Navionics charts for lowrance/eagle

pijondon · 01-31-2004, 08:56 AM

I am going to buy a new GPS unit and my question is concerning any opinions about the plug in charts and also the difference between the classic and gold charts. Specifically, does the chart help you locate and investigate or avoid underwater structure in the river. Many times I have used paper charts on the columbia and trying to locate a specific hole or hump, let alone a wreck is at best difficult.

blubeast · 01-31-2004, 09:49 AM

pijondon, I have a Raymarine charting gps that uses the Navionics charts. Have two chips... the one covering all of Oregon and one for the San Juans.

I am happy with the detail... varies depending upon where you're using it... I guess I say comparable to the paper charts I've seen for the ocean.

One way to save on cost...is to check the Navionics site... they were running a trade in program where you could get a new chip for half price... I bought an old chip on ebay for Fla and traded it in on the San Juan chip I needed... saved approx $80.

let me know if you have any further questions.

slabhunter · 01-31-2004, 09:49 AM

My X-16 has the classic US643XL. With that you must zoom in to reveal the highest level of detail. It will show depth contours and navigation aids for the C.R. But for the Puget Sound you will need another cartridge.

Fishical Therapy · 01-31-2004, 10:43 AM

pijondon,

I also have the Lowrance LCX 16 with the Navionics US643XL chip. Like Slabhunter says, you have to really zoom in to get the details and the best you get is basically equivalent to the paper charts. I always have the paper chart available for reference (and in case the gps goes out).

What I like about the charts loaded on the gps is that it gives me a better picture of where I am relative to the features on the charts and can do this while I am on the move. It is much less disctracting than trying to read a paper chart while you are searching for a feature. I also like the fact that I can use it to help determine where I am relative to the shipping channel. You still have to stay on your toes for traffic, but it has always helped me stay out of the way - so that when you find that hot fishing hole you don't have to move when a ship comes along and try to find that same slot again.

With the existing contours and your own additional waypoints you can modify the information to help you retain more structure detail. I know, you can do this with a regular gps, but it just helps to have the depth info there to fill in the info so that it is all easy to interpret on the fly.

I am waiting for someone to develop a software package that will allow me to capture simultaneous gps coordinates AND depth data to add more detail to specific areas on the maps that I am interested in. Something where I can collect the data on the fly, have it generate the contour plots on the map, etc.

All in all, I really like the convience of the chip and the level of detail is sufficient.

Pickles · 01-31-2004, 12:30 PM

I would go down to Rogers Marine and look at their chartplotters. Have them put a Navionics Gold chip in one chartplotter and a Classic chip in another so that you can see the difference. If you are going to go with a monochrome chartplotter you might want to consider one that takes classic chips. If you are going color go with the gold. I have a monochrome chartplotter that is only compatible with gold chips. The Navionics gold is about 50.00 more in the XL size then the same chip in classic. Without color you really cannot take advantage of the gold capabilities.

NorthRiverRick · 01-31-2004, 06:09 PM

I have to ditto fish-addict and fishical therapy. I have the lcx19c and the gold charts. They are amazing!! With monochrome display go classic. Definitely go to Rogers Marine and check them out in person on your model GPS.

Navionics is coming out with a new series of gold charts called XL3. They cover 3x the area for the same price as the current XL charts. They should be available any day, call Rogers.

Rick

pijondon · 01-31-2004, 11:48 PM

Thanks guys,
Sounds like just what I need. I will still carry the paper charts even so.

I almost never fish puget sound. I started fishing the columbia near astoria a few years ago and have fallen victim to the river and coast. I plan to retire there in a few years and possibly build a small campground. I do fish lake washington for sockeye though and it looks like we may have a season this year. Possibly the easiest salmon fishery around. calm water, cooperative fish. If you want to take a boat load of little kids out to catch thier first salmon than this is the fishery.

This Ifish site is site is great, I just signed up and am amazed at the level of information.

Fishybill · 02-01-2004, 08:53 AM

I have a late model top of the line Lowrance unit and also the Navonics chip installed. I spent about $200 on the chip which covers pretty much all coastal and insore waterways for the entire western US. The detail and accuracy are fabulous!

The primary differences between the navonics chars and the ones you can build with the included software are 1)much greater area covered 2)bottom contours and depths 3)relevant hazards such as wing dams (this is a biggie in fog, after hour operation, or any poor visibility situation). If you're going to spend serious dollars for a quality unit, I stronly reccomend spending a little more on the Navonics chart chip.

pijondon · 02-01-2004, 09:15 AM

I ordered the eagle and navionics us643xl last night. Backordered and 3-5 weeks on the chart. The responses here were very helpful. Cabellas didn't have the gold charts so I bought the classic. The eagle isn't color anyway. If I upgrade my GPS in the future than I will take advantage of thier trade in policy. I think the idea of recording soundings on the fly and incorporating that info into your Gps is a great idea. hopefully the mfg's will see a demand for it. For lakes and rivers where no chart exists it would be invaluable.

Pickles · 02-01-2004, 09:37 AM

Well its a good thing you didn't order the gold charts. The reason I am saying this is because Eagle is not compatible with the Gold charts only the classic.

Pickles · 02-01-2004, 09:39 AM

pijondon

Just out of curosity which Eagle did you buy?

pijondon · 02-01-2004, 01:53 PM

I wasn't aware of the incompatibility of the gold charts. I bought the eagle sea charter. My hand held Gps is a pain and my old eagle 7200 finally died after 15 years. So I needed both the Gps and the sonar for the dash. I have Pinpoint on the bow of the boat and a lowrance on the stern, however the pinpoint is easily movable to the stern for sockeye fishing. You would think with three sonars onboard a guy could find the fish! thanks for the info' :smile: