Garmin lakevu G3 map opinions/experience?

I’m close to snatching up a 93sv UHD. Curious to hear opinions and experience with the pre-loaded lakevu G3 maps. I’m not sure what “integrated with Navionics data” really means. I’ve had a Navionics subscription on my phone for a few years and have found the maps to be “OK” at best — pretty inconsistent in terms of accuracy. Are the Lakevu maps any better, or is it pretty similar to standard Navionics?

Thanks!

its navionics maps. they are just ok. i run a 73cv and an 898c and the navionics maps are crap here in the illinois and iowa comparitively. that said, everything else about the garmin is fantastic.

hnd wrote:

its navionics maps. they are just ok. i run a 73cv and an 898c and the navionics maps are crap here in the illinois and iowa comparitively. that said, everything else about the garmin is fantastic.

Thanks for the reply. I wonder why they don’t just say the maps are Navionics instead of calling them “Lakevü” with “Garmin and Navionics content?”

I’m coming from a 698ci, so obviously this unit is a huge upgrade for me. I have had Lowrance and Bird units and never really loved either of them, so I’d really like to give the Garmin a shot and the price is great.

I’ve found the mapping to be excellent on all of the big lakes I’ve fished (LOTW, Mille Lacs, Red).

Smaller lakes are hit or miss if they’re not HD, but you are able to map them out yourself utilizing Quick Draw Contours.

B-man wrote:

I’ve found the mapping to be excellent on all of the big lakes I’ve fished (LOTW, Mille Lacs, Red).

Smaller lakes are hit or miss if they’re not HD, but you are able to map them out yourself utilizing Quick Draw Contours.

Thanks for the feedback. The fact that I mostly fish either the river or smaller more remote lakes may be coloring my past opinion on Navionics. The quickdraw thing is a huge selling point for sure.

dirtywater wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>B-man wrote:</div>
I’ve found the mapping to be excellent on all of the big lakes I’ve fished (LOTW, Mille Lacs, Red).

Smaller lakes are hit or miss if they’re not HD, but you are able to map them out yourself utilizing Quick Draw Contours.

Thanks for the feedback. The fact that I mostly fish either the river or smaller more remote lakes may be coloring my past opinion on Navionics. The quickdraw thing is a huge selling point for sure.

Overall I would say it is OK for the major areas of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers in my experience. Obviously rivers are ever changing but all the channels and markers are on the map.

I should of mentioned quick draw. With that feature, it helps ease the pain of navionics. keep your card to 32gig though as it won’t work with any bigger (all i had around the house were 64 and 128)

i will use the 898 for mapping while having my garmin quickdrawing the contours. it will do it in the background so you can still use sonar.

Maps are updated twice per year, so they’re improving all the time, IMO. WHEN Garmin bought Navionics they integrated most but not all maps, they also do their own “Elite” surveys. I’ve found them to be quite good for most lakes. Not quite as good as Lakemaster, but close.

Go to lakes.garmin.com to lookup details for the lakes you fish

Also, the sync between Active Captain and the head unit is awesome. I can now scout on my phone and wirelessly transfer waypoints so they are there when I hit the water.

Nice. Yeah, I took the plunge today. Deal was almost too good to pass up for me.

I have had great luck with garmin lake maps. On the smaller lakes I just chart my own. But even vermillion was greatly detailed. I have yet to buy a mapping card to upgrade

Bearcat89 wrote:

I have had great luck with garmin lake maps. On the smaller lakes I just chart my own. But even vermillion was greatly detailed. I have yet to buy a mapping card to upgrade

I’ve always been impressed with the level of detail on the Navionics charts — 1 foot contours for even small and remote lakes. It’s just that when I get on the water I’ve often found those details aren’t very accurate or at least didn’t match my depth readings. Up in the BWCA, even on some pretty large and popular entry point lakes, the map might show I’m on shore when I’m out in 30 fow. Some of that I’m hoping was due to the cheap and inaccurate GPS sensor in my phone. I’m Looking forward to giving these maps a fair shake with a legit chartplotter.