Garmin 740s
02-25-2013, 06:07 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PALM BAY, FL
Posts: 7
Garmin 740s
Hey everyone,! I am a newbie 2 this forum. After months of looking I found what hope is the right boat 4 me family! (2012 Cobia 206cc) I have semi decided to go with a garmin package.(Garmin 740s gps/sounder-GMR 18 HD Radar-Garmin vhf 100) Does anyone have any experience with this equipment? Any recomendations for stereo equipment? Looking at (Fusions, Aquatic) Any feedback welcome!! Also would like info on LED spreaders?
02-26-2013, 03:29 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Jax Beach, FL
Posts: 759
I think you will be happy with that electronics package-I currently do not have much experience with the 740s but plan to upgrade to it within the next few months. It has very high marks for a smaller boat do it all electronics package. For stereo equipment I have been happy with my Clarion head unit. For LED spreaders contact Scarab Chris on this forum-he sells the best LEDs for the money in my opinion (I have a pair of spreaders and a pair of underwater LEDs from him).
02-26-2013, 03:45 AM
#3
Admirals Club
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Posts: 1,041
I have the 740 s on my 23 Seacraft and its worked out very well. I dont have the radar but the chart plotter is great and the sounder is marking the bottom in 1800 ft with the 1000 watt 50/200 airmar ducer
02-26-2013, 04:13 AM
#4
Admirals Club 
THT sponsorMarine Advertiser
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 21,652
Welcome to the THT..and congratulations on the new boat for your family.
If you go with the 740s then you will find it intuitive to use and very reliable .
The Garmin 700 series has a very strong following for these very reasons.
If you go with the 740s then you will find it intuitive to use and very reliable .
The Garmin 700 series has a very strong following for these very reasons.
02-26-2013, 07:49 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Over Yonder
Posts: 895
I have a Garmin 740s and the Lowrance HDS-7 (non-touchscreen) with Structure Scan on a 20' CC.
I would invest in Structure Scan IF you are a big fisherman fishing water 25' or less deep. The cone size on the traditional transducers is way too small to find fish holding structure. The cone size on the Sidescan and Downscan is HUGE. Not a stupid-easy tool to use, but once you get the hang of it, it is very useful.
If you're not a regular or heavy-duty fisherman, the Garmin is a good choice, especially if you hook all that other Garmin gear up to the head unit. Otherwise, the Lowrance is better at networking displays together on your boat.
A fancy GPS and Chartplotter is way overrated in my opinion. I went out with a guy a short while ago and his handheld, 8 year old GPS 76. He lit his up when we left the outer marker. We both showed arrival at the same time and got to our spot 25 miles offshore. My $1500 Garmin with Bluechart was no better than a tiny handheld for navigating to the location.
To add to this, we are not navigating the world or even the eastern seaboard. We're usually going out the same set of markers and don't need "turn by turn" directions to get to a waypoint. If I'm navigating unfamiliar channels all the time, it's nice to have a pretty screen to look at. I don't find myself doing that much. I do find myself looking for FISH all the time and the Sidescan/Downscan and Sonar in shallower waters is priceless.
I would invest in Structure Scan IF you are a big fisherman fishing water 25' or less deep. The cone size on the traditional transducers is way too small to find fish holding structure. The cone size on the Sidescan and Downscan is HUGE. Not a stupid-easy tool to use, but once you get the hang of it, it is very useful.
If you're not a regular or heavy-duty fisherman, the Garmin is a good choice, especially if you hook all that other Garmin gear up to the head unit. Otherwise, the Lowrance is better at networking displays together on your boat.
A fancy GPS and Chartplotter is way overrated in my opinion. I went out with a guy a short while ago and his handheld, 8 year old GPS 76. He lit his up when we left the outer marker. We both showed arrival at the same time and got to our spot 25 miles offshore. My $1500 Garmin with Bluechart was no better than a tiny handheld for navigating to the location.
To add to this, we are not navigating the world or even the eastern seaboard. We're usually going out the same set of markers and don't need "turn by turn" directions to get to a waypoint. If I'm navigating unfamiliar channels all the time, it's nice to have a pretty screen to look at. I don't find myself doing that much. I do find myself looking for FISH all the time and the Sidescan/Downscan and Sonar in shallower waters is priceless.
02-26-2013, 07:57 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 239
I have the 740s on my 21cc. Got it last summer. No issues, easy to use and fits needs. If u go with Garmin, gotta to talk to Semperfi. He is very knowledgable and great prices. Got all my electronics from him.
02-26-2013, 09:40 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 113
Congrats, 740s is great unit very user friendly, and reliable. Fusion is nice option for stereo head unit. The 700 series has NMEA2000 connectivity which would be a plus. Here is link to some nice spreaders/flood lights too.
http://www.boemarine.com/entertainme...stereo-mapped/
http://www.boemarine.com/electrical/...te-red-mapped/
http://www.boemarine.com/entertainme...stereo-mapped/
http://www.boemarine.com/electrical/...te-red-mapped/
02-26-2013, 03:45 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,418
Originally Posted by Fish4ever57
Hey everyone,! I am a newbie 2 this forum. After months of looking I found what hope is the right boat 4 me family! (2012 Cobia 206cc)
I have semi decided to go with a garmin package.(Garmin 740s gps/sounder-GMR 18 HD Radar-Garmin vhf 100) Does anyone have any experience with this equipment?
As for which electronics package would be most appropriate, that will depend in large part on exactly what you intend to do with that boat, and where. In particular, the type of fishing you do will dictate the sounder requirements.
The Garmin 740S is a very popular entry-level GPS/chartplotter with an "OK, but not stellar" sounder built in. It's not very expandable; but for your first system on your first boat, that's probably not a major problem. As always, the transducer you select, and where/how it is installed, will have a MAJOR impact on potential sounder performance. Do NOT scrimp on this.
I'm not a big fan of Garmin RADARs in general, even less so of their small dome-type RADARs, and particularly not of the GMR-18. If you're going to put RADAR on the boat (the need for which will depend in part on those usage questions I mentioned above), you really ought to put a better RADAR on the boat.
Any recomendations for stereo equipment? Looking at (Fusions, Aquatic)
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5407740-post12.html
Any feedback welcome!! Also would like info on LED spreaders?
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5243235-post5.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5325261-post4.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5328794-post12.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5353247-post24.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5393860-post6.html
02-26-2013, 07:49 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 742
Originally Posted by Itteldoo
Welcome, and congratulations.
What, if any, electronics are currently installed on that boat? I'm guessing this is a "leftover" 2012 model which you are buying new from the dealer; hence, the answer is probably "none" -- but better to not guess at it.
As for which electronics package would be most appropriate, that will depend in large part on exactly what you intend to do with that boat, and where. In particular, the type of fishing you do will dictate the sounder requirements.
The Garmin 740S is a very popular entry-level GPS/chartplotter with an "OK, but not stellar" sounder built in. It's not very expandable; but for your first system on your first boat, that's probably not a major problem. As always, the transducer you select, and where/how it is installed, will have a MAJOR impact on potential sounder performance. Do NOT scrimp on this.
I'm not a big fan of Garmin RADARs in general, even less so of their small dome-type RADARs, and particularly not of the GMR-18. If you're going to put RADAR on the boat (the need for which will depend in part on those usage questions I mentioned above), you really ought to put a better RADAR on the boat.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5404244-post2.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5407740-post12.html
Before worrying about things like stereo systems and spreader lights, you need to pay attention to what will without question be THE most important piece of electronics on your boat: The VHF radio and its associated antenna. These are both very much in the "don't scrimp here" category. For background info and more, see:
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5243235-post5.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5325261-post4.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5328794-post12.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5353247-post24.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5393860-post6.html
What, if any, electronics are currently installed on that boat? I'm guessing this is a "leftover" 2012 model which you are buying new from the dealer; hence, the answer is probably "none" -- but better to not guess at it.
As for which electronics package would be most appropriate, that will depend in large part on exactly what you intend to do with that boat, and where. In particular, the type of fishing you do will dictate the sounder requirements.
The Garmin 740S is a very popular entry-level GPS/chartplotter with an "OK, but not stellar" sounder built in. It's not very expandable; but for your first system on your first boat, that's probably not a major problem. As always, the transducer you select, and where/how it is installed, will have a MAJOR impact on potential sounder performance. Do NOT scrimp on this.
I'm not a big fan of Garmin RADARs in general, even less so of their small dome-type RADARs, and particularly not of the GMR-18. If you're going to put RADAR on the boat (the need for which will depend in part on those usage questions I mentioned above), you really ought to put a better RADAR on the boat.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5404244-post2.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5407740-post12.html
Before worrying about things like stereo systems and spreader lights, you need to pay attention to what will without question be THE most important piece of electronics on your boat: The VHF radio and its associated antenna. These are both very much in the "don't scrimp here" category. For background info and more, see:
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5243235-post5.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5325261-post4.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5328794-post12.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5353247-post24.html
http://www.thehulltruth.com/5393860-post6.html
02-27-2013, 04:58 AM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PALM BAY, FL
Posts: 7
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses!!!
I read a crazy review on the 740s that said "Due to the magnet that helps keep the door closed for the card, The 740s must be located 32 inches from the compass"!! The sales guy and I did a test in the store with a compass and the 740s and saw no noticable change when moving the compass near the 740s. Not sure if anyone else read the review or experienced this?
Ittelldoo: The first item I purcahsed was the Garmin VHF radio.
I read a crazy review on the 740s that said "Due to the magnet that helps keep the door closed for the card, The 740s must be located 32 inches from the compass"!! The sales guy and I did a test in the store with a compass and the 740s and saw no noticable change when moving the compass near the 740s. Not sure if anyone else read the review or experienced this?
Ittelldoo: The first item I purcahsed was the Garmin VHF radio.
02-27-2013, 05:19 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 7,884
Fish4 ....
Here are some videos of the general operation/displays/functionalities of the 740.
http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/4683060
Not to worry .... here's my install on my Whaler.
Here are some videos of the general operation/displays/functionalities of the 740.
http://bluewaterpirate.phanfare.com/4683060
Not to worry .... here's my install on my Whaler.
02-27-2013, 07:03 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Southeast Michigan
Posts: 2,571
Originally Posted by Fish4ever57
I have semi decided to go with ...Garmin vhf 100
Garmin offers the VHF-200 VHF Marine Band radio with NMEA-2000. If you want an All-Garmin installation, consider the VHF-200 radio.
02-28-2013, 04:18 AM
#20
Admirals Club
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 1,184
I'm also considering this unit to replace or add to my 541s. Does anyone know if the sounder capabilites of the 740s will be an improvement over the 541s? According to the rep at Garmin, I can use the same transducer I have now with the 740s. I just wonder if the 740s will do more with the same transducer?
