Marine Electronics Q&A with BOE Marine - Sea Cat electronic redo..HDS 10 gen 2..+?

Hey Jim, I totally am a noob when it comes to electronics, and over the last few days I have been reading over and over, with my decision pointing towards the Lowrance HDS Gen 2 units over the Simrad NSS or NSE I forget which model it was..anyhow.

Whats the difference between the HDS10m and HDS10, this magical "m"?


Whats your experience with transducers and catamaran hulls? What we will be doing is a lot of inshore flounder fishing, Delaware Bay striper fishing, so the structure scan will be a huge impact on hopefully finding some new honey holes. I understand the structure scan (is that what people are calling the LSS-1 transducer) is good for up to 150 feet, and we dont plan on taking the Sea Cat SL1 in water that deep but maybe three times a year..and it will be deeper (canyon runs).

With the structure scan unable to be utilized at that point, the bottom sonar fish finder capability is still in play correct? Simrad has chirp, but I would prefer structure scan over chirp for our uses with the boat.. do you agree?

What are your thoughts on my situation above?

PM me a quote for the HDS10 gen 2, structure scan set up, and anything else I would need in that package as well please.

THe 'm' model is mapping only, no regular sonar (lss-1/2 is ok as it uses the network port). The 'x' version is sonar only, no gps.

Structure scan over Chirp? Can't compare the 2. One is for side imaging and the other for the fishfinder. Sounds to me like you could make great use of the Side Imaging on the DE bay. You would find all kinds of new "Honey Holes". Chirp would be the next step up from the HDS Fishfinder. However, Lowrance will not offer Chirp. You'll have to go up to a Simrad unit to get Chirp.

There is no "M" model for the HDS-10. It is only available as the HDS-10.

I do not have a means to convert our quotes over to PM. Just email [email protected] and we'll get you a quote.

what's your experience with catamaran hulls and transducer placement etc.? Any experience with structure scan with a catamaran (as far as customers not personal experience unless you own a cat boat)

I have plenty of experience, and from experience I know that no two are alike. People have spent a lot of money trying to figure out which ducer works best on their cat. The one that most tend to use is the Airmar M260 in-hull. This is the one with the big yellow tank. Structure Scan works fine on just about any boat, including a Cat. Its only designed to work at slow speeds. So any hydrodynamic issues that screw up a regular ducer don't apply.

Jim,

email sent

Jim, before I pull the trigger on the HDS8/LSS2 package...Before I spend that kinda money with you, I Just need to know where I am going to mount the airmar p66 transducer and the LSS2 within the 12" range recc'd so I get the structure scan bottom overlay.

Do you have any pictures, or any contacts that may have pictures, of where and how and where and where and where lol, these cat owners are mounting these things. I know you have a professional electronics install crew..so can you give me some insight?

I would need to see your transom to be able to give you ideas. And don't get hung up on keeping them within 12".

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/C360_2012-05-05-08-31-57.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/C360_2012-05-05-08-32-11.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/C360_2012-05-05-08-32-24.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/C360_2012-05-05-08-32-32.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/C360_2012-05-05-08-32-57.jpg

I'd probably mount the regulr ducer just inboard of the existing ducer below the strake. I would mount the lss ducer close to the drain plug, but to the port side of it. This way it would e lower than the regular ducer. I am surprised your P66 works where it is located.

heres my thoughts on transducer placement.


Yellow-p66

Red-LSS2


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i242/slickcav/transducer.jpg


After reading a bunch on WC forums and stuff Jim, they reccommend due to prop rotation, the starboard side of the starboard sponson.


My ideas are above, what are your thoughts?


Isn't the LSS2 like 7 inches long?

Looks good to me. But I am not sure what prop rotation aft of the prop has anything to do with whats in front of the prop. Your LSS ducer is fine there, I just worry about the regular ducer and air bubbles that follow that chine.

What is most important is that you have consulted with other owners to see what ha worked for them. Sounds like you have, and it sounds like you have a good plan.

i've accepted not picking up bottom is a likely situation while running @ cruise, my future plans are a m260 shoot through. But in the meantime im gonna give the transducer a try, theres a chance itll work perfect, theres a chance it wont. Do you think the LSS should be flush mounted? or a few inches above the bottom since the only time i will be trying to read structure scan is during trolling speeds 5knts or so? How do you feel about the positioning of where I want the p66 above the LSS2? should be ok for overlay no?

Thanks for the call today.