LMS 350a Upgrade

[Iceagetech]

I have a LMS350a chart plotter (?) with gps, depth, and speed. Has a gps antenna and attached to an simrad auto pilot sytem that I never use. I would like to upgrade to a modern system. I just need gps, maps, speed, depth, heading, and boat info. Autopilot not needed and fish finder not required. Just need depth so I don’t run aground and screws don’t hit bottom. Anybody have any recommendations? Don’t want to break bank. I boat in MN on Mississippi River.

[bud37]

Garmin, gpsmap series....pick a screen size....touch screen ,intuitive, was very happy with it on other boats, just bought another new one to replace ray marine stuff.....check em out....thats it for me....

[tomschauer]

There are soooo many choices. Do some research and find what will work best for you. Screen size normally dictates pricing levels.
I bought a Raymarine A97 two years ago. It has about 10 million features. I use about 5 of them. I have had Garmin, Lowrance, Northstar and Standard Horizon in the past. I don't believe Standard makes chart plotters any longer, I liked the 10" standard I had about 2001.
I like may Raymarine, but I believe the Garmin units are more user friendly, especially for basic features.

Not sure who made your LMS 350, but odds are if it is from the '80's the antenna and the transducer will not be compatible with a new unit.
That being said, if you mount it on the bridge a unit with an internal antenna will do the trick. If you just want depth and not worried about fish or structure you may be able to adapt your existing transducer to work with a new non CHIRP unit. Speed will be provided via gps.

Hopefully I helped a bit.

[MakinTime]

I boat on the Mississippi too in Hastings! I am in need of a new one myself..I am leaning toward the Simrad GO series, probably the 7. They seem like a quality product for around $550, isn’t to crazy. And you can always add things like fuel flow or engine data later on if you ever decide too.

[Iceagetech]

Thanks for the information. I am down at Wabasha, want to make trip to St Croix this summer. My current unit is Lowrance and it’s from 1980 or 1990. I have been researching. SimRad Go series looks extremely interesting. Raymairne and Garmin also seem to fit the requirements. Looks like a need a modern transducer so I can get better sonar and depth. I am worried about inboards and screws when I beach, I don’t want them to hit bottom. Need speed indicator, GPS would be nice. Current speed is from a wheel device at stern of boat. Overall I am a tech nerd so I want a mapping, on a river I know so not really needed. I have tried just using iPad, but need sonar.

I have two helms but I only use the fly bridge. So I need the unit on fly bridge and need wires run. I am sure current system won’t be good enough. I do have an external GPS antenna. I also have an old SimRad auto pilot, never used it. I have noticed the system seems to run throughout boat, Have some units down below and not sure what they are. I am into computers but not sure of this system.

I am going to continue to research and speak to my mechanic at my marina.

[MakinTime]

I currently have a Raymarine e80 from around 2005ish (I think) and it uses a thruhull near the middle of the boat in the engine he compartment. We beach almost every weekend and have never had a problem with it hitting the sand it is far enough back that it won’t hit. After my experience with the raymarine e80 I want to throw it in the river! Not user friendly what so ever and it’s just plain old.

Even though we boat the river it is nice to track your routes and such.