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just installed a Garmin 7 sv on my console. Now im wanting to upgrade for my trolling motor excuse my terminology but I want a unit that has a chart plotter on it. I mostly pull planer boards and want to be able to follow the break lines creek channels etc. I see that some units have the map installed and some you have to buy a card. I mostly fish Tellico Ft Loudon Watts Bar. Probably around the 500.00 range. Any suggestions thanks
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If I'm not mistaken Garmin has built in mapping, and their chip is called Lake Vu. I believe Navionics works with them as well. Chart plotting is another thing all together, usually found on blue water craft. If your talking about like the TM following a track and or a specific depth. some models of Tm are capable of that on their own. The more dependable/accurate navigation setup the TM is linked to the graph. like with Minn Kota Ipilot Link. To answer your question, $500 wont even get you close.
First thing, research Navionics and Lakemaster and Lowrance Insite. Figure out which one gives you the best coverage on the lakes you fish. From there you can start figuring out which unit would be the best to run. In this case say Insite gives you the best coverage then Lowrance is only option. If Navionics gives best coverage then Humminbird might be best option even though some of their chips will run in Lowrance. If Lakemaster is best then Humminbird is only option. Never used Garmin or their Lakevue but if it covers your lakes I have had guys tell me it's pretty good with contour lines. Only Garmin Lakevue is compatible with Garmin.
I just installed a garmin 9 on my boat and since I am planning on attending the Kentucky lake gathering I was playing with it and checked on Kentucky lake. It showed all contours and even showed location of stake beds. If I was buying another unit it would be garmin.