Thread: Gen 3 Lowrance HDS Locator?

Bass Boat Central Electronics Forum.....Enough Said........Ranger

Any news on the introduction of a Lawrance Gen 3 yet? Figured around time to think about Christmas shopping they would be out there but what do I know. I'm fixing to follow your 9/20/14 advice Ranger. I missed seeing that before somehow.

I think Lowrance plans to make their introductions in the 4th quarter of the year but, it seems they typically run late or at least don't get production units available till the first quarter of the next year. Just my observation over several years of dealing with them.
Especially I a brand new platform, they seem to always run late.
I have only heard a few rumors about Gen 3. Chirp seems to come up and I've heard it will be standard but, it may just be an option. That's all I know and that is just rumors. I sure don't have any inside source!

Thanks OB. I keep hearing November but if they have established a pattern of running late then Christmas may be cheaper than I anticated!

I have bought from both Dave at Shut-up-and-Fish and Brian at BBGmarine and had excellent service and pricing from both of them. They are both member sponsors from CDC. I have been pleased with my HDS Touch 9 but like the downscan better than the sidescan. The views I have seen on the forum of Humminbird sidescan always seem better than what I get with my LSS-2 transducer. I have a Point 1 GPS antenna networked to my Lowrance Elite 7 up front so I can share waypoints.

I have found something else to save my $$ for so will keep my current Lowrances till they quit on me. I have already started a savings program for a new Minn Kotta Ulterra trolling motor. Can't wait to see some of the reviews when people start getting them installed. I will use the US2 sonar with my Elite 7 so will lose the downscan up front but will still have it and the sidescan at the console and, from what I've heard, will have a better 2D picture up front. I'm more excited about it than the Lowrances.

Floyd

Floyd, I have the US2 in my Fortrex and don't believe it is as good as the Lowrance standard 2D transducer. I am still using it but, not real happy with the display. I also have the 'spotlight' on my Fortrex and find it a total waste of money.
The problem is if you want SI/DI and 2D on the bow you can't use the US2 as it will be covered by the SI xducer plus you have to fabricate a mounting place for the SI/DI and 2D xducers.
Don't know what tm you currently have but, I'd add another Touch on the bow before updating tm.
Be glad to take you out so you can see my setup in person.

Bob, when I got my Lund seven years ago it had a Motorguide wireless on it with a built in transducer. I liked it pretty much but it was a little jerky and spastic when operating it from the rear of the boat. In the past on bass boats I had really preferred MinnKota hand operated TMs so I replaced the Motorguide with a MinnKota Maxxum 80lb. It has been a real good TM and I still like it but missed the ability to operate it from back in the boat. I have had a couple of depth finders on the front over the years and upgraded to a Elite 7 a couple of years ago. It performed well and I really liked the DI at first. Over time, I rarely use the DI up front as I have to be moving faster than I want to get a great image. I have not wanted the SI up there but find myself using the 2D more and more because I like to watch my jig when vertical fishing up front. When strolling (or as Reaper named it, creeping) I'm not moving fast enough to optimize the DI picture. After I got my Touch 9 for the console I almost always just use 2D and GPS screens on the front. I really like the Touch 9 but don't need that up front.

After seeing the introductory demo video clips of the MinnKota Ulterra I think that would fit my fishing better. I really like the remote deploy and stow feature and then all the other gizmos that come with it. I would try the US2 just to compare it to my Elite 7 transducer. If it worked as well on 2D I would just use it and probably not miss the DI. If I wanted the DI, or didn't like the US2, I always have the Elite 7 transducer.

Since I fish by myself about 90% of the time I would like the ability to kill my big motor, deploy my TM and cruise over waypoints while seated at the console watching with my Touch 9. That way I wouldn't have to move back and forth as I checked them out and tossed markers. The last couple of years I have gotten really arthritic and don't move around the boat as well as I used to. If I didn't like what I saw I could just fire up the big motor, stow the TM and move on. I also think the remote stow would work good in big wind. I could get the big motor going while still using the TM and then stow the TM while the boat is under control of the big motor.

I thought my elite 7 was going out the last time I had it out but pulled the boat out of the garage yesterday and it worked fine. I may have just not had the mapping card seated well. Anyway, that's my reasoning for wanting the new TM. Getting older is getting tougher in the boat.

Floyd

Floyd, I understand your problem now. I was not aware of the new MK with auto stow and if that helps you, then by all means that is the way to go. Everyone has their own way of fishing plus different lakes require different methods. You have found what works best for you
and that is the key, in my opinion.
You are also right about DI. It requires some movement of the boat to keep a clear display. I don't find that a problem. Even when sitting still the boat does move some and I'm able to maintain position even with a distorted display. I throw out a marker upwind of where I want to fish and maintain my position relative to the marker and by feeling where my jig is relative to the brush/structure. Depending on wind/current I am pretty much constantly on the tm, one reason I use a cable steer tm for quicker reaction.

I think we all end up spending a lot of time and money getting our rigs set up for what work for us. At least I did! And that is also why some prefer one brand or model and another guy likes something else.

Maybe we can meet up somewhere half way sometime soon.