Opinions: Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 54dv Chartplotter/Sounder

[Pipe_Dream]

I'm looking at one of these for the PD while rewiring. Replacing an old Lowrance depthfinder and even older Garmin GPS.

Anyone know anything good/bad about this unit?

[phatdaddy]

Friend of mine (VicV20) bought one of the garmin chirps at the end of last year and loves the bottom machine. Says picture is unreal. I have always liked garmin gps for being very user friendly, but not to impressed with their sonar. Everything i have read said they got it right with this set up. Getting the transducer properly placed is kinda tricky.

Go for it

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by phatdaddy

Friend of mine (VicV20) bought one of the garmin chirps at the end of last year and loves the bottom machine. Says picture is unreal. I have always liked garmin gps for being very user friendly, but not to impressed with their sonar. Everything i have read said they got it right with this set up. Getting the transducer properly placed is kinda tricky.

Go for it

Thanks, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger.

[phatdaddy]

Another guy i fish with got the simrad gox7. With the down/side scan. It does an awesome job in 40 ft or less. Not to good deeper that that. It also has a very easy to use gps. Not completely sold on the touch screens yet either. But what do i know, i thought cell phones would never catch on

[inaforty]

I wasn't going to post this because I didn't want to derail the thread but ahhhh ...what the heck.

Here is a video from a dock mate. Pretty cool stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z76eQzEruW0

[Pipe_Dream]

In case anybody else is interested in this model, West Marine has them on clearance, reduced to $459, and with coupons that they had at the counter it came to $399 + tax.