Lakemaster- NO longer for Lowrance

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On July 11, 2011, LakeMaster Lake Maps was acquired by Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., a manufacturer of Humminbird products and other marine electronics. As a result of this acquisition, LakeMaster Lake Maps will no longer offer digital chart products or support for any Lowrance® or Garmin® GPS products. LakeMaster branded products, compatible with Lowrance and Garmin, sold by retail or wholesale outlets, must be supported by the compatible GPS manufacturer.

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I may be a little behind the times, but was just made aware of this: Lakemaster is NO longer available for Lowrance GPS units.
What is Johnson thinking, buying out the competition; is it a good move for them?

As a Lowrance owner, I’m just a little ticked.
Thoughts?
and suggestions.
Jack

Jack, you got to be kidding. right???

Well, I picked up a couple newer chips in the last year, still some to be had if you look in the right places.

I would bet that Lowrance has something they will come out with on their own in the next year also.

It looks as if the LakeMaster will be branded under another name eventually for Lowrance and not supported by Johnson Outdoors
“LakeMaster branded products, compatible with Lowrance and Garmin, sold by retail or wholesale outlets, must be supported by the compatible GPS manufacturer.”

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As a Lowrance owner, I’m just a little ticked.
Thoughts?
and suggestions.
Jack

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From a business standpoint that’s an excellent decision. Buy a well liked piece of software and make it’s operation proprietary to your hardware. That’s genius.

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It looks as if the LakeMaster will be branded under another name eventually for Lowrance and not supported by Johnson Outdoors
“LakeMaster branded products, compatible with Lowrance and Garmin, sold by retail or wholesale outlets, must be supported by the compatible GPS manufacturer.”

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An even smarter business move. License your software out to others to support. Johnson Outdoors sits back and collects license fees and it doesn’t cost them a thing.

I guess those few extra chips that I have on hand are going to be worth a few $’s until Lowrance comes out with one of their own that is as good or better – Better get your hand on one of them while there a few still around in stores

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An even smarter business move. License your software out to others to support. Johnson Outdoors sits back and collects license fees and it doesn’t cost them a thing.

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For anyone that has been attentive to the business side of fishing and hunting for the last 20+ years, this is common. Every year, more companies are bought up by the big fish in the pond. In most cases the name doesn’t change, so they retain customer loyalty, name recognition, and a larger portion of the pie!

I doubt Lowrance keeps me as a customer. I’ve been one for a long time but this kind of thing sticks with a person.

Right from the Lakemaster site, first paragraph.

Lowrance

Jack

Anybody know how the litigation is going between the 2 company’s?

Me thinks its related to that.

It’s obviously a terrible business decision.

After a little birdie pooped on my shoulder, he told me that Lowrance will be coming out with their own products.

Whether it worse, as good or better than LakeMaster remains to be seen.

Anyone know how to remove a bird poo stain?

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Anybody know how the litigation is going between the 2 company’s?

Me thinks its related to that.

It’s obviously a terrible business decision.

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They reached an out of court settlement and neither party is revealing the details, $$, etc.

It might be good for Johnson in the long run, Hummingbird only products, but in the short term they have also eliminated ALL Lowrance products immediately out of all future sales. That can NOT be a good thing for anyone, even Johnson.
It surely is no reflection on Lowrance at all and their quality product. Johnson is just going to say: it’s just business as usual, get used to it.
I’m more upset about it now than I was an hour ago.
Jack

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Right from the Lakemaster site, first paragraph.
Lowrance

Jack

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Jack, have you emailed Lowrance to see what the branded name will be? or a release date?

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It might be good for Johnson in the long run, Hummingbird only products, but in the short term they have also eliminated ALL Lowrance products immediately out of all future sales. That can NOT be a good thing for anyone, even Johnson.
It surely is no reflection on Lowrance at all and their quality product. Johnson is just going to say: it’s just business as usual, get used to it.
I’m more upset about it now than I was an hour ago.
Jack

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Time to switch to HB Jack.

If you have existing Lakemaster chips they will work in Lowrance units as long as its designed for Lowrance. The chips don’t wear out do they? So hang onto your existing chips. Who’s to say that Navionics won’t pickup where Lakemaster left, allot of Lowrance market share open.

Good business practice on Humminbirds side of the fence.

I sure won’t switch back to Humminbird because of Lakemaster chips.

Guys need to remember that this split has been in the works for awhile now. None of Lakemaster’s new chip features (water level off-set, depth level highlight, etc.) worked in the Lowrance units while Humminbird eagerly adopted them. That was the line in the sand right there… way before the sale. Lakemaster intends to add a number of new features with each release and with Lowrance being unwilling to participate with the integration of those features… the relationship was looking at permanent stagnation at best.

What’s worse with Lakemaster is that I emailed them, asking for a copy of the 2007 MN lake list on their chip.

