I’ve owned Garmin products for more than twenty years now. I just bought the Garmin EchoMAP 73sv review this spring as the price was right and it included maps for all the lakes I fish. So far I am in love with it and extremely happy. The 73sv provides vivid images of what is below. The lake maps so far have been great too.
Even better, it’s very easy to install and use. The graphics are great, I’m glad I went with Garmin, and their customer service is hands down the best. If I can remember, the unit came out of the box fully loaded with the lake maps, pretty sweet set up.
Honestly, this is my tenth fish locater and each year they improve. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this unit for the serious fisherman. Let me review Garmin EchoMAP 73sv fish finder to explain the benefits this device has.
Design
Garmin EchoMAP 73sv is by far one of the most unsophisticated fish finder units on the market. The seven-inch screen display is the best bit of its unique design. You can even do backlight modifications with this GPS.
Garmin uses DownVu sonar tech that instantaneously provides the view of what is going on underwater. Garmin EchoMAP will afford you vivid images of fishes and structures in different parts of the lake. Ideally, it boasts IPX7 waterproofing ratings.
Lake Vu Maps
The Garmin EchoMAP 73sv comes with the highest quality of Lake Vu HD mapping system that shows more than seventeen thousand United States Rivers, Reservoirs and Lakes in great detail. Additionally, the software presents subsurface views of more than five thousand Contour and Lakes shading for in-depth recognition.
You can save your preferred sites on a micro SD card for future expeditions. The SD card also comes in handy if you’re thinking of upgrading the system. This feature combined with the first one makes navigation easier.
Auto Guidance
This machine is basically a combo. You get to enjoy the benefits of both a Fishfinder and a GPS tracker. You can also download the latest Garmin App Version which is patented. The app can calculate a precise course for you to safely navigate on terrains you aren’t familiar with.
Even better, the app plots paths that avoid shallow water and other hazards. The feature also provides opportunities to customize and form new routes of your own. This is a ridiculously cool technology that most individuals aren’t aware of!
Sonar
It is one of the signature parts of the design as I mentioned earlier. The images you get are crystal clear and the data is refreshed five times per second to provide you with real time images. Garmin remains undisputed for the clarity and crispness that the Down Vu imaging provides.
The images obtained effectively differentiate between vegetation, game fish and blockades. Find out where the fish are hiding and what depth. An in-built sensor also displays water temperature and vessel speed. When considering advancing to a more accurate and powerful fishfinder, the Garmin echoMAP 73sv review is a worthwhile option.
Also Read: Best Garmin Fish Finder Reviews – Step By Step Buying Guide
Quick Draw Mapping
All Garmin EchoMAP 73sv Fish finders are capable of creating custom lake maps on the fly with the free Quickdraw Contours Software. This is music to the ears of anglers who fish on smaller uncharted waters or on remote waters where no maps exist.
Upgradable Mapping
Let’s face it; this feature has to be counted as one of the positive sides of the unit. If the preloaded LakeVu maps are still not enough for you, you can get a LakeVu HD Ultra map card and use it in the lone micro SD card slot each unit has.
- Simple yet efficient design
- Sonar recording and rewind
- CHIRP Sonar technology offering superior clarity, target definition and target separation
- Fast and accurate internal GPS
- Auto guidance feature to navigate a safe passage
- The installation is very easy and does not require one inch holes that other brands do
- The manual covers all the echoMAP series, and some of the information in it may not apply
- For some, the numerical readings were not accurate.
Features of Garmin EchoMAP 73sv
- Comes with an in built 500W (RMS) DownVu sonar and traditional HD-ID sonar scanning capabilities.
- Internal GPS updates to make marking and returning accurately to way points easier.
- Offers wireless connectivity capability and comes with a dual beam transducer with in-built temperature sensors.
- The screen is super sharp and can be easily adjusted to any lighting conditions. The seven inch screen displays clear details of the scanning.
Garmin EchoMAP 73sv Specifications
- Incredibly fast, accurate GPS updates
- Crystal clear display
- Dual micro SD slots
- Quick draw mapping
- CHIRP, SideVu, ClearVu
- Network
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)
Q: How Many Satellites Does This Unit Use?
A: The unit requires four satellites to have an altitude lock, three to have a position lock, and is capable of locking onto nine or more satellites depending on your location.
Q: Should Be Sonar Be Installed Inside the Boat or Outside?
A: The transducer that comes with the unit should be installed on the exterior of the transom. If you have it too near the surface you may lose images or get artifacts that spoil an otherwise detailed view.
Q: Will Sunlight Pose a Threat to My Unit?
A: No, it won’t. It comes with a protective cover that works great even in windy conditions and highways.
Final Verdict
I find the 73sv to be a very user-friendly unit. Though still discovering a lot of very good features; the mapping that comes with the unit is way better than other units I’ve had. If you need a cost-effective, side imaging unit with good GPS this is an ideal choice for you.
I would definitely recommend the Garmin echoMAP 73sv to any angler. Not only will they get a fantastic product, the features are also amazing. The quality and durability of the product is second to none. If you are on the hunt for a clear scanning down imaging Fish finder combo, Garmin echoMAP 73sv is a solid choice.
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Thanks for the review. Looking at buying the 73sv plus. My first fish finder.
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