Matrix 67-first impressions

After getting fogged-in offshore a few times this year, I was REAL interested in GPS.  I was looking at various units, but really liked the idea of a single unit that combined a ff with GPS.  

I have always loved the Matrix 17, and the 67 had all of the features of the 17 with a chartplotter.  While still expensive, the 67 was cheaper and simpler than a 17 and a separate GPS unit.

Mounting was straight forward, and it fit beautifully on my new X-Factor demo boat.  The antennae works remarkably well, and even got full signal in the garage!

Views and ease of use are outstanding.  The included base map which is advertised as "super detailed" isn't that great.  It will get you home or to a waypoint, but it won't help you find hidden pinnacles.  You can upgrade to better maps like Navionics Gold, but that aint cheap.

Overall, this is a good compromise. I will probably suck it up and buy the better charts to maximize the performance.

Up close...
 



No mess, no smell!  This is a clean combo...

thanks Sean, way to make the rest of us drool, x factor, matrix 67, whats next bass and sub-woofers......

Subwoofer is after the leather seat and tweneefohs!

Can you not use charts in the Matrix 17? The 17 with GPS unit is still half as much as the 67. I know from all the GPS units I use for work having a map, even a bad one as background can be really nice.

Does the resolution of the screens make that big of a difference? It seems that a screen down by your feet, as opposed to mounted on the dash of a PB, you might not be able to discern the higher resolution screen from a lower one.

Are the 10 "AA"s enough to run it for a full day?

In the description for Humminbird's Navonics Gold maps, there is an implication only certain units can use them: "1G912XL3 US WEST COAST- HAWAII
List Price: $199.99
Description: Navionics XL3 Gold Chart. 1G912XL3 US WEST COAST - HAWAII. Puget Sound, Washington, Oregon, California, Baja, Hawaii from Vancouver, BC to Cabo San Lucas, MX and Offshore Bathymetric Data and the entire chain of the Hawaiian Islands. Map updated in January 2005.
For Use With: Matrix 55, Matrix 65, Matrix 67 and Matrix 97."

What Sean is getting at is here is a difference between plotting waypoints on a grid and plotting them on a map. The latter is what is really useful since you need to view the waypoint in a compass direction and terrain context to make course decisions.

I got the Matrix 37. The 37 boasts a 'quad beam' three-frequency transducer including 'side-looking' sonar. It sounds great, but I have found it less useful than my old Lowrance 'dual beam' unit since I really care about structure than tracking fish. The 'raw" GPS waypoints without the plotter just show up on a generic grid==you have no idea what is between the points. Not nearly as useful as a map/plotter that puts the points on a map background so you can 'orient' the points and course with a map. I'll either end up getting a handheld GPS or upgrading to a 67.

Are the 10 "AA"s enough to run it for a full day?

It definitely sucks more juice than a 17.  10 AA alkalines ran for about 6 hours before I got the low voltage warning.  I never went out though, and I was running it back-lit (ooops) the whole time.  Need to try it with some powerful rechargables, they last longer.

Went to Mendo this AM and the map at Mendo was OK.

Can you not use charts in the Matrix 17?

Nope.  It just tells you were you are with numbers and can do waypoints etc.  The maps are better for my feeble brain to figure out where you are.

Hey thats a nice looking setup.  I like that color.

The internal view...

Somehow those don't look like 'AA' cell to me, but I am not sure from the photo. If those are 'C' or 'D' cells, how much longer do they last and what is the amp/hr output and power draw of the Matrix 67? I have a 4-amp/hr Gel Cell that weight less than a 7-amp/hr (of course) but I'd still like to lighten up as much as practical.

They are AA's.  They are just more in the foreground.

No way you could 'velcro' C- or D-cells in Tupperware to a scupper hole LOL. I currently use a Pelican Case which holds the 4-amp/hr Gel Cell but it is bulky and too heavy to mount like you do. I''l have to try some Alkaline rechargeable solutions, but I fear I'll need C- or D-cells to deliver the power requirements over a 8-hour fishing day at the ONeill Forebay for Stripers. I start at 1000 at Check 12 or the Madeiros Flats and keep fishing until the sun goes down. There's a 40-pounder out there with my name on it but I wish it would show up  

I'm gonna try some 2300mAH batts this weekend. They should run at least 10-12 hours, but ya never know.  Yah the Velcro is at its limit with the AAs

My local Long's Drug has the snapware boxes.
Pat

Target carries the "lock n lock" containers that are in Sean's pictures.  

I use them for battery boxes as well as for lures and other stuff.  Nice secure waterproof lid and not very expensive.

Erik