Lowrance vs Raymarine?

[NoviceRod]

I am looking at Chart plotter/Fish Finder for fitting to a new Merry Fisher 705, and would welcome any thoughts/experience.

I am aware of Raymarine and Garmin. Lowrance is new to me, but looks good on demo. The 8inch screen looks the ideal size vs Raymarine 6.4 inch.

 

[PaulGooch]

I am looking at Chart plotter/Fish Finder for fitting to a new Merry Fisher 705, and would welcome any thoughts/experience.

I am aware of Raymarine and Garmin. Lowrance is new to me, but looks good on demo. The 8inch screen looks the ideal size vs Raymarine 6.4 inch.

Lots of reports of poor service if you get a problem with Lowrance. I'd go with Garmin personally.

 

[Philiz]

I understand Lowrance suffer a lot of reliability problems and support is poor. I looked at them but after doing my homework I settled on Garmin. I can't say anything against Raymarine particularly, it's just that the Garmin fitted my needs better.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Another post urging you not to overlook Garmin here.

Their chartplotters with sonar option are fantastic value for money, the 750S for example is a brand new product that also takes NMEA2000 as well as Radar which make it very future proof. You should be able to get one for 860.00.

 

[PaulGooch]

Forgot to mention Raymarine...... I recently purchased a C90W, digital radome and Navionics Gold chart card. After a problem with the chart card left me without cartography for three weekends, due to getting bounced around between the dealer, Navioncs and Raymarine, followed by some spectacularly poor service from Navionics, i wish i had bought Garmin. Although everything is working fine now, it's left a bad taste and i will be looking to change to Garmin at some point in the future.

 

[neale]

I am looking at Chart plotter/Fish Finder for fitting to a new Merry Fisher 705, and would welcome any thoughts/experience.

I am aware of Raymarine and Garmin. Lowrance is new to me, but looks good on demo. The 8inch screen looks the ideal size vs Raymarine 6.4 inch.

You probably need to provide more info to get a decent answer. How much are you looking to spend? Do you want other functions or just plotter/fishfinder? Will you be using it for fishing, as if you are you will want to concentrate on the fishfinding function a bit more. How much space do you have to fit it? Will it need to integrate with any other kit that you already have? Do you already have some catrography? If not, do you have a preference with the different cartography available?

Raymarine/Garmin/Lowrance are all good and there is also Standard Horizon, Simrad, Northstar and advanSea to think about. (plus others I have no doubt forgotten)

For me different budgets and requirements would lead me to different manufacturers. For fishing, Navico's Structure Scan would have to be in the frame if budgets allow. Garmin and Raymarine both produce quality kit and if integration is important I would go with either one of these. For cheaper integrated kit or standalone products, Standard Horizon is good. There are so many variables, you really need to get to a boat show and have a good look at all the kit on offer. Have a play and see which suits you best.

 

[PaulGooch]

<snip> Standard Horizon is good. There are so many variables, you really need to get to a boat show and have a good look at all the kit on offer. Have a play and see which suits you best.

Standard Horizon is good stand alone kit, for a plotter/fishfinder or VHF, but it poorly implements AIS or radar integration. Their service and support is first class.