Dream boat electronics?

Well I'm close to retirement and after much research I've decided on a Vexus 1880 aluminum bass boat. Now I am out of the loop on available graphs, only reading about Garmins livescope. Vexus lets you choose any brand and model up until production day, so I have a little time.
I currently run Lowrance gen2 Hds touch units on my Tracker which have been pretty good, but there are a couple features I think that could be improved on. One is accurate depth maps and the other which may be a add on would be actual self mapping of a lake vs a map card. So I know I will get a lot of opinions but what and why are you all liking what you are running? I primarily fish crappie but do fish bass and walleye too

Hummingbird allows you to make your on maps.

Humminbird Helix or better. If your going with a Livescope get a 10 inch or bigger monitor. In fact I recommend the largest graph you can afford. I have 10 inch graphs which suit my eyes.

About a decade ago I did similar research. Which brand do I get and why?
I ended up going Humminbird, MinnKota, Lakemaster. All three companies are divisions of Johnson Outdoors. At the time I trusted Eureka brand tents and still do. One of the best tents for your average Joe. Since all three are owned by Johnson Outdoors, all three are designed to work as a Team. They call it the one boat network. With an ethernet port you can connect all your sonar units, transducers, trolling motor, down riggers, etc. together as a team. I can see any transducer on my boat from any sonar unit. I can control my trolling motor from any sonar unit. My sonar units can share way points, record it on one unit and it shows up on the other. Humminbird makes great lake maps while your on the water. It will record hard/soft bottom, weeds, etc. You can set your trolling motor to follow the hard/soft bottom transition, or follow a weed edge, or follow a contour line, even follow it x number of feet off the contour line. I'm sure there are more features, however I haven't learned them yet.

I bought two Helix 9 Gen4 Mega units, MDI (bow) and MSI (dash), Terrova 24v 80lbs thrust, 60" shaft TM with built in MDI transducer and I-Pilot Link. Mega-360, and connected them all with an ethernet port. I want to add a 3rd Helix unit for the pulling cranks out of the back of the boat, and maybe a 4th Helix for the bow when I buy the Mega-Live transducer. From my sonar units I can see the MDI in the Trolling motor, the MSI on the back of the boat, the Mega-360, and eventually the Mega-Live. From my sonar units I can control the trolling motor.

Can teh other brands integrate like the Johnson Outdoors products? Do you need that integration?

I would figue out what trolling motor you prefer then work from there for integration. Ultrex is cable steer and most of the rest are not. Livescope is still king but you can have a standalone setup. The side imaging quality has come a long way on all the brands. Budget for 10 inch screens if you can swing it.

I really like my Garmin for livescope . Still using Humminbirds for side imaging and maps .

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Humminbird Helix or better. If your going with a Livescope get a 10 inch or bigger monitor. In fact I recommend the largest graph you can afford. I have 10 inch graphs which suit my eyes.

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I agree, Ive been told there is a huge difference in screen clarity from the smaller screen to the 10" screen, I will check that box, thanks

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Originally Posted by thaDudeAbides

I would figue out what trolling motor you prefer then work from there for integration. Ultrex is cable steer and most of the rest are not. Livescope is still king but you can have a standalone setup. The side imaging quality has come a long way on all the brands. Budget for 10 inch screens if you can swing it.

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I agree with this. I'm currently all Garmin with Force trolling motor and Graphs. Before that it was a motorguide Xi5 that could nema network to Lowrance.

Pick your trolling motor match the graphs for that. As said you can add Livescope as a stand alone or go with one of the other live sonor systems. I've used 9 in screen for livescope, it is useable but the 10 and 12 inch are a big improvement. Currently have a 10 and 12 inch at the bow. Live scope get a full screen for viewing, I'll split the other screen depending on what I'm doing.

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Originally Posted by thaDudeAbides

I would figue out what trolling motor you prefer then work from there for integration. Ultrex is cable steer and most of the rest are not. Livescope is still king but you can have a standalone setup. The side imaging quality has come a long way on all the brands. Budget for 10 inch screens if you can swing it.

