Lowrance hds question - Basemap vs. Insight

[irishc]

Hi all, I'm new to the board and thought maybee some of you would be able to help me out with an electronics question... I am thinking about upgradeing my current electronics to the Lowrance hds-7. Is there really that much of a difference between between basemaps and insight USA? Keep in mind that I fish back bays but primarily bottom fish in the ocean. Thanks in advance

[abbor]

The basemap is an overview map which is not good for boating. If you go for a basemap version you will need a Navionics Gold, Platinum or Platinum Plus card in addition to the HDS.

[5th Tuition]

Welcome to the board.

Others will chip in here for more information. The base map is terrible. I think the question you want to ask is "what's the difference between the insight map and the Navionics Platinum chip"?

Best of luck,
5th

[bayrunner16]

I have an HDS-10 w/ Insight USA. I bought the Navionics Platinum Plus chip for my area. It is very nice. However you now can get a chip from Lowrance...Insight HD East or West. If I had it to do over again I would buy the Lowrance Base map machine and the Lowrance Insight HD chip for your corresponding coast. Its cheaper and it zooms more and all kind of stuff versus the regular Insight. The Lowrance site explains the new HD chips on it under mapping. chris

[slapshotjh]

If you fish structure, get the base map and the navionics fish n chip. You won't believe the contour information on this chip. For navigation get the navionics gold or platinum. The platinum has the old fish n chip data on it, so it might be a cost saving solution. I would skip the mapping from Lowrance. Its never been as good as Navionics.

[irishc]

Thanks guys. Slapshot, when you say fish n chip do you mean fishing hot spots chip?

[slapshotjh]

No, I mean the Navionics fish n chip