Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 95sv

The Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 95sv is basically the same as the echoMAP CHIRP 93sv, however, this unit comes with the Canada LakeVü HD charts, not the U.S. LakeVü. Just as the 93sv model, this is one of the discontinued Garmin fish finders. One of the newer versions is the ECHOMAP UHD 95sv. For reference, the model that we’re going to cover in this post is the Garmin part number 010-01581-00, the one that includes the GT52HW transducer.

Key Features and Specifications

• Display: 9″ diagonal, 800H x 480V pixel resolution, WVGA color, backlit
• Sonar: Broadband CHIRP Sonar, Dual Frequency HD-ID, CHIRP DownVü, CHIRP SideVü
• Frequency and Coverage (with the supplied transducer):
  • 2D CHIRP Sonar: 150-240 kHz 24°/16°
  • DownVü CHIRP: 425-485kHz 2° fore to aft / 50° side to side, 790-850 kHz 1° fore to aft / 30° side to side
  • SideVü CHIRP: 425-485kHz 2° fore to aft / 50° side to side, 790-850 kHz 1° fore to aft / 30° side to side
• Max. Depth Capability:
  • Freshwater: 2,300 feet (701 m)
  • Saltwater: 1,100 feet (335 m)
• Transducer: GT52HW-TM (12-pin)
• Max. Power Output: 500 Watts (RMS)
• GPS: 5Hz, Internal
• Maps: Canada LakeVü HD
• Routes, Waypoints, Tracklog: 100; 5,000; 50,000 points (50 saved tracks)

Navigation features

Like all the other Garmin fish finders within the echoMAP CHIRP series, this one also has GPS, integrating a 5 Hz GPS / GLONASS module, capable of providing quick locks up to 5 times per second. As we’ve mentioned above, the unit comes with the Canada LakeVü HD charts, which cover more than 13,500 Canadian rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, including The Great Lakes and Trent Severn Waterway. These charts also cover 1,600+ HD lakes with 1-foot contours shore-to-shore, in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Yukon. Needless to say, this unit gives you the possibility to mark waypoints, save routes, and record your trail. It can actually save up to 5,000 waypoints and 100 routes into its memory, and also 50 tracks with up to 50,000 points per track.

As opposed to the older echoMAP units, the echoMAP CHIRP 95sv has two new major features. These are Multiple Depth Range Shading and Quickdraw Contours. Multiple Depth Range Shading, as its name suggests, allows you to assign colors to various depth contours. Thus, you’ll be able to tell at a glance which are the areas safe for navigation or find a specific depth for fishing. Quickdraw Contours is a function that allows you to map a certain body of water and reveal its contours. Therefore, if the charts in your unit don’t provide depth contours for your favorite lake, this particular function gives you the chance to map it yourself, and benefit from the most recent depth contours.

Other navigation-related functions of this unit include autopilot commissioning, a decent engine metrics panel, and several special sailing features. When it comes to autopilot commissioning, it goes without saying that you can control your autopilot from your chartplotter screen. While for the sailing features, you get the Supported SailAssist, which includes lay lines, enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, and true wind data fields.

Sonar and transducer

The transducer supplied with this unit is the GT52HW-TM, also known as the GT-52. This transducer features 20′ (6 m) of cable, has a 12-pin connector, and also integrates a temperature sensor. Thus, the unit can provide information regarding the topwater temperature. This transducer comes with a transom mount.

Needless to say, the supplied transducer supports all the unit’s types of sonar, except Panoptix. In order to use Panoptix LiveVü, you’ll need a PS31 or PS21-TM transducer.

For 2D traditional view sonar, this unit can scan at 50/77/200 kHz, but also gives you the possibility to input a specific frequency. However, with the supplied transducer it can only use High CHIRP, being able to modulate the pulse between 150-240 kHz. The sonar beam used by the transducer for this frequency interval is conical, with an angle that varies between 24° and 16°.

For SideVü and DownVü, with the supplied GT52HW-TM transducer, the sonar pulse can be modulated between 425-485 kHz and 790-850 kHz. The sonar beams used for these frequencies are not conical, but razor-thin, with angles of 50°, and respectively 30°. Also, for SideVü sonar the side beams can extend up to 750 ft (228 m) on each side of the boat.

Although the unit has a maximum depth capability of 2,300 ft (701 m), with the supplied transducer, the maximum depth that it can reach is 800 ft (244 m) for 2D and 500 ft (152 m) for Sv and Dv. Also, in case you’re wondering, the transducer can maintain a bottom lock and reading at vessel speeds up to 30 MPH, or so. However, in order for the unit to provide clear, clutter free images, sailing speeds up to 6-8 MPH are recommended.

This Garmin fish finder offers several other sonar-related functions, such as Fish Symbols, A-Scope, Flasher or Bottom Lock. The unit also has a Sonar Recording function, with the possibility to rewind sonar as well. The function does require a blank SD card to be inserted in the unit, in order to be able to save the sonar feed. Also, as a general idea, approx. 15 minutes of recording will take 200 MB of space. Recorded data can be seen on a PC via the free HomePort application.

Control unit features

To begin with, the unit comes with a tilt-mount featuring a quick-release system, but the box also includes a flush mount kit. The quick-release mount features a unified connector and connects to the mount, while the cables plug into the mount itself. The mount features an NMEA 2000 connector, Panoptix connector, and the regular 12-pin transducer connector. The box also includes a unit cover.

The unit features button navigation (not touchscreen). It has has a 9″ display, WVGA color, with a pixel matrix of 800H x 480V. The display is also LED-backlit, which means it offers superior readability in direct sunlight or during night time fishing. The specified waterproofing is IPX7, which means it can withstand incidental water exposure and even immersions in freshwater.

And finally, this unit has a microSD card reader with one slot, which can be used for chart upgrades, software updates, recording sonar, and data transfer.

Possible Upgrades

This unit can take various other charts, apart from the Canada LakeVü HD that it comes preloaded with. It can use BlueChart g2, Blue Chart g2 Vision, and Lake Vü Ultra for both U.S and Canada. The Vision and Ultra charts offer access to the Enhanced Auto Guidance, which makes available several other functions. Enhanced Auto Guidance can calculate arrival times for your, or indicate the safest path to follow between two points of interest. It can also work with your autopilot system enabling it to follow the created safe paths or a specific depth contour.

In terms of transducers, the unit can work with various other models, such as the GT23M-TM or GT22HW-TM, but depending on the model, you may need a cable adapter. Evidently, since the unit is Panoptix capable, you can purchase a Panoptix transducer, such as the PS31 or PS21, in order to access the LiveVü sonar technology and all of its options. Panoptix sonar operates slightly differently than the Sv and Dv sonar technologies. It’s actually one of the newest types of sonar available and offers the possibility to view your fish targets or jig/bait in live-action.

The unit provides NMEA 2000 support for engine data, sensors, autopilot units, AIS, and can also display position data from DSC-capable VHF radio.

The Pros

• 9″ wide display, color unit;
• CHIRP technology offering superior clarity, target separation and target definition, for 2D, SideVü, and DownVü;
• Dual-frequency sonar;
• Transducer included, the unit comes with the GT52HW-TM (12-pin) transducer;
• Panoptix sonar ready;
• Data graphs and other sonar functions;
• Sonar recording and rewind;
• Fast and accurate internal GPS;
• Preloaded with LakeVü charts;
• Quickdraw Contours function, for the possibility to add contours and customize your maps;
• Multiple Depth Range Shading;
• Compatible with various other chart types, such as BlueChart g2 Vision or LakeVü HD Ultra;
• Enhanced Auto Guidance capable;
• Tide tables information;
• AutoPilot commissioning;
• SailAssist;
• Decent engine metrics control panel;
• Supports AIS and DSC-capable VHF radio;
• Quick disconnection (tilt-swivel) and flush mount included;
• Unit cover included;
• Easy to install;
• Straightforward, comprehensive operation.

The Cons

• Only one SD card slot. Thus, if you’d like to record sonar, but also use a superior charts microSD card, you will have to swap cards.

Summary

The Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 95sv is a unit intended for freshwater use, as it comes with the LakeVü HD charts for the Canadian in-land waters. However, the GT52HW-TM transducer supplied can support off-shore fishing as well, as it can scan depths up to 800 ft. It’s a unit that packs an impressive array of sonar and navigation features, including SideVü imaging, DownVü imaging, Panoptix sonar, Quickdraw Contours HD and more. It has an NMEA 2000 output, which means it offers superior connectivity possibilities. Due to its size, it may not exactly be the best choice for a small boat, such as a kayak, but beginning with bass boats, and even up to professional fishing vessels, this unit is simply perfect. And finally, considering all the included features, and the fact that it comes with a pretty expensive transducer, this unit offers an excellent price/quality ratio.