Hi All,
Im after some advice.
I currently have a lake star, thats served me well for the last 10 years, but recently its developed some faults and Ive messaged many firms asking to upgrade/rewire etc, and most say its not cost effective.
I found one place, who will replace all the internals, and can add tolson or raymarine dragonfly pro5, and also an option to add autopilot, SP tackle puck pilot i think its called. Id probably go with the dragonfly and the puck pilot, and total comes to circa £2k. This seems expensive, when there is brand new boats for less.
Ive also been looking at the CL RT4 ultra With Autopilot and Elements QHD with structure mapping, with the latter coming sometime in the ‘summer'. This all comes in just below £4k. Again, expensive.
I dont mind paying a bit, as i tend to look after my gear, and if it lasts 10 years then thats a good investment in my book and use a boat at least once a week.
Is it worth upgrading the lakestar, or buying a new boat? Would welcome opinions on that, and secondly, am I completely mad at looking at RT4?!
Cheers
Im after some advice.
I currently have a lake star, thats served me well for the last 10 years, but recently its developed some faults and Ive messaged many firms asking to upgrade/rewire etc, and most say its not cost effective.
I found one place, who will replace all the internals, and can add tolson or raymarine dragonfly pro5, and also an option to add autopilot, SP tackle puck pilot i think its called. Id probably go with the dragonfly and the puck pilot, and total comes to circa £2k. This seems expensive, when there is brand new boats for less.
Ive also been looking at the CL RT4 ultra With Autopilot and Elements QHD with structure mapping, with the latter coming sometime in the ‘summer'. This all comes in just below £4k. Again, expensive.
I dont mind paying a bit, as i tend to look after my gear, and if it lasts 10 years then thats a good investment in my book and use a boat at least once a week.
Is it worth upgrading the lakestar, or buying a new boat? Would welcome opinions on that, and secondly, am I completely mad at looking at RT4?!
Cheers
In reply to Post #1
Hull Bait Boat Repairs? I'm in a similar position and think a new RT4 offers better value and the 2nd hand value will be much more.
Hull Bait Boat Repairs? I'm in a similar position and think a new RT4 offers better value and the 2nd hand value will be much more.
In reply to Post #2
The company that quoted me is Raves Waves. Someone I know had their lakestar done by them and cant fault it.
Im not sure i can justify the price for a rebuild, when like you say, the resale value for an RT4 is still going to be up there, and Id probably keep it/use it for 10+ years (god willing )!
Out of curiosity are you looking at the elements QHD or the HV100 DLX - (which is a £700 upgrade?)
The company that quoted me is Raves Waves. Someone I know had their lakestar done by them and cant fault it.
Im not sure i can justify the price for a rebuild, when like you say, the resale value for an RT4 is still going to be up there, and Id probably keep it/use it for 10+ years (god willing
)!Out of curiosity are you looking at the elements QHD or the HV100 DLX - (which is a £700 upgrade?)
In reply to Post #1
Have you spoke to Joe at BaitBoat solutions his in Brentwood Essex
Have you spoke to Joe at BaitBoat solutions his in Brentwood Essex
In reply to Post #4
Yep, he was one of them that said it wasn't cost effective - which I appreciated the honesty.
Yep, he was one of them that said it wasn't cost effective - which I appreciated the honesty.
In reply to Post #3
And I was worried about the Puck Pilot, screen seems basic. Just don't know anything about it.
I'll probably go for the basic Elements version.
And I was worried about the Puck Pilot, screen seems basic. Just don't know anything about it.
I'll probably go for the basic Elements version.
In reply to Post #5
Have you tried any local rc model shops as an option?
Have you tried any local rc model shops as an option?
In reply to Post #6
Its all rather confusing, but there is an elements QHD and Elements DLX - from what i can tell.
Ive seen a few people mention the hobbyists- defo something im looking into also.
Its all rather confusing, but there is an elements QHD and Elements DLX - from what i can tell.
Ive seen a few people mention the hobbyists- defo something im looking into also.
In reply to Post #8
The intro version, HV100 QHD version (possibly with the Real Vision 3D, HV100 Pro for £235 extra) not HV100 DLX (structure mapping pro), largely because I don't want to pay any more, too easy to get carried away in an armchair.
The intro version, HV100 QHD version (possibly with the Real Vision 3D, HV100 Pro for £235 extra) not HV100 DLX (structure mapping pro), largely because I don't want to pay any more, too easy to get carried away in an armchair.
In reply to Post #8
My boat should be here this week. From what they told me it's a software upgrade that can be done remotely, the top spec software wasn't available until later this year.
I ordered the DLX but then got told that information so just got the basic one and will upgrade later in the year if I need to.
I doubt I will bother though now as it's probably way to advanced for what I want anyway.
My boat should be here this week. From what they told me it's a software upgrade that can be done remotely, the top spec software wasn't available until later this year.
I ordered the DLX but then got told that information so just got the basic one and will upgrade later in the year if I need to.
I doubt I will bother though now as it's probably way to advanced for what I want anyway.
In reply to Post #8
Carplounge are confusing things.
Raymarine make Element in two flavours, Raymarine Element HV (Hypervision, Sidevision, Realvision, Downvision and HighChirp) all combined.
Element S is single Chanel HighChirp.
Carplounge are confusing things.
Raymarine make Element in two flavours, Raymarine Element HV (Hypervision, Sidevision, Realvision, Downvision and HighChirp) all combined.
Element S is single Chanel HighChirp.
Thanks all.
I think ill go with the RT4.
I hadnt realised you could upgrade remotely from the basic elements to the top version, which is £700 more.
Ive since seen this mentioned on the official rt4 group on facebook.
Cheers all.
I think ill go with the RT4.
I hadnt realised you could upgrade remotely from the basic elements to the top version, which is £700 more.
Ive since seen this mentioned on the official rt4 group on facebook.
Cheers all.
In reply to Post #1
The Aprox 2k is because no one wants to work on lake stars, and the ripping out everything (bell wire ) can be a pain, lake stars are a good hull but are prone to leaking and are a bugger to seal.
I had my mini lake star done by Dave he did a great job on it, but again a bugger to seal it up .
I've had prices for fitting the dragonfly pro 5 on an ND2 I couldn't believe it was almost £800 when the unit itself is Aprox £400, so £400 to fit it is a bloody rip off for a 2 hour job as most people now leave the unit intact and fit it..
Bait boat carp tax
The Aprox 2k is because no one wants to work on lake stars, and the ripping out everything (bell wire ) can be a pain, lake stars are a good hull but are prone to leaking and are a bugger to seal.
I had my mini lake star done by Dave he did a great job on it, but again a bugger to seal it up .
I've had prices for fitting the dragonfly pro 5 on an ND2 I couldn't believe it was almost £800 when the unit itself is Aprox £400, so £400 to fit it is a bloody rip off for a 2 hour job as most people now leave the unit intact and fit it..
Bait boat carp tax
In reply to Post #13
You could have got Fish Eye Cameras mod for £550 and fitted it yourself. From what I gather, it's just a case of buying some marine sealant for the in-hull transducer and soldering the power cable from the Dragonfly to your ND 2's power button.
You could have got Fish Eye Cameras mod for £550 and fitted it yourself. From what I gather, it's just a case of buying some marine sealant for the in-hull transducer and soldering the power cable from the Dragonfly to your ND 2's power button.
In reply to Post #14
Did anyone manage to find a place that sell the ray marine Elements QHD to self build into a bait boat? I've got an rt4 which is already split so could potentially install this myself? Am I right in thinking it's run off an app on an iPad so no other screen required? Can't seem to find which model I'd require for a bait boat online tho.
Cheers Ash
Did anyone manage to find a place that sell the ray marine Elements QHD to self build into a bait boat? I've got an rt4 which is already split so could potentially install this myself? Am I right in thinking it's run off an app on an iPad so no other screen required? Can't seem to find which model I'd require for a bait boat online tho.
Cheers Ash
In reply to Post #15
Raymarine don't make a model called the QHD, I believe that's something Carplounge have come up with. The app that you're looking for isn't available as far as I know as Raymarine have an exclusive deal with Carplounge which was supposed to last 6 months in respect to the WiFi connectivity.
Carplounge have an image of an RVX 1000 - it's basically an Axiom Pro in a box and can be used as a 2 transducer system, is this what Carplounge's top tier QHD system is? I don't know how to go about getting a WiFi signal from an RVX 1000, boosting that signal for it to be picked up on an app as there is no mention of WiFi with the RVX 1000. You're best bet is to speak to the guys at Fish Eye Camera's as they'll know more or could give you some information. Either way, an RVX 1000 system is going to be expensive.
Update:
Check out the RayConnet app. You can connect to an Element, not sure if you can read the sonar. RayConnet defo works with Axiom, don't know about the RVX 1000.
I'd be looking at an Axiom+ RV 7 as the Axiom works out of the box with their new app, a booster in the boat like a vonets VAP11S to act as a bridge. I'd also be looking to disconnect the Axiom display somehow, maybe just strip it down to it's hard bones. You'll also need the RV-100 transducer.
Raymarine don't make a model called the QHD, I believe that's something Carplounge have come up with. The app that you're looking for isn't available as far as I know as Raymarine have an exclusive deal with Carplounge which was supposed to last 6 months in respect to the WiFi connectivity.
Carplounge have an image of an RVX 1000 - it's basically an Axiom Pro in a box and can be used as a 2 transducer system, is this what Carplounge's top tier QHD system is? I don't know how to go about getting a WiFi signal from an RVX 1000, boosting that signal for it to be picked up on an app as there is no mention of WiFi with the RVX 1000. You're best bet is to speak to the guys at Fish Eye Camera's as they'll know more or could give you some information. Either way, an RVX 1000 system is going to be expensive.
Update:
Check out the RayConnet app. You can connect to an Element, not sure if you can read the sonar. RayConnet defo works with Axiom, don't know about the RVX 1000.
I'd be looking at an Axiom+ RV 7 as the Axiom works out of the box with their new app, a booster in the boat like a vonets VAP11S to act as a bridge. I'd also be looking to disconnect the Axiom display somehow, maybe just strip it down to it's hard bones. You'll also need the RV-100 transducer.
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