anyone around austin install a lowrance

the boat dealer want 300 dollars to install one and I think that a little high

I just installed a 522 ci on my boat. Took about an hour.

Very easy and instructions are straight forward.

Honestly it would probably take you longer to haul your boat to the dealer, drop it off, and pick it back up than to just do it yourself. Will save your self $300 to boot.

If you don't want to install it yourself, call Jacky at FishFinders Marine. http://www.fishfindersmarine.com

I recently installed a 520c and 28c and had no problems. I did the network bit, GPS and everything.

I installed a LMS 520c 2 weeks ago. Even with help from my 2 and 3 year old grandsons it was not a difficult task. Basic tools like a drill and screwdriver, wire cutters and such. The instructions really leave little to chance. Use the $300 for map cards and tackle.

Use the $300 for map cards and tackle.


Now there is a smart man!!

Quick question along the same lines. I just purchased the 520 myself and will be installing tomorrow. I will be mounting using the swivel mount. The instructions state it may be neccesary to use a piece of plywood on the backside if mounting in a weak area of the fiberglass. Did any of you guys use this approach on your install? I have a 2006 Skeeter 18' and will be mounting on the right side of the console with the GPS puck directly in front. That does not seem like a weak fiberglass area but want to make sure.

Placing the gps puck near the transducer is preferred.
More accurate when marking spots.
It took me a while to do my 520C. If you fish stumpy shallow water put the transducer inside. I finally tore mine off and had to or buy a new one.

I installed mine in an aluminum boat. It may be difficuly to tell how thick the fiberglass is until yuo drill the holes. Even with the aluminum I used fender washers and bolts with lock nuts ti secure the ram mount. This helps to spread the load. You have to be able to get to the underside of the mounting area for either method. When I drilled through the fiberglass console to get the wires where I wanted them I found that the fiberglass was up to 1/2 inch thick. Something in that range should be thick enough.

has anyone installed one in the dash?
How does it mount inside the hole if you cut one?

run your wires thru the hole and down the side. The bracket mounts so as to cover up the hole

What I meant was if you cut a hole in your dash how does the unit mount to the dash with out falling out.

If you do a good cut it will fit snug and I then would just add a couple 1/2 inch dabs of silicone to ensure it not wobbling out. Lowrance makes a bracket for flush mount installation but its not necessary.

I guess you better measure twice and cut once.... thanks for the tips.

If you have a snake attach it to the wires and pull them through. If wires are there just time a small 1/8"-1/16" rope to it and pull it through, reattach and pull back through.