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[mregan]

My MK1 still has the original depth, speed and wind gauges.  Had them repaired a few years ago.  Lately, sometimes they work, sometimes not.  Now my 12yr old Garmin 540 chartplotter seems to be on the way out.  Took a ride by WM and was looking at the chartplotters.  Looked at the Garmin Echomap series (it's what was on display)  Discovered I could also link new instruments to it.  Was thinking of getting the chartplotter for the summer and then in the off season look at a new depth transducer and a wireless wind sensor. 
Just wondering if anyone had any experience with the Garmin units.  Or maybe a different manufacturer.

[Kyle Ewing]

I installed a Garmin EchoMap 73sv a few years ago and have been happy with it.  It integrates via NMEA 2000 with my Raymarine i70s depth/speed/wind and EV100 Wheel pilot.  Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's have them on sale (https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/garmin-echomap-uhd-73sv-fish-finderchartplotter-combo). 

I couldn't make the included side scan transducer work so I sold it on eBay (I got over $200 if I remember correctly) and installed a GT8HW-IH In-Hull High/Wide CHIRP Transducer. 

Only downside is I'd need a Raymarine chartplotter if I ever need to flash firmware on the instruments.





 

[mregan]

Thank you. And thanks for the link.  The 73sw is about $200 less expensive than the 74sw I was looking at.  Where did you mount the transducer?

[Kyle Ewing]

I mounted the transducer on a flat section of the hull just aft of the engine. You'd need an extension cable to mount it much farther forward.

[mregan]

Thanks.  How did you run your wiring.  Right now, I was able to snake the wiring for the 540 inside the 1" stainless pedestal guard (one side was just loose wires, other side had a 10pin plug so I was able to run the loose wires down the tubing.)  Assuming I could do the same for the sv73 power wiring but if I'm reading things correctly, if I hook up the transducer to the sv73, or other instruments, I need a network cable.  Looks like that network cable has a plug on each end.  Would I go through the pedestal itself?

[karista]

I installed a Garmin EchoMap 73sv a few years ago and have been happy with it.  It integrates via NMEA 2000 with my Raymarine i70s depth/speed/wind and EV100 Wheel pilot.  Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's have them on sale (https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/garmin-echomap-uhd-73sv-fish-finderchartplotter-combo). 

I couldn't make the included side scan transducer work so I sold it on eBay (I got over $200 if I remember correctly) and installed a GT8HW-IH In-Hull High/Wide CHIRP Transducer. 

Only downside is I'd need a Raymarine chartplotter if I ever need to flash firmware on the instruments.

Like your mount. Where did you get the mount? Looks like it has a swivel base? Would appreciate a source and part number.

[Kyle Ewing]

Swivel mount came with the chartplotter and is attached to a piece of Starboard on an old instrument base.  The mount itself is similar to this:  https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/599499.  Google "chartplotter with swivel base" for other ideas.

Regarding wiring, I was able to fit everything through the pedestal but I think the Seatalk NG cable is a bit smaller than a regular NMEA 2000 end.  I'm not sure how much more will fit.

Kyle

[mregan]

Did you have any issues when you set up your 73sv?  Haven't been out of the marina with it yet.  It seems to be working fine, got the same transducer you have and that works also.  Only problem is my map has no detail.  I see land and water but no red or green cans, no marinas, no chart depths listed.  Went into the settings and turned on Most detail setting, Navaids are turned on.  Also turned on depth shading to see different colors of depths.  Nothing shows up on the screen.

Set up Active Captain and installed a Micro SD card to get software updates.  Seems I have to format the card first, when I tried to format it with the Garmin, It failed.  It then seemed to be updating, through my Active Captain phone app, but not sure if it was working correctly.  Must have updated 4-5 times where it would say it updated and i had to turn off/on to reset it but the map still has no detail.

Downloaded Garmin Express on my computer.  Seems like I can update all the software and maps through that program into the SD card.  Then load the SD card into the plotter.  Going to try that next.  Hoping that works.

Didn't know if you had any of the same detail issues.

[waughoo]

It sounds like you don't have a chart card.  Without a chart card, the plotter will show a VERY basic land and seam map not suitable for navigation.

[mregan]

Hmm, maybe I do need a chart card.  Not looking for anything too fancy.  Just really want some depths and buoy markers.  My old Garmin 540 came with that standard.

Grabbed the sd card and am loading it with the Garmin Express program.  Says 1.5 hrs to download.  Not sure if it software updates, map updates or both.  Hopefully will have more detailed maps.

[Kyle Ewing]

I don't remember doing anything special to get chart detail. I'm on Lake Michigan if they makes a difference.

Kyle

[mregan]

I think it's in the updates.  Loaded the sd card in my computer and logged into Garmin Express.  Took about an hour to load the software updates and there were 2 charts to update.  I can't remember the names but first took about 1/2 hr and 2nd is taking about an hour.  32gb SD card is about half full.  Definitely much more data on there than when I was trying to transfer the updates through Active Captain from my phone.  I think this will fix my issue.  Will find out this weekend.

[mregan]

Installed the updates and chart updates, no difference in the chart. Although one of the charts updates kept giving me an Error code.  Must have tried it 6 times.  Went to Bass Pro, was going to get another plotter and see if that worked.  While there, was talking to the kid behind the counter.  He said with this version, only gives you inland lakes chart, you needed to buy the coastal chart chip. Even with buying the chart, with the plotter on sale for $500, it was still a deal over the new 74sv.  Just and FYI in case anyone else is looking at this plotter.