GPS and Plotter Options - Help

[Sinbad]

Hi Chaps

Chances are I will be buying one or two of these units.. soon. Having only used what previous owners installed on my boats, choosing myself is a nightmare.

I have no clue what is out there.

 

I've been considering whether to go with a combination unit and max out the screen size. Plotter was 6" which was fine, but FF was too small at 4" when viewed from the deck. Would be a big improvement running on a larger screen.

 

Is this what most people have got or would get if they had a free choice..?

 

Make and model number and any pros and cons would be fantastic help.

 

Thanks Guys in advance.

 

Paul

[niggle]

Paul idea of budget would help,as some of us get carried away

[Graham Nash]

I bought a Garmin 7000 with a randome (for radar) and one of the V2 vision cards. It's amazing! http://www8.garmin.com/buzz/gpsmap7000/

 

 

 

 

[great white]

I upgraded Great White not long before I sold her to Lowrance

 

I liked the idea of two sets so had the 4" FF and 5" Global Map colour plotter.

 

On Alfresco I have just one combined unit, again a lowrance

its a 10" set. Now replaced with teh HD set nigle has onboard.

To be honest I thought I would have added another in 4 years but have not as this one does all I want it to do.

 

There are obvious drawbacks to a single unit, but they are compensated by the recordability of sonar, the size of the screen and the ability to play back at home and get GPS numbers off of the playback.

 

and of course the ability to record and back up info such as marks routes etc on to an SD card.

 

On that point Paul, I know that you lost all of your info when the bastards nicked your kit, but I have some that we have shared before written down, you are of course welcome to them when you need them.

 

Charlie

[Ian.Jones]

This is my first post so I hope it helps.

 

I have used Raymarine, Garmin and Lowrance on three different boats over the last couple of years. My experience was that Raymarine is good but unreliable and expensive to repair. Garmin is very good with fantastic charts and lots of fishing friendly features. Lowrance is easy to use and reliable, good features as Charlie says, and good value.

 

Whichever one chosen, I would get the biggest screen that space and budget allows; and one big screen is better than two small ones!

 

My choice would be Garmin for two reasons. The touch screen version is much easier to use on a small boat when under way, and radar can be added to the package for around

[Sinbad]

Great start chaps - thanks for the info so far.

The Insurance should give me the basic last list price of replacing what was taken. However most of my stuff was discontinued, so they will price up a replacement based on the same spec.

So it could be

[niggle]

With that budget Paul,you should get some good kit .

From Redcar marine you could get 2 lowrance hds units?one for gps and one fish finder both 5inch

Or they have an ex display hds5 combo for

[Graham Nash]

I bought a Garmin 7000 with a randome (for radar) and one of the V2 vision cards. It's amazing! http://www8.garmin.com/buzz/gpsmap7000/

Oops .... after reading up on that one i started thinking .... "I dont remember that???"

 

No wonder, mine is the 750s, not the 7000!!

 

http://www8.garmin.com/uk/gpsmap750/

 

 

[Stuie]

I recently bought a Standard Horizon plotter - after seeking advice from a very experienced and respected charter skipper.

I have the CP180 which I bought over the net from Gael Force in Scotland at a respectable price. They do a range of machines - I suspect you may need a larger screen than I do though. They all take the C-Map chart cards.

I am really impressed.

Have a look Here

[Sinbad]

Graham,

I thought you'd gone crazy for a moment - but was deeply envious of your 7000i or whatever! You really had me going!!

 

 

Nice bit of kit though!

 

Paul

 

I'll look at the redcar site Nige, thanks., for this, and perhaps check out the Garmins.

Edited November 19, 2011 by Sinbad

[Rob]

 

I carry a total of 10" on JoJo

 

But, unfortunately 2 x 5" sets.

 

One is a combo and the other just chart, so in effect a backup plotter, as both have maps.

 

Mine are Lowrance units, chosen because I won the combo unit! But I don't like to talk about that, much!

 

I had put Lowrance on my previous boat and this boat came with Garmin I think, which was ok but I missed the Lowrance.

 

Eagle used to be the same as Lowrance, though am not sure if they are still available.

 

I would have thought 7" would be best for a unit you want to see from the deck, or fit an on deck unit like Nigel has for drifting wrecks ect.

 

Rob