Older Lowrance suggestions

[TrevorW]

I'm looking for an older Lowrance to put on the bow of my boat. Just wanting some feedback from guys to see what older sonar units they liked and how they rated them overall.

[perchjerker]

I have a 28c hd and its been absolutely perfect for about 5-6 years now.

I have it networked to a 520c (the 520c is a slave unit) works great also

one thing with the older units is the map chips for the gps can be harder to find since most are out of production.

[TrevorW]

Just the kind of info I was looking for! So would something like that be a better unit than say the comparable elite that they make currently?

[Three Rivers Marine]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

I'm looking for an older Lowrance to put on the bow of my boat. Just wanting some feedback from guys to see what older sonar units they liked and how they rated them overall.

Like everyone else is saying, the LMS-520, or the 522 units seemed to work very well when they are networked with others. If you are wanting to get an LCX unit, they are bigger and have about a good a screen as the HDS units. Aside from not having Structure scan abilities, they are very reliable units and can be networked together with old and new units via NMEA2000.
Keith

[perchjerker]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Just the kind of info I was looking for! So would something like that be a better unit than say the comparable elite that they make currently?

I cant answer that since I have never used one of those and have no knowledge of it

[whofan]

The Lowrance X65,X75,X85 and I think it was called the 350ma were great units. 1997-2002.
Then the Lowrance units that came out about the same time color was new were riddled with problems.
I had a X510c that was total junk. always froze up. New tranducers and two trips back to lowrance for software updates did not fix it. The 5200 Globalmap I had with the 510 was a bit better but always shut its self off.
I seriously would buy the new HDS Lowrance or go back to the pre color days and skip anything between the 2002-2009 years.
Some people have good luck with some of these units but if you research the old post you will find it was a real crap shoot.
Lowrance does not support their vintage units either. They`re throw aways.
I in my opinion will not put a drill bit to a boat for a Lowrance unit.
HDS is the way to go if you go Lowrance.

[1860Angler]

What's you budget and how much time do you spend in the bow? I'd go for a new HDS5 Gen 2 before I bought any old used Lowrance units. Once you run an HDS any of the old Lowrance units seem like old boat anchors!!

[fishboat]

As whofan meentioned, the X85 and LMS350a were considered very good units. I had an x85 & A GM2000 liked them both alot. The x65 & 75 were lower resolution units than the x85. The 350a was a gold standard in its day...about every pro had one mounted on the dash.

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by 1860Angler

What's you budget and how much time do you spend in the bow? I'd go for a new HDS5 Gen 2 before I bought any old used Lowrance units. Once you run an HDS any of the old Lowrance units seem like old boat anchors!!

That's where I'm at. I really like the Lowrance units, I was looking at putting an HDS 7 on my console and an HDS 5 on my bow but by the time I get those units and structure scan I'm at $2000 minimum, The side scan Lowrance stuff is just out of my price range unfortunately.

I think for my budget I'll be looking at Humminbird. I can put a 798ci HD SI on the console and a 597ci HD DI on the bow for less than $1400 which would be the top of my budget and give me everything I'll need.

[TrevorW]

Well after a day of playing with the Humminbirds I can honestly say I wasn't too terribly impressed. Will be Lowrance for me.