Upgrading - Price Estimate

[Big One]

Considering upgrading my current units and could use some guidance. I have two Lowrance hds7’s gen 1’s one at the console and other at bow. I’m thinking about getting another Lowrance at the console hds10 and replacing the bow unit with a Garmin w/ livescope. Should I instead just get two lowrances with active target? Is it fair to say this will cost ~5k install included?

[casts_by_fly]

That's probably not far off on the price for two biugger units and a live imaging option.  The specific units and any deals/rebates going on will influence it.

 

Since you have two already and the HDS units are pretty good units then I'd probably stick with Lowrance if you're happy and then network them all together.  Leave the two there and add two (unless you need to sell one or both to recoup cash).  A newer unit at the console for side imaging, leave the current one there for mapping.  Add a new live imaging unit at the bow and leave the HDS there for mapping/depth charts and waypoints.  The only thing to consider is if adding the HDS1's will degrade what the new transducers are showing.  Sometimes when you hook up an older unit to a network the lower common denominator/spec wins out and everything degrades to the lower level.  

[Big One]

48 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

That's probably not far off on the price for two biugger units and a live imaging option.  The specific units and any deals/rebates going on will influence it.

 

Since you have two already and the HDS units are pretty good units then I'd probably stick with Lowrance if you're happy and then network them all together.  Leave the two there and add two (unless you need to sell one or both to recoup cash).  A newer unit at the console for side imaging, leave the current one there for mapping.  Add a new live imaging unit at the bow and leave the HDS there for mapping/depth charts and waypoints.  The only thing to consider is if adding the HDS1's will degrade what the new transducers are showing.  Sometimes when you hook up an older unit to a network the lower common denominator/spec wins out and everything degrades to the lower level.  

Extremely helpful info, thank you! I’m pretty new to the electronics side of fishing so I appreciate the input. Surprised by your point to keep the old units and add new ones. I recently got this boat and the units came with it, wiped clean of waypoints and tbh I haven’t been great about marking my own, just keeping mental notes. That said, I feel like I would be better off upgrading both to either 2 Lowrances w/ active target at bow, or 1 Lowrance at console and Garmin at bow for Livescope. I don’t really mind splitting screens at the console (maps & down/side imaging) to find my spots, but is it really that helpful to have maps at the front as well? I get it for following contours but even right now I just use my depth as a guide. I’d prefer to get rid of the old ones but if that’s counterintuitive I’d love to hear the why. I guess because my set up is so limited right now, I don’t really understand what I would be missing lol. Note, the current units are Gen 1’s and over 10 years old. Thanks!

[casts_by_fly]

I didn't realize those were 10 year old units!  To that extend, they won't be worth much on the used market.  Maybe $100 each?  To that extent, if there is no signal degredation by networking them I would still add them in.  Splitting screen is fine, but if you don't have to then don't.  You have to network the console and bow anyway, so you might as well add two more cables while you're at it.  You can always upgrade the head units later.

 

I'm finding that the more and more I am fishing offshore type places the more that I want maps on all of the time.  If I'm motoring and using side imaging then I want to see the contours to image over them.  If I am using live scope, its often where I have marked a waypoint for a rock pile or some other stop to check out.  Then I want mapping up to see where I am relative to it (and how close) so I'm not running over it.  If you have mapping up shared with 'live' then you're just losing screen realestate on the live image.

[Big One]

Lol ikr, didn't realize until I looked them up after purchase. They still work fine and have located plenty of fish with them! Definitely a good point on signal degradation, something I will keep top of mind. I can understand the importance of having maps on regardless of the situation I guess because my set-up is limited, I've learned to work around it. 

 

I really appreciate your input Cats, I just sent a note over to my local techs and will see what the estimate is. You may or may not know but worth a shot, if I decide to upgrade and keep the old HDS 7's, how costly is it to have these moved into the dash and bow rather than sitting on a mount on top? I already have two small Lowrance housings in both, assuming they would just need to cut a bit more and buy new housing? Additionally, if I'm running two 7's, a new 10, and a livescope.. what size battery(ies) should I have to make sure I can last all day on the water? I've had some low voltage issues with my current set-up and believe I fixed a loose connection but still haven't been out for longer than ~6hours with everything running. I've done a few stress tests and everything seems fine, but still a little concerned with going out morning-dawn.

[casts_by_fly]

It will depend on your console arrangement and size. Another thing to consider if you already have two slots cut is to put both of your current in there. Then when you get the new big unit for the front you just need the one unit and can go bigger like a 16” for the price of the two you were going to buy. Then you have two flush mounted at the console which would be nice and only one up front. Of course this is dependent on the transducer from the new one working fully with the old ones.