Member Removed Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 I feel the need to buy GPS. These are my requirements: Sunlight viewable Must have the ability to input fishing marks (when I eventually find one!) I must be able to take it off of the boat for safe storage. External antenae preferred It must track where I have been so I can find my way back if the weather closes in Colour screen preferred There seems to be a plethora of suitable devices out there, and every one of the manufacturers reckon thiers is the best. In your opinion, what is the best one in the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 With that budget, you are looking for a plotter, not a gps. Most if not all plotter will do all you ask, except the sunlight viewablilty. The olde/cheaper machines are less sunlight viewable than the newer ones. I use a Navman 5600 colour and it's a great piece of kit. I'm sure everyone who has a plotter will echo their machines are good too. The only problem I see with your budget, you may have a problem having all of 1)bigger screen, 2) colour and 3) sunlight viewable. I would say 2 of the above is with reach but all 3 will stretch it a little. Don't forget the map is abother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Personel prefernace would be the Garmin 182C. Has all of what you ask for. You can pick then up for about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Sheddy, I assume you will be fitting it to a 5-6 meter boat, in which case the minimum size screen you should go for is 5". Definitely go for the new colour sunlight viewable screens and try to go for a plotter rather than a standard GPS (you wont regