Help decide new unit!! Please

[irons]

I'm torn and can't decide, looking at the garmin echomap 73sv, or the sumrad go7 xse. They both have what I'm looking for and both are about the same price point. Not sure about the garmin lakevu, I have a navionics card already but have heard bad things about swapping them to another unit after the subscription runs out. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

[greywalls]

I was considering both of those units, as well as the Elite 7Ti. I ended up with the Simrad, and just installed it -- so no deep experience yet. However, thus far, I love it. My GO 7 XSE came with Insight maps and the TotalScan transducer. Both seem like they will work great -- and I can always swap out to Navionics if I find flaws with the Insight maps. For me, the Simrad seemed to offer the most features and expandability of the three. Specifically, as between the Simrad and the Garmin, the Simrad allows me wireless connectivity, which was must have on my list. I can mirror the display wirelessly to my phone as well as bow and stern mounted tablets -- which allows me to run the unit on the pontoon console while mirroring the display way up front. I can also download software updates with the boat parked outside the house. The Garmin did not offer out of the box wireless. May or may not be important to you.

[coheasion]

I have had a Simrad Go 9 XSE since January of this year and have been very impressed with it. I have the Navionics card and the TotalScan transducer as well. Very simple to use - very customizable and as greywalls mentioned being able to link it to a tablet is a very useful function as well so I can see the screen while up front while catching bait.

Very, very happy with mine.

[coheasion]

Let me see if this works:

photos.app.goo.gl/sMRCkmxPYYO5NKk12

This is a screenshot from the first day trying out the Go9 at SML.  Great detail of this tree on the downscan.

[irons]

Thanks for the input. That was a good clear image. I ruled out the elite ti due to its price.

[irons]

So navionics made the decision easy for me today. My navionics chip that's in my lowrance won't work in the simrad, only works in other hook 4's. I'm not buying another card. I think I'll go with garmin since it has lakevu built in and free updates.

[Shadslinger]

I have a echomap 73sv and love mine. The navonics is awesome too. I post up a couple pictures when I get home

[Shadslinger]

Garmin echomap 73sv

[irons]

Shadslinger, thanks for posting the pics. I think the garmin is the way I'm leaning.

[Shadslinger]

I've heard alot of good things about those simrads also. I never thought to check on them when I bought my Garmins but I am pleased with them

[greywalls]

Irons, if you go with the Garmin, check out the price at Cabelas. They've been running a deal at $599, which is the best price I've seen for: Garmin® echoMAP™ CHIRP 73sv Sonar/GPS Combo with LakeVü™ HD...

Simrad recently re-priced the GO7 from $750 to $650, too.

I don't think you could make a bad choice here.

[irons]

Thanks greywalls, I saw that at cabelas. That's why I was considering it. Although my oldest daughter is a senior this year and I just got the bills for cap and gown and senior portraits.😭

[catfishking]

I'd go with the simrad go7 or 9

[irons]

So I got lucky and picked up a new Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 73sv from bass pro for $449! Can’t wait to install it now.

[greywalls]

Geez, you can't beat that deal!