Chart plotter sounder vs stand alone

[HGM]

Time to upgrade my electronics. Planing on going with the Garmin 740. I also need to install a sounder I only use the sounder for depth not for finding fish. Is there any advantage to going with the built in sounder or a stand alone unit?

 

[bajturner]

I just went through the same decision-making process. I was choosing between the 720 and the 720s (I live in Canada so the built-in maps in the 740 were not useful). My boat has the built-in depth fnder.

What I learned was the stock transducer would not communicate with the 720s so a second transducer would need to be added.

Not being too interested in the actual bottom contours, I ended up getting a MercMonitor (that I liked the idea of already) that would bridge SmartCraft data to NMEA 2000. The data from the stock transducer is part of the SmartCraft data that gets bridged, so the depth gets displayed on the 720, along with all the engine and sensor data.

The added cost of sonar was going to be almost $600 installed. The MercMonitor, which is a pretty cool gauge, was around $1100.

 

[bajturner]

Just re-read your post...do you have a stock transducer? If not, adding one and getting the 740s may be the best way to go. Not much more money, if any, and you get integrated sonar.

 

[MonacoMike]

Time to upgrade my electronics. Planing on going with the Garmin 740. I also need to install a sounder I only use the sounder for depth not for finding fish. Is there any advantage to going with the built in sounder or a stand alone unit?

It is much easier to look in one place for navigation information. Additionally several features need the depth data to function. I also learned that the transducer with temperature is only $30 more and is a "wish I'd have known". I don't know if you are thinking flush dash mount but built-in frees up dash space. MM

 

[jason78]

I just went through the same decision-making process. I was choosing between the 720 and the 720s (I live in Canada so the built-in maps in the 740 were not useful). My boat has the built-in depth fnder.

What I learned was the stock transducer would not communicate with the 720s so a second transducer would need to be added.

Not being too interested in the actual bottom contours, I ended up getting a MercMonitor (that I liked the idea of already) that would bridge SmartCraft data to NMEA 2000. The data from the stock transducer is part of the SmartCraft data that gets bridged, so the depth gets displayed on the 720, along with all the engine and sensor data.

The added cost of sonar was going to be almost $600 installed. The MercMonitor, which is a pretty cool gauge, was around $1100.

Can you share any details about your install of the merc Monitor? I am plannign this upgrade soon and not too many people have written about installing them, particularly on a Twin engine application.

Did you use it to replace the SC1000 Speedo or did you add it to the cluster? How hard was the install and config. Was the NMEA2K stuff pretty straightforward?

Thanks

 

[Paladin]

Hi, Not sure if this will be helpful, but Standard Horizon makes a nice big chart plotter with a built in sounder, so all you need is an Airmar p58 as a transom mount, and you're done. Look up the Standard Horizon CPF300i
Any questions about it and SH has the best customer service. Helpful, free stuff, etc.

 

[bajturner]

Can you share any details about your install of the merc Monitor? I am plannign this upgrade soon and not too many people have written about installing them, particularly on a Twin engine application.

Did you use it to replace the SC1000 Speedo or did you add it to the cluster? How hard was the install and config. Was the NMEA2K stuff pretty straightforward?

Thanks

Other than a bunch of reading I have done I can't tell you much about it as I don't have any hands-on experience yet...anxiously waiting for things to melt outside! I had my marina do the install and add it to the NMEA2K bus while the boat was in for servicing. They said it was pretty straightforward to install. I am heading to the marina to check it out this week while it is still indoors so I will be able to tell you a little more shortly.

I had it installed where the stock speedo was, as you guessed. I also had trim tab position sensors installed ($80) so their position will be displayed on the MercMonitor and on the chartplotter if all works as advertised. This allows the MM Eco function to have visibility to all the relevant parameters it wants.

NMEA2K is very straightforward as it all goes together like Lego. The only somewhat tricky part is hooking the bus up to power, but even that is pretty easy. I used one of the unused buttons on the console so it can be turned off if I want.