upgrading Lowrance unit in a Puma

[bassdog1]

I currently have a Lowrance 480 as the console unit for my 2005 Puma and am looking to upgrade to a color unit . I want upgrade for a number of reasons primarily for the greater detail and brighter screen on a color unit . Im hesitant however given the recent problems that I have heard about with Lowrance . If I do decide to upgrade what is the largest unit I can fit in the dash of the boat and would the connections for the transducer and GPS receiver that I have for the 480 be compatible with that unit ?

[Scott McGehee]

You can put any of the 7″ screens in the dash on the Puma. The new units will have red connectors and you should have the blue connectors, so you will have to use an adapter to make them work. I have not had any problems with the Lowrances on my units, so I wouldnt hesitate to put them on your boat.

[bassdog1]

Scott would these larger units fit in the prexisting hole or do I need to make the hole in the dash larger ?

[basscathash]

You will have to make the hole larger if you go to a 7″ screen unit. I used a roto zip to cut the fiberglass and it cut it easily. Just make sure to use masking tape at the cut out area to reduce chipping. Brian Hash

[Scott McGehee]

There should be a pattern in the paperwork on the new unit that will make it easier to cut out, but the hole is bigger, your 480 has a 5 ” screen.

[dbasketman]

Im running a X27c, and a 510c on my P4, and have not had a single issue with my Lowrance units. I really like boththe units, and wouldnt hesitate to upgrade to either if i were you, D.

[djk3030]

Regarding the antenna question, yes and…no but fixable. The transducer will be compatible. They didnt change those plugs from the blue ones when they came out with the new units. The power cord did change though, but I dont know in what way but thats an easy replacement. But the antenna is a little different story. Technically it will work fine with the new series units; but the plug wont fit. The new units use the red NMEA 2000 standard plug and the older units use the blue LowranceNet plug. But supposedly there is an adapter available from Lowrance to make it work; but I hear theyre a bit hard to come by (maybe not so much now) and at one time were kinda pricey for what they really were. Still cheaper and a whole lot less hassle than replacing the antenna though. You can give Lowrance a call and they should fix you up. Deke[font=&QUOT]Deke[/font]

[Bass Cat Boats]

My 2007 Puma came with 3 Lowrance units and all 3 went out. Lowrance 1440, LMS-332, and X-115. I emailed them and they didnt even take time to email back and say I am sorry that about your experience. The only good thing is that they did repair the units under warranty and it only cost me shipping. The units all had something different wrong with them and it really blew my mind how a company so large could care so little. I had heard that they were now made in Mexico and that quality really went downhill. Sure enough when I got them back the box was stamped ” Made in Mexico”. I realize some of you all wouldnt hesitate to put one in your boat but I WOULD. Even the highest quality items sometimes have flaws or tear up. (ex. Basscat) The difference is a good company , like Basscat, goes above and beyond to correct the problem and see that their customer is happy. I realize that companies like Basscat are far and few between, but wait and see Lowrance will begin to suffer if they continue down the road they are headed. ( Just an opinion but look at other brands, I did!)

[Bass Cat Boats]

BassTrooper, Sorry for your experience with Lowrance. The company was in Turmoil last year as they were bought out by Simrad and the existing management team was reduced by attrition. Simrad only reduced the management a tad, though others left thinking that was next. The mid level management and teams are still in place at Lowrance. We agree that they are the worst at returning e-mails, and that 1 hour wait to hoepfully get to a technician on the Help line is tough. Though these factors have always been there. The units have also been made in Mexico for well over a decade. In 2008 we switched to HumminBird as a standard LCR at BCB, and while they are not fail safe either, we can speak to a tech. and get pretty quick replies. The failures of those NMEA Ts and Backbone, plus the lack of unit and parts last year from Lowrance were our reason for the switch. Our position is that all of these types of designed electronics are subject to failures with the beating and moisture issues we put them through. For your information HumminBird was previously owned by TeleFlex and was acquired by Johnson Fishing (MinnKota) just after the development of the 987 SI units. They were not responsible for the huge technogical advance that “Bird” now has. Those developments they inherited with the acquisition. Though they will be responsible for how things are handled from this point forwards and they do not appear to have done anything but get better. Only time will tell how this all plays out. BCB

[BassTrooper]

See how easy that was for you guys to respond. I have always said that great food can be made bad by poor service but decent food can be made great by awesome service. This is also true with any product that you are selling. I truly bought a Basscat because of the things I had heard about how they take care of their customers and I knew if I spent that much money I wanted something that would be of top quality and acompany which have a team of PROFESSIONALS that would be willing to stand behind their product. It seems like some companies outgrow their products and get to big for their customers. I truly pray that God will bless the Basscat company and I hope you NEVER forget what things make and will continue to make you successful.

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