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I understand choosing the trolling motor first, the way I understand it is you can control the Tm with your graph with some brands. I currently have a Motoguide XI5 with pinpoint and even though I have a wireless foot control I have only used it a few times in the past 8 yrs of owning it, although a foot control works best in some situations.

My Lowrance units also talk to each other but not the TM. As I remember for another $200 they would and I could tell the TM to say follow a contour line. With the Birds can you set up different screens on the same page? like downscan and maps? I can set up as many as 4 on the Lowrance.

I had my motor guide hooked to the lowrance graphs. like you I never used the foot control, used the remote for everything. I do the same with the Garmin force TM, I keep the foot control in the boat but don't plan on using it.

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

I understand choosing the trolling motor first, the way I understand it is you can control the Tm with your graph with some brands. I currently have a Motoguide XI5 with pinpoint and even though I have a wireless foot control I have only used it a few times in the past 8 yrs of owning it, although a foot control works best in some situations.

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Best tech now includes ability to mark a way point on side imaging, drop your trolling motor and push a button to take you to the brush pile and anchor lock upon arrival automatically. Foot pedals are different for everyone! I know for sure minn Kota can follow contour Lines but don't know about the rest (my garmin force does not) but I don't crappie fish contour lines so never cared. Call Brian at bbg marine. He will set you up and answer all your questions! Supply chain issues are a real thing right now! Russell marine is also great!

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Originally Posted by zekepa

I had my motor guide hooked to the lowrance graphs. like you I never used the foot control, used the remote for everything. I do the same with the Garmin force TM, I keep the foot control in the boat but don't plan on using it.

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How do you like the Garmin force TM? I know they are the new kid on the block and have brushless quiet motors. I bought my XI5 because it kept you on a tighter circle then the rest when it was new, but recently it doesn't keep you close at all and erratically corrects it self, I can show you big scratches from it taking me into trees, lol

I bought the force mainly due to having Garmin graphs and wanting a 24 or 36 volt TM (my Xi5 was 12V) I mainly fish an electric only lake, during the spawn when the fish are shallow that area is about a mile from the dock, so It was taking a long time to get there with a 12V motor. Speed wise the Force is much faster, running at the highest setting I can get 4.5 mph with the wife and I on an 18 ft Mod V.

Spot lock wise I feel my Xi5 did a better job. The force is definetly more busy doing corrections (enough that I turn it off and just drift a little if not needing to stay exactly on a spot to fish a specific structure), not sure if it keeps me on a spot better or not.

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Originally Posted by zekepa

I bought the force mainly due to having Garmin graphs and wanting a 24 or 36 volt TM (my Xi5 was 12V) I mainly fish an electric only lake, during the spawn when the fish are shallow that area is about a mile from the dock, so It was taking a long time to get there with a 12V motor. Speed wise the Force is much faster, running at the highest setting I can get 4.5 mph with the wife and I on an 18 ft Mod V.

Spot lock wise I feel my Xi5 did a better job. The force is definetly more busy doing corrections (enough that I turn it off and just drift a little if not needing to stay exactly on a spot to fish a specific structure), not sure if it keeps me on a spot better or not.

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Long ago when I got back into fishing, I also fished a electric lake and regularly wore my battery down, thats when I bought the 24v 80lb Xi5, still the best upgrade on my Tracker

biggest late model loaded up hummer, on the dash ,biggest late model livescope up front if it was spend some money to get it done dream rig :highfive

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

biggest late model loaded up hummer, on the dash ,biggest late model livescope up front if it was spend some money to get it done dream rig :highfive

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I agree and might just as well put a 360 up front while you're at it, it can also be used for other things like mapping, side scan and down! Just use the livescope for forward only.

Helix 10 at the console, Helix 9 up front for mapping and a 12 inch Garmin for livescope. I have two helix 8's and wish every trip out I'd opted for a 10 at the console.

