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Reefmaster #12561145 01/02/18 05:00 PM
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Background:
I fish from a Kayak, and currently have a 2014 Lowrance Elite 5 HDI with GPS chartplotter running the most recent software update
Also have LakeInsight Pro V14 and extra microSD cards

Experience: I have downloaded social maps from C-MAP and made satellite overlays with Insight Map Creator and SAS planet

I fish a lot of unmapped bodies of water and would like to make my own maps to then use while on the water.

I understand there are other options, but those tend to require one or more of the following: new unit, new cards, annual subscriptions, etc. or your data becomes public for all the world to see.

Please reply with any feedback on the Reefmaster program.
Thank you.






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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12561185 01/02/18 05:32 PM
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ring fry Offline
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Garmin Striker Plus 4, $139.99. Make your own maps and great 2d sonar.

SE Kansas grass grower


2008, 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions
GO JAYHAWKS

Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12561255 01/02/18 06:33 PM
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Yes, Quickdraw (Garmin) Autochart Live (Humminbird) Sonarchart Live (Lowrance) and Wifish (Raymarine) are all attractive options.

But with Reefmaster, all I think I have to do is purchase the program, instead of a new unit +/- additional subscriptions, programs, and cards

The Lowrance HDI transducer fits easily withing my kayak's transducer port and shield without any modification, which is another nice convenience. The nicer units with side scan, I'd have to buy a third party transducer shield +/- other mods.


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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12563280 01/04/18 01:51 AM
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Mudman63 Offline
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I also fish exclusively from a kayak and have a Humminbird 1199 with side imaging. Transducer is mounted on an over the side RAM mount.

The Autochart Pro chip and PC program ($250 one time charge, no annual license), along with the free Humviewer software allows me to make awesome depth maps with side imaging overlays. Also, these maps are yours and yours alone.

With all that said, in my opinion, if you want to map, buy one of the new Helix units that have SD slots and Autochart live capability AND buy the AutoChart Pro SD card. You will be set to easily create your own maps for the cost of the unit and chip.

PM me if you want to discuss.

Last edited by Mudman63; 01/04/18 01:52 AM.
Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12563366 01/04/18 03:00 AM
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Thank you Mudman, if I were to purchase a new depthfinder/chartplotter; it would be a Gen2 Helix 5 with Autochart Live Pro and a zero lines card.

I fish a lot of small bodies of water that I don't want to see pop up on a social map somewhere, and I have less than zero interest in paying extra to keep my sonar log data private.

In the meantime, I'm likely to pull the trigger on Reefmaster (goes against my nature to purchase a new fishfinder/plotter when I'm content with my current set up)





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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12564437 01/04/18 11:11 PM
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Let me know what you think about Reefmaster functionality. Good luck!

Last edited by Mudman63; 01/04/18 11:11 PM.
Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12578477 01/14/18 10:23 PM
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On the free trial run of Reefmaster, and Im impressed
Theres some good how to videos on Vimeo and YouTube.
A little bit complicated, but I like all the fine tuning options and export flexibility

Heres a map I made this morning. It's a picture of a computer screen, so there's some distortion of the image.





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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12580421 01/16/18 02:33 AM
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How does the side imaging module work for you?

Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12580743 01/16/18 02:02 PM
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Well, my Lowrance Elite 5 HDI only has 2D and down imaging (no side imaging)

I'll post a video later today I made that shows a replay of the real time 2D and downimaging with boat position and GPS. This technology is very cool. I was able to go back through my sonar views (replay in real time or speed things up and mark waypoints, etc which I've now added to my map)

You can do side scan mosaic maps and replays of side scan mapping with boat position (I'll post a video from youtube)





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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12581142 01/16/18 05:35 PM
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That was an informative demo video. I think its time to download the demo programs and give it a try. Thanks.

Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12588144 01/21/18 01:56 PM
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Heres another map I completed yesterday (the pins are waypoints) and a screen shot revising the sonar logs
It took me about an hour to make my first map last week and about ten minutes to make the map this week. Didn't take long for the process to become intuitive.






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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12588179 01/21/18 02:24 PM
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collincountytx,

Does it save data to sd while recording on the water or just copy from sonar logs later? In other words, does it occupy and sd slot while in use?

Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12588209 01/21/18 03:05 PM
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My Lowrance Elite 5 HDI has one micro SD card slot.
So, when I record on the water, I am recording to that micro SD card.

Now, if I had a unit with NMEA 0183 data collection, I could save the data that way (live) to an external device (laptop, ipad, etc)---at least that's my understanding, but I haven't explored this (no way am I bringing a laptop onto my kayak)

With Lowrance units, the set up is just about identical to using Insight Genesis--you go through the same initial process
1. Turn on unit and make sure you have GPS signal lock
2. Get to a page with chart view on the left and 200Hz on the right
3. Go to menu and name a new trail (saving tracks and GPS data)
4. Highlight the 200Hz screen (press page button twice)--orange rectangle will now be around the 200Hz part of the screen
5. Press menu and select sonar logging
6. Name and save the name for the log
7. select start sonar logging
8. At the end of the day, go to menu, select sonar logging, and stop sonar logging.

The above is my interpretation of how to do it. I'll post a link to the Reefmaster manual below. Open up the "Importing GPS data" chapter and then select "Collecting Track Log Data"



Reefmaster manual


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Re: Reefmaster [Re: CCTX] #12597775 01/27/18 04:45 PM
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What map project looks like exported to google earth and simple vector map (there are more detailed options) with waypoints transferred onto Elite 5 HDI





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