Lowrance Elite 5 DSI

[boatfan]

Has anyone used one of these, and what are your thoughts? Looking at getting one...

 

[mildew2]

I have been looking at that unit myself. I got an e-mail from Boaters World showing the images of the bottom and it's impressive. Boaters World wanted $649.97 for it.
West Marine advertises it at $549.99. The only set back I see is that it is only a 5" screen.
I would love to see a true demonstration of it's capability.

 

[boatfan]

I think we are going to go for it. Although its only 5", for the money the overall unit seems to be worth it with the high frequency sonar.. $549 is a good price, just have to get the map card for it...

 

[Flaff]

Check with Jim at BOE to compare with West & others.

 

[boatfan]

we went ahead and bought it, working on trying to get it installed, having trouble running the new transducer wire from the transom to console....

 

[mildew2]

I use a "wire fish" when running anything from my transom to my console on my 1801CC

 

[boatfan]

I'm going to try that this weekend.

 

[tomfish]

just installed the elite-5 on my '06 1801. not bad. i ran a electrical fish from batt. box to console then taped the transducer to it and "finessed" it to the transom. was not as hard as i thought, start to finish had everything installed in 3 hours. putting the boat in next week, cant wait to try it out. will be fishing barnigat bay and inshore, do i need the map card? didnt want to put out the xtra$$$. will let you know how it works.

 

[boatfan]

I do think you will have to have the map card, either Hot spots for your area or the US. I bought the gold package which came with the complete US. If you don't see any of the water ways on the GPS, then its b/c you have to have the card. Let me know how it goes. I was trying to pull the old transducer wire with my new one taped to it, but it keeps jamming up shortly into it. I plan on fishing from the transom battery area to the console; I was concerned about beating up the transducer by fishing it through the conduit. Let me know how it does...

 

[boatfan]

I finally got the wire fished through and have everything hooked up; going to test the transducer in the morning.

 

[Captain Frosty]

Hi there - So how do you like this elite 5 ? I'm thinking of getting one too - I have a 2006 1801 also and it has a lowerence 480 d or something with a different card - It is outdated and old and I want something modern. I look at these things like computers - old laptop = slow and technology deficient. So any feedback on this system is appreciated.

Eric

 

[boatfan]

Sorry for the delayed response, haven't logged in for a while. yes, like it a lot, wish I had the hot spots card. Sometime within the past month or so, the temperature sensor has gone out and it no longer gives me an accurate water temp (it now reads water temp is 129F everyday all day).. If anyone knows how to fix it, that would be nice.

 

[Grutus]

Look at the videos on "You Tube" and I think you will find a video on that unit. I watched four videos on my Lowrance HDS5 that were real informative.

 

[Noahs_Ark]

I have the Navionics Elite US Chip for that unit if you're interested. I used it for 3 weeks and sold the boat with the unit. My Parker has Garmin products so it is useless to me, PM me and if you're interested.

 

[boatfan]

I'm interested, but waiting to get the boat out of the shop and see how it does. We overheated without realizing and have a compression problem but I"m not going to rebuild - too expensive and don't think its worth it. I will get back to you once I know we are up and running.
thanks,
Peter