navionics chip for lowrance

[norm]

my dad just got a lowrance 480m gps/sonar unit. it has a basemap with outlines of the lakes but im wondering if it is worth the money to get the navionics chip to go along with it. does anybody have this for their unit and what do you think of it? i am mainly wondering if it shows the contour lines and if they are very accurate. im either going to get him this or a set of wave wackers for fathers day and am wondering which route to go.

[Rick]

Moving to equipment forum.

[pegleg]

Get him the chip, it is very accurate. I like the 3' increments better because it has less lines on the map and is just as accurate. On the 1' for Gull because it drops off so fast, the 1' is like a sea of black lines until it levels off. The 1' works ok on Mille Lacs because the drop offs aren't as steep.

[Jarrod32]

It probably is going to depend on where he does most of his fishing...I have the Navionics HotMaps chip, and it has a lot of lakes on it, but the accuracy is sometimes off.

If you plan on fishing just one or two big lakes exclusively, I think you can find better accuracy with the LakeMaster Big Lake chips for those lakes. But if you visit a lot of lakes, the Navionics HotMaps chip is pretty cool.

[This message has been edited by Jarrod32 (edited 06-15-2004).]

[Mykal]

Norm, I agree with Jarrod32. I have the same 480m gps and have heard the same story on the Hotmaps and varying degrees of accuracy. Do your homework before you invest in these chips as they are expensive and you don't want to be disappointed. Lakemaster is currently surveying LOW and I know that they are continually improving and adding different lakes. I feel that Lakemaster has the most accurate maps out there. I have decided to wait until the "right" chip option comes out for my area lakes. Right now the Biglakes Promap is the best I have seen.

[This message has been edited by Mykal (edited 06-16-2004).]

[Fish Head]

I have the Lowrance 18c and the Navionics Hotmaps chip. I wasn't sure if I was going to be happy with it because I've heard it isn't very accurate. Let me tell you- I love it. No it's not perfect, but it is a great tool to find where you are and where you want to be. If you fish one of the few lakes that have the promaps exclusively, than purchase the promap series. But if you fish different lakes like I do, I think you will find it a GREAT tool. There is a world of differenct between the Hotmaps and the basic lake outlines that come with the unit.

Just my $.02

Good luck!

[Jarrod32]

Yeah...Fish Head is right. Don't get me wrong...I love the Navionics HotMaps chip. But like I said, it can be a little off at times. This isn't a big deal, however. It gets you within 10 to 15 yards or so of those mid-lake humps...you can find the exact spot with your electronics.

Like I said, it depends on where you do most of your fishing.