 

[slowworm]

Personally, I would not want to be without the lakes map.  As well as allowing me to locate potential angling spots, it's also a safety thing. 

 

I'm on Northern glacial lakes, and I can be in 30ft of water with submerged rock pile at 3ft withing 30 yards of me. Having decent maps makes running on plane less stressful.

 

As for touch screen, all the UHD units have a touchscreen.

[MN Fisher]

21 minutes ago, Bass Junke said:

Thanks again @MN Fisher. The pre-loaded maps are not important to me. I will most likely not even buy the lakes card. I am trying to get a better or equal unit for less money. I am guessing there isn't a huge difference in technology but the 74 has a touch screen, and if I am not mistaken, can be upgraded to live sonar. 

Any of the Echomap SV models can have LiveScope added.

[Bass Junke]

I was watching a video last week, it was a few pro anglers discussing and comparing sonar units between the 3 major brands. What I found surprising was that everyone's most important feature was mapping/navigation. Now this makes sense when you are on bodies of water that are 5000, 10000, acres or more. 

 

The largest natural lake in Massachusetts is 1780 acres. The largest body of water I fish is about 550 acres. The majority of water I fish is under 200 acres. 

 

@slowworm I understand what you are saying about the loaded maps, however based on the size of the water and I am fishing out of a kayak, safety is not a concern.  

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Bass Junke said:

Now this makes sense when you are on bodies of water that are 5000, 10000, acres or more. 

It'll also help you find those 'prime' spots...drop-offs near flats, points, cut-ins. While Tonka is a bigger lake (14,000 acres) I also use it on Dutch which is only 173 acres.

[nso123]

2 hours ago, Bass Junke said:

I was watching a video last week, it was a few pro anglers discussing and comparing sonar units between the 3 major brands. What I found surprising was that everyone's most important feature was mapping/navigation. Now this makes sense when you are on bodies of water that are 5000, 10000, acres or more. 

 

The largest natural lake in Massachusetts is 1780 acres. The largest body of water I fish is about 550 acres. The majority of water I fish is under 200 acres. 

 

@slowworm I understand what you are saying about the loaded maps, however based on the size of the water and I am fishing out of a kayak, safety is not a concern.  

I never realized how important maps were until I started using them. I had been within yards of structure that I had no idea was there, but with the maps I was able to find the structure.