Just heard from UPS that my new HDS-5 will arrive

[Richard M]

Just heard from UPS that my new HDS-5 will arrive tomorrow. I managed to source one from the UK (company called Cactus Navigation) with the international world base maps loaded, so it is the same unit sold here in SA and will not have the Geofence problems as with the US basmap units supplied from the states. Managed to get the unit plus 83/200 skimmer plus the Navionics Navplanner software and card reader for R7251, Shipped to SA. The customs VAT and disbursement costs were R1116, so total cost of R8367. (no duty on electronics like this into SA, only VAT)

The unit alone if I bought here in SA would have been approx R11500 and with the skimmer and the Navionics software and card reader, would have come out at about R15k.

What a bargain!

 

[benniejordaan]

Once you have plugged it in, please come back to us and let us know how it goes.

 

[Rory]

when it busts ??

 

[Fishton]

Richard M wrote:

The unit alone if I bought here in SA would have been approx R11500...

R9630.00    incl. Free SA Inland Water Charts - more than 80 dams!  (less another 5% for Sealine members!)

And a 3 year warranty!

And only R1650 for Navionics GOLD!

 

[Richard M]

What's the price together with the 83/200 skimmer? Price I got from Lowrance here was R11500 without the transducer.

 

[Fishton]

That is because Lowrance are the SA Distributors - they are not supposed to try compete with their dealers. Imagine the fiasco that would cause!

 

[Fishton]

Richard M wrote:

What's the price together with the 83/200 skimmer? Price I got from Lowrance here was R11500 without the transducer.

"Rome was not built in a day."

Two years ago a single frequency 5" screen cost you R11 900.00 plus transducer R1200, plus Broadband Sounder R10 900, plus Navionics Gold R3900.
Total = R24 000.00

Now, you can buy a 5" High Desinition System with a 16 channel GPS receiver, Solar Max PLUS screen, scroll back, Broadband 83/200kHz sonar, transducer, Navionics GOLD and Inland Water maps for the whole of South Africa (80 dams) ALL for half the price it was 2 years ago.

Can you say the same for your boat, outboard motor, or 4 x 4 for that matter?

We are trying our best to keep the South African Anglers happy. 

 

[benniejordaan]

I've always wondered why Lowrance doesn't bring in these "world base map" units. Then they too could sell them cheaper?? No??

 

[Richard M]

Fishton, what are your prices like on the LSS-1 units?

 

[Fishton]

Richard M wrote:

Fishton, what are your prices like on the LSS-1 units?

R7225 less 5% for Sealine members.

 

[Richard M]

Started fitting the HDS-5 yesterday. Ended up stripping out the entire consol wiring as the guys that rigged the boat (Broderick's) did a real crappy job. Poor terminations and joints every where, lucky I have not had any problems whilst offshore.

My son wanted to help yesterday and decided to pull out the old transducer wire that I had left in for pulling in the new ones. Took me two hours and a lot of cussing to get a wire back through the bottom of the hull from the consol to pull the new wires in. The plugs on the lowrance unit are much bigger than my old garmins were, so I battled a bit. Also had to open up all the holes in the consol to pass the plugs through to the unit.

Also orderd a LSS-1 structure scan over the weekend from Fishtec (good price too!). Will wait for that to come before I finish up the re-wiring job. Maybe next weekend? Will have to wait until end Sept to give it a try out though as I will not have time to get the boat on the water.

Will post some pics of what the bottom of the Vaal river looks like as soon as I get a chance.

 

[Richard M]

Managed to get everything installed and powered up this weekend. Everything works fine in simulator mode. Now just need to get it on the water.

There is not much space on a RIB hull to fit the two sensors. The LSS-1 sensor is quite long and needs to be within 300mm on the normal 83/200khz tranducer for the overlay of the downscan on the sonar to work. Bit worried my one motor might be in the way in sidescan, but will only find out once I have it on the water.

 

[Fishton]

Glad to hear you are ready to roll Richard. If you are worried about the motor leg you can always trim it out a touch while idling along with your Lowrance Structure Scan.

 

[Richard M]

Exactly what I was thinking of doing if the g/box interfere's with the sidescan. Will need to trim it out about 10 degrees or so then the transducer will have a clear path in both directions. Will let you knoe how it goes.

 

[Porra Newbie]

Guys excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between the 50/200 khz skimmer to the 83/200khz skimmer and which one is the better of the 2?

Thanks in advance

 

[Fishton]

Basically the HST-WSBL Skimmer 83/200kHz transducer has a 60/20 degree cone for shallow water applications <500ft.

And the HST-DFBSL 50/200kHz transducer has a 35/12 degree cone for deep water applications up to over 1000ft.

Don't kid yourself thinking that because the DFBSL works great in deeper water, that it should out perform the WSBL in shallower water.