LakeMaster Acquired By Johnson Outdoors

[H2O Milfoil]

I got an email today announcing that LakeMaster has been acquired by Johnson Outdoors. Johnson Outdoors also owns MinnKota and Humminbird. The announcement says they will be providing "future exclusivity" of products for Humminbird. I checked the LM HSOforum and all the Garmin and Lowrance products have been removed, at least for now. Anybody have any news on this? You can read the press release on the LM HSOforum. At least I already got my 2011 Lowrance map chip.

[FM_Mike]

I think they will loose allot of sales by not catering to Garmin or Lowrance. I have a LakeMaster card that has most all the lakes I fish in HD already so unless things change I should be set. Hard to believe that loosing over half of your potential sales can be a good thing in the long run.

Mike

[hanson]

You guys are still using Lowrance??

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Ouch! I didn't read the whole email, but glad I bought my 788ci over the winter. Funny that they finally started being able to use lake master and now they are shutting it down for others. I agree, I don't see how it can be good to exclude the others. If not for that I think it's a great move because lm is pretty small and has a hard time mapping the lakes that people want mapped.

[DTro]

exclusivity is never good for the consumer

JMO

[Rick G]

Kinda leaves us lowrance guys out in the cold

[SpecialK]

The problem is that Lowrance and Garmin won't (or don't want to) share the inner workings of their software with Johnson Outdoors. There are a lot of legal ways to make it so the lakemaster portion of the company could write the software but if Humminbird ever had a scrap of similar sw in their units it would be lawsuit city.

Maybe not the best move for the consumer but I bet the mapping in Humminbird units gets a lot better.

[buzbunni]

exclusivity is never good for the consumer

I agree.

However (speaking as a small business person), congratulations to the folks at LakeMaster.

It appears that all the hard work has paid off for them.

Here's hoping that their bank accounts/porfolios are plum full.

Pretty cool.

[JohnMickish]

With MinnKota, Humminbird, Cannon and now Lakemaster all owned by the same company, can you imagine some of the things that can be done thru "exclusive" software? Automatic contour trolling? Set the Terrova to follow a contour or stay at a certain mapping depth? Automatic control of your downriggers?

It looks like being on the Lowrance bandwagon could be a bumpy ride.

[bigbad401]

I agree.

However (speaking as a small business person), congratulations to the folks at LakeMaster.

It appears that all the hard work has paid off for them.

Here's hoping that their bank accounts/porfolios are plum full.

Pretty cool.

I agree with the 'way to go' to the Lakemaster guys.

But since I don't have a boat and sonar equipment it looks like I won't be buying anymore Lakemaster maps unless they open it up to offering the maps to Garmin again for my handheld GPS.

[hanson]

With MinnKota, Humminbird, Cannon and now Lakemaster all owned by the same company, can you imagine some of the things that can be done thru "exclusive" software? Automatic contour trolling? Set the Terrova to follow a contour or stay at a certain mapping depth? Automatic control of your downriggers?

I agree. Something real cool is going to be coming down the pipe in the future. No doubt about it!

[JohnMickish]

After re-reading their press release, I think you Lowrance guys are all worked up over nothing.

It goes on to say "providing future

exclusivity of an expanded portfolio of LakeMaster® digital maps for Humminbird® fishfinders"

This does not mean that maps won't be available for other sonars, just that Humminbirds will have some exclusive features, like the depth shading that is available now on Hbirds. I'm sure the future exclusivity will only get bigger and better though.

[kg2]

Yep, typical of many to go off half-cocked about a press release that most didn't even read!

[bigbucks]

The LakeMaster HSOforum just says online sales of Lowrance & Garmin products have been suspended. It says you can still get them at retailers. I realize that means they may stop making them for those units, but it DOES NOT say that.

[TruthWalleyes]

You guys are still using Lowrance??

+1

[RumRiverRat]

Yep, typical of many to go off half-cocked about a press release that most didn't even read!

That never happens!

LOL

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Yep, typical of many to go off half-cocked about a press release that most didn't even read!

But it's so fun!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I just bought out the entire stock of lakemaster chips for lowrance units. Price is $200 each, cash only.

[Esox_Magnum]

I just bought out the entire stock of lakemaster chips for lowrance units. Price is $200 each, cash only.

Personaly I would't give ya $20 for one but thats just my personal opinion....

[Chode2235]

After re-reading their press release, I think you Lowrance guys are all worked up over nothing.

It goes on to say "providing future

exclusivity of an expanded portfolio of LakeMaster® digital maps for Humminbird® fishfinders"

This does not mean that maps won't be available for other sonars, just that Humminbirds will have some exclusive features, like the depth shading that is available now on Hbirds. I'm sure the future exclusivity will only get bigger and better though.

[thrax]

I love Lakemaster for my Lowrance HDS. For my primary waters Lakemaster far surpasses Navionics IMO. I don't need exclusive features, just high quality mapping.

[bobbymalone]

someday every company will be owned by the same company.

I'd love to see some more competition in the lake map business. LM is pretty much the only way to go if you have a Garmin handheld. And I'd rather give up LM than my Garmin.

[mainbutter]

exclusivity is never good for the consumer

JMO

However, it's good for the engineers.

By focusing on a single standard of software and working alongside the various product engineers, the potential for ridiculously awesome product development is through the roof. Attempting to conform to multiple standards makes certain software and boating applications impossible to develop.

[DTro]

However, it's good for the engineers.

By focusing on a single standard of software and working alongside the various product engineers, the potential for ridiculously awesome product development is through the roof. Attempting to conform to multiple standards makes certain software and boating applications impossible to develop.

Well sort of....for a particular company, sure. But look how much easier our lives have become with the adaption of things such as USB or HDMI. It's also been proven time and time again that open source can be a successful business model.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Maybe they just need regroup. Still weird though.