Ok fellas, I placed my order, but can change things up until production day. here is what I picked out: Console- Helix 10 MSI+GPS G4N Bow- Helix 10 MDI+GPS G4N and a Garmin ECHOMAP ultra 106SV w/t Panoptix Livescope and if your gonna go big you minus well get two 8ft Raptors. She will have Seadek through out the whole rig too. I have been a Lowrance guy so I read up on the Birds last night and like what I read also the Graphix on the Garmin unit are way better than the 1022 model. Now I just need to start a GO Fund Me page! naww working 6 days a week for over 35 yrs I should be able to swing it. Thanks for all the comments. Now the boat should be finished some where between July and September, it will be the longest Summer I will ever experience.

Congrats. Awesome setup. You going ultrex or another model?

Dang, that is a nicely rigged out boat! Congrats!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

Ok fellas, I placed my order, but can change things up until production day. here is what I picked out: Console- Helix 10 MSI+GPS G4N Bow- Helix 10 MDI+GPS G4N and a Garmin ECHOMAP ultra 106SV w/t Panoptix Livescope and if your gonna go big you minus well get two 8ft Raptors. She will have Seadek through out the whole rig too. I have been a Lowrance guy so I read up on the Birds last night and like what I read also the Graphix on the Garmin unit are way better than the 1022 model. Now I just need to start a GO Fund Me page! naww working 6 days a week for over 35 yrs I should be able to swing it. Thanks for all the comments. Now the boat should be finished some where between July and September, it will be the longest Summer I will ever experience.

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Very nice set up. I believe your right going to be a long summer of waiting.

Attachment 428104Attachment 428105Attachment 428106Attachment 428108 Here are a web pix of the Vexus 1880, mine will be White on Silver with grey Eva floor like the blue boat. the Bass model had tons more storage then the Crappie version, plus 3 abreast bow seat posts for spiderigging, I think it will be the last boat Ill ever need. The beam is like 30" wider than my Tracker and has a pad design haul like a glass boat so I think she will be a stable ride.:cheers2

You will have a sweet ride for sure. Congrats.

If you’re adding or upgrading the electronics on the new water bug, my recommendation is to go with the largest screens within the budget. What you get installed truly depends on your style/technique of fishing. This is my current setup that has evolved of the last few years and my technique has changed since the beginning. I was primarily at troller with long lines and spider rigging when I first began this project. I installed a Hummingbird SI 10” at the console and bow. I installed a Minn Kota Terrova 24v 80 lb iPilot without the Link addition. When I was trolling, I wish I had added the Link trolling motor so I could connect to my graphs for following the contours on the maps.
The second phase was adding a second unit to the console for mapping and 2d. I split screen the other console unit for SI and DI when searching for fish and/or structure. Again, I was primarily a troller and this setup worked perfectly for me.
When Mega Live was released, I added this to the Helix 10” on the bow and connected all the graphs thru a Ethernet hub. I attached the ML transducer to a seperate pole and not the trolling motor. This is when I stopped trolling and became more of a single pole and target fisherman. So I don’t need the contour following feature on the trolling motor.
The last phase of my system build was removing the Mega Live and adding a Garmin 106 and livescope to the bow as a second unit. The LS transducer is on a pole mount and not trolling motor. Sometimes, I wish it was but I use spot lock a lot and cast to my targets viewed on the LS. I use the Helix 10” on the bow for mapping and 2d.
So if I had a opinion on a “perfect” setup, I would go with a 10” screen or larger for the console and bow. I would add LS to the front graph and attach it to one of the brushless trolling motors that available. The brushless models are very quiet and you won’t spook fish like my Terrova. Just my .02 and some days it’s not worth that.
Whatever you decide, spend as much time as you can to learn the electronics. Spend a lot of time on the water playing with them because all electronics aren’t plug and play. Read articles, watch videos to gain as much knowledge as you can so you can get the expected return of catching more fish.
As lastly, make sure the install is done correctly. I over killed my installs by wire twisting all power wires, heat shrink connectors, emi tape on power cables and ran them separately from each other. Over kill? Probably but I have clear screens with no interference. If you don’t have confidence with the boat dealer, take it somewhere else that specializes in installs.


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Unless you need the touchscreen and ability to remove the Echomap 10, I would change to the GPS Map unit. They are said to have better resolution than the Echomaps, you just have to lock them down to prevent theft. No touchscreen on GPS Map units. Everything else is top notch on your boat!

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Originally Posted by happycaster58

Unless you need the touchscreen and ability to remove the Echomap 10, I would change to the GPS Map unit. They are said to have better resolution than the Echomaps, you just have to lock them down to prevent theft. No touchscreen on GPS Map units. Everything else is top notch on your boat!

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I added the Garmin echo because of the price and did notice the gps models has more pixel resolution. I may upgrade in the future but I can’t say a bad thing about the 106. I wasn’t a fan favorite in the beginning about the touch screen but have come to love the simplicity and quickness I can make changes according to water conditions. And Garmin did I great job for viewing in full sun with no glare. Love this upgrade and the adjustability of LS compared to Mega Live. I did like how you could remove the ML transducer and pole mount from the boat for storage with their shorter connections. And I take all my graphs off for transport and storage even before the Garmin install. Just too much invested that might tempt the sticky finger crowd.

Congratulations! Beautiful boat and equipped well. Use it safely and often. Enjoy!

KrappieKraine- It sounds like your history of crappie fishing is the same as mine, a few years of spider rigging and now more single pole. But I will keep my options open seeing I'm a firm believer that if one method isn't working try another, being flexible is important.
My current set up is a Motoguide XI5 with pinpoint which is great for trolling and spot lock, my graphs are Lowrance HDS gen2 touch units 9" at helm 7" at bow. When I installed the system I declined being able to follow a contour
, but seeing I have a interest in Walleye the Helix/Ultrex combo will offer that.
I will have a 10" Helix at the Helm and the Bow and they will be linked with the trolling motor. I went with a stand alone 10" Garmin echomap Ultra for Panoptix but know I wont want the transducer on the TM for long. I know suppliers that I could get the graphs from cheaper them Vexus is offering them for but knowing the wires on the boat are run through tubes or conduit I chose to have them installed at the factory, the only thing that concerns me is that boats and components can be hard to come by now days. Actually I looked at 2 other boats that had just been delivered to the dealer last week, both were missing trolling motors! So I decided to keep my Tracker till I have the equip boat sitting in my driveway.

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Originally Posted by Tom 513

KrappieKraine- It sounds like your history of crappie fishing is the same as mine, a few years of spider rigging and now more single pole. But I will keep my options open seeing I'm a firm believer that if one method isn't working try another, being flexible is important.
My current set up is a Motoguide XI5 with pinpoint which is great for trolling and spot lock, my graphs are Lowrance HDS gen2 touch units 9" at helm 7" at bow. When I installed the system I declined being able to follow a contour
, but seeing I have a interest in Walleye the Helix/Ultrex combo will offer that.
I will have a 10" Helix at the Helm and the Bow and they will be linked with the trolling motor. I went with a stand alone 10" Garmin echomap Ultra for Panoptix but know I wont want the transducer on the TM for long. I know suppliers that I could get the graphs from cheaper them Vexus is offering them for but knowing the wires on the boat are run through tubes or conduit I chose to have them installed at the factory, the only thing that concerns me is that boats and components can be hard to come by now days. Actually I looked at 2 other boats that had just been delivered to the dealer last week, both were missing trolling motors! So I decided to keep my Tracker till I have the equip boat sitting in my driveway.

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Tom, post some pics whenever to new water bug shows up. We’d all like to see it and how it’s setup.

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Originally Posted by KrappieKrane

Tom, post some pics whenever to new water bug shows up. We’d all like to see it and how it’s setup.

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Oh I will, I'm so excited its killin me. My buddies say they cant wait to get it dirty, dang them.