Lance's Electronic Recommendations
Many of you have contacted me to ask what electronics I use on my own personal boat. Using the "Pro Recommendations" in the Walleye 101 study guides will get you to the proper models, but here is a list recommendations and exactly what I equip my boat with.
Sonar: Currently I am using the Lowrance X102C color sonar on both the bow and dash of my current boat. This 5" unit has 480 vertical pixels and 2400 watts of peak-to-peak power. Standard with a 20 degree skinner transducer, the X102C is a great unit for most freshwater applications. For 2007 Lowrance will renumber the X102C as the X510C and have used a better quality screen and added NMEA 2000 networking capability. The X102C or X510C should retail somewhere around the $500 mark.
GPS: I strongly believe that using a stand-alone GPS unit is the best way to go to maximize the potential of both your sonar and GPS unit. For the past few seasons I have used the Eagle Intellimap 500C GPS and have been very happy with the performance. The Lowrance GlobalMap 5200C will allow the use of the NMEA 2000 Network which allows the use of multiple units from 1 antenna and the ability to share waypoints between 2 units that are connected to the network. The Eagle units are great if the network ability is not needed. Whichever unit you pick, I would recommend using the external antenna instead of the internal antenna models. Either of the units listed will work with a mapping chip from LakeMaster or Navionics.
Lance's Actual 2007 Setup: The
setup of my 2007 boat will be a little "overkill" for the average angler.
I will be installing 4 LMS-520C combo units, 2 on the dash and 2 on the bow.
Each area will have 1 unit used as a GPS only and 1 used as a sonar only.
I will be installing only 1 GPS antenna and will be using the LowranceNet system
to link them together. Using the network will allow me to use only 1
antenna to run the 2 GPS units and also to "share" waypoints between units.
For example, waypoint sharing through the network will allow me to save a
waypoint on my bow GPS and the waypoint will automatically show up on my dash
unit instead of having to transfer waypoints from unit to unit by the use of a
MMC card.
Another factor in choosing 4 combo units this year is the ability for any of the units to work in any one of the four locations on the boat in case one of the units stops working. Also by using combo units I will have the ability to use a MMC card on the sonar unit and record actual sonar pictures to a MMC card so seminar attendees will have the ability to view actual on the water sonar readings.
Marine Radio: A necessity for safety and a great item for fishing information, a good marine VHF radio should be installed on every boat. The Lowrance LVR-850 has been my radio of choice for the past few years. It has all the features needed plus DSC, which allows you to link a GPS to your radio and with one push of a button begin transmitting your location if you need emergency assistance.
Marine Radio Antenna: For an antenna, be sure to choose a high quality antenna of at least 4' in length and an antenna that has a 6db or higher gain. Also choose an antenna with a chrome ferrule as opposed to plastic. When on the water the height of your antenna will be a large factor in determining the distance you will be able to transmit and the quality of your radio's reception. A couple models that have worked well in the past are the Shakespeare 5206-C or any of the Shakespeare Galaxy "Little Giant" models. To figure out how far you should be able to talk over the water, try this equation:
Square root of Height above water (in feet) x 1.42 = Range
Do the equation for each boat and add the 2 answers together for an estimated total talk range. For example 2 boats with 8' antennas mounted on the gunnels which are 2 feet above the water should be able to talk about 9 miles with a 0 or unity gain antenna. Antenna gain will increase the range.
When mounting the antenna be sure to use a
stainless steel ratchet mount. Avoid cheaper plastic or lexan mounts,
especially with 8' antenna as they will start to strip after a few years of use.
Mounts: One thing that I strongly believe in is using some type of removable mount on all of your electronics. Two types are used on my boats, the RAM mount with a 1.5" ball and the Ultra Mount 2 and Ultra Mount 3. Using these mounts opens of many more mounting possibilities than just using the mounting bracket for the unit. It also allows easy and quick removal o f the units for storage and safety, plus adds a layer of shock absorption while on rough water or while trailering.
If you are having a hard time finding any of these units or would like to see one in operation before making a purchase, feel free to contact me or Dave at Freeway. I am there periodically and would be happy to set up a time to meet you there and go through all the models so you can make the best choice for your needs. Freeway is located just south of Flint at Exit 84 (Thompson Rd) off of US 23. Go east on Thompson Rd and Freeway is the first drive to the south. Any questions e-mail me at lance@walleye101.com or call Dave at Freeway 810-629-2291.