They told me:

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Hi Gary,

LakeMaster was recently acquired by Johnson Outdoors, makers
of Humminbird GPS units. Support for Lowrance and Garmin products must
be completed through those respective companies. We no longer manufacture
or support those line of GPS units.

We truly appreciate your continued support of LakeMaster products.

If you have further questions, please contact us.

Best Regards,

LakeMaster Lake Maps
Technical Support Group

—– Original Message —–

From: gary wellman
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 3:22 PM
Subject: 2007 lakemaster chip questions

Good day,
I just recently purchased a 2007 Lakemaster chip.
Where do I find a lake list?

Also, how many different chips have been made?
Is there one for every year?

Thanks in advance,
Gary

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So, don’t even waste your gas calling them for info for “Lakemaster” products…..

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So, don’t even waste your gas calling them for info for “Lakemaster” products…..

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Wouldn’t that be like calling IBM for a question about MAC supported software?

Nope,
it is like calling Microsoft for a question on windows Vista, when they quit making windows Vista, 12 months ago.

Being in the service industry…….not supporting your product line, with your name on it is the short-cut to failure…….(fastest route).

JUST my opinion!!!! It isn’t my company.
I was just truly shocked that Lakemaster would/doesn’t own the rights or information to a Lakemaster 2007 chip.
Very confusing to me…..

Me too Gary. Wating for Wade to respond to my Jolly Ann post.

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Nope,
it is like calling Microsoft for a question on windows Vista, when they quit making windows Vista, 12 months ago.

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Not true Gary Lakemaster or Navionics had nothing to do with the parent GPS manufacturers, they were independent until now with the purchase of Lakemaster by Johnson.

Makes me wonder what is coming down the line in the way of MinnKota if anything. Certain functions will only work with Hbird?

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Nope,
it is like calling Microsoft for a question on windows Vista, when they quit making windows Vista, 12 months ago.

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Not true Gary Lakemaster or Navionics had nothing to do with the parent GPS manufacturers, they were independent until now with the purchase of Lakemaster by Johnson.

Makes me wonder what is coming down the line in the way of MinnKota if anything. Certain functions will only work with Hbird?

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I’m asking, because I do not know……….But did Lowrance own Lakemaster prior to Johnson purchasing it?
I could see if Lowrance owned Lakemaster. But if Lakemaster is Lakemaster, why wouldn’t they service or own their previous business? What did Johnson purchase if Lakemaster isn’t Lakemaster anymore?

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Nope,

it is like calling Microsoft for a question on windows Vista, when they quit making windows Vista, 12 months ago.

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Not true Gary Lakemaster or Navionics had nothing to do with the parent GPS manufacturers, they were independent until now with the purchase of Lakemaster by Johnson.

Makes me wonder what is coming down the line in the way of MinnKota if anything. Certain functions will only work with Hbird?

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I’m asking, because I do not know……….But did Lowrance own Lakemaster prior to Johnson purchasing it?

I could see if Lowrance owned Lakemaster. But if Lakemaster is Lakemaster, why wouldn’t they service or own their previous business? What did Johnson purchase if Lakemaster isn’t Lakemaster anymore?

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Lakemaster licensed data to Lowrance for the making of the Lowrance Lakemaster GPS product. Lowrance had 100% control over what lakes were covered / not included. Lakemaster doesn’t make the finished product for Garmin, HB (pre-sale) or Lowrance because each sonar manufacturer uses a proprietary mapping engine.

I know it is confusing but here’s a parallel I can offer…. it would be a bit like a farmer selling eggs to a creamery and you calling the farmer to ask what ingredients went into the ice cream.

Clear as mud??

Yea, clear as mud…….

Just floored me when I asked them for a copy of the 2007 lakes and they said they don’t service Lowrance.
I said: “huh?”, I’m not emailing Lowrance, I’m emailing YOU!
They said “Nope, we don’t service Lowrance”.
I said: “Huh? McFly? Anyone home? I want a copy of what your provide……”

Very, very odd conversation indeed.

Thanks!

i just bought a lakemaster chip last week for a new lowrance endura gps unit i got. looks like maybe i was lucky to find one. I had to buy another one because the chip i have for the HDS8 doesn’t have the little micro inside it.

Randy,

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Jack, have you emailed Lowrance to see what the branded name will be? or a release date?

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I did call Lowrance this afternoon and got right in. They did not have any answers as to them doing anything with their own GPS mapping chips or any other company that might be doing so. He offered Navionics as a choice and that was that. If they are working on something he was not at liberty at this time to say anything about it.
Jack

For guys that already have the Lowrance equipment and are looking to buy the last version of the Lakemaster chip – Hopefully the site sponsors were able to buy up remaining stock. If not, I know a couple of the biggest box stores did

Gary,

Check your Hotmail address.

It will only cost you a trip to Mille Lacs, my boat, my open seat, heck we can even fish my fish

Ron