Lakemaster 08 vs. Navionics 08 Chip

[Lip'em]

thinking about purchasing a chip and just curious what you boys feel is the best chip for the money. From what I understand navionics has more lakes with some in HD 1 foot contours but is the more expensive of the two and Lakemaster has roads but is limited to Minnesota only and some popular border waters but is cheaper? Any help to ease my decision making would be appreciated.

~Lip

[jigging-matt]

I just purchased the Lakemaster chip and think it is great. Don't fish outside of MN much, and the place where I purchased it recommended the lakemaster for my needs. I was told if you fish almost exclusively MN go Lakemaster, if you go out of state much go Navonics. I really like the extra features of the lakemaster, and the fact that you can zoom in closer.

[caseymcq]

The one benefit Navionics has that is a big plus IMO over LakeMaster is that Navionics has a "trade-in" program where as LakeMaster does not.

If you want the extra information that LakeMaster provides (such as roads, state parks etc.) that would be the one to go with. If you are buying the chip exclusively for the lake maps Navionics might be the chip to get. It has more lakes and more HD lakes (I fish Vermillion a lot, LM has it in 3-foot contours, Navionics has it in a 1-foot HD version. Is the 1' mapping really necessary, I don't know.)

LakeMaster is also compatable with more Lowrance units. I have Lowrance LCX 15mt's on my boat and a H2Oc. The Navionics Premium chip only works in my H2Oc. The LM chip works in every unit. Depending on what you will use the chip in this is something else to consider.

I have both LM and Navionics '07 chips, I like both.

[JustinG]

I ended up purchasing both the Lakemaster and the Navionics chips. I like the Navionics chip better because it has way more detailed lake maps in it. It also has alot of the smaller lakes that I like to fish in it. I think the Navionics has a better lake map package as far as number of lakes included. The only thing I don't like about the Navionics is the load time but that is a minor thing. What I did like about the Lakemaster chip was the detailed MN roadmaps, and the clarity of the maps. If I could do it all over again, I would have just bought the Navionics chip.

Justin

[muc33]

Is the 08 out????????? for either?

[Lunder99]

I can't comment on the Lakemaster, but I did purchase Navionics 2008 Premium Chip last week so I know it's out.

[vikingmeatwad]

I think I will sell my lakemaster and get a navionics as Lakemaster is missing many Metro lakes that are on navionics.

Plus I didn't like hearing the negative comments about competitors at the lakemaster booth at the ice show.

[Hoffer]

I just went to both sights - and briefly looked for some lakes I fish - one very popular metro lake - and one relatively unknown lake I fish where I grew up. Both lakes were on the Navionics chip - and both were NOT on the Lakemaster chip. The one popular metro lake I was looking for (unless I missed it) that i was suprised wasnt on the Lakemaster was lake Independance.This surprised me a bit - and I may lean toward purchasing the navionics - although I havent priced it out yet compared to the lakemaster.

[fishinJohn]

Is there an efficient way to use both? I have Lakemaster but am interested in Navionics. If you save a small map to a blank chip from each map chip will it give info from both?

[schweady]

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: If Lowrance would have thought to put the card slot anywhere except behind the batteries, making switching a pain (unless you're using an external power source), then it would be much less problem switching back and forth to compare.

[Trytti]

I just bought the Lakemaster chip on hsolist last week for $57.00 as a "buy it now" price. I loaded my coordinates from my old Garmin GPS and it looks to be a pretty good set up. I have never used the Navionics chip though so I can't give you a good comparison.

For that price I think it is well worth the money. Now if it just makes the fish bite...

[Chad Halvorson]

The Navionics chip I bought was off on points of structure by over 100 feet( Long & Lat) which made it a pain to try to use, whats the point if its not accurate. Plus the slow loading was like using dialup again, and lastly you couldnt zoom in far enough to USE the breakline shown anyways. It will get you to the area, but your still going to need to make your own actual marks.