I've right yesterday discovered ReefMaster as software solution for waterbody mapping.

I'm really newbie about sonar world, but as diver and lover I would like to map two bays I usually visit.
One of my desire would be to make a personal paper printout of the bathymetric map bay. A poster.

At present time I've no echosonar at all and I'm considering what to buy. And I'm really confused. I've been reading so much in the past ten days that just one thing is clear to me:
Garmin Striker Plus won't be suitable for that.

So, since I'd like to stay in a 500€ budget what could be a right setup so that I can map both for printing and chartplotting devices?
At first I was impressed by the Humminbird HELIX 5 CHIRP DI GPS G2 (would love te SideView but...) since it's already Autochart capable, but Iù'm concerned about the fact that I would need Autochart PC to build up a usable Helix chart.

Then I saw the Lowrance Hook2 5. Would it be a good choice? Can ReefMaster bathymetric maps be exported and used on Lowrence Hook2 (or other lLowrance devices)?

Ноок 7, Elite Ti (5, 7), Elite chirp/hdi, HDS Gen2 (Gen3).
Hook2 - vector maps.

So you're saying that hook2 5, accepts only vectors, Am I wrong?
If so it's good and fine for me.

This clarified, the workflow implies:
1-Recording the sonar log
2-Putting it in RM and build the bottom map
3-exporting the bathymetric map to Hook2.

Is that correct?

If you are not going to use raster maps, such as satellite images or mosaics, you can buy Hook2

My information is, that the Hook2 unit cannot display raster maps: "All raster maps are disabled intentionally on the Hook2." (Navico)

ershal wrote:
Does Elite perform better than Hook2?

Elite Ti?
Elite Ti - side scan, rastr/vector maps, touch.

Sorry, I was meaning if the Hook2 is in any way slower in displaying/logging etc.

Here in Italy is possible to but Hook2 5 Tripleshot that is 90€ cheaper than Elite 5 Ti with Totalscan.
Apart the Touch interface, I'm wondering if Elite Ti has other features I'm not aware of.

Hook2 is not something I would recommend to anyone fishing deeper then 20m/60f or so. Elite Ti is another game, and offcourse Simrad GO.

Thx for your contribution.
Would you please add something else about Elite Ti Totalscan?
I'd really appreciate.

Can it compete with Helix 5 G2 Triple shot?

If you were going to choose between these two what will you choose and why?

Also very interested in this thread.

Will be upgrading my sounder soon, and want to get one with downscan and custom maps. Not too fussed with sidescan itself, but 3D maps would be great. From what I have researched, Lowrance/Simrad seem to be the only ones with live 3D Mapping?

After creating 3D Maps on ReefMaster, can these maps be displayed on the sounder? Couldn't find too much information/videos on how well ReefMaster 3D maps are transferred across to a sounder and how it looks. Or much on bathymetric maps, compared to Lowrance/Humminbird etc.

I fish from a kayak offshore, usually not any deeper than 40m. Is the Hook2 just not powerful enough for that depth? How does the Humminbird Helix G2 stack up against Lowrance Hook2, or Lowrance Elite Ti? What would you recommend for my case, and use with ReefMaster?

3D maps are not supported by Navico (Lowrance/Simrad), RM - does not support Garmin (3D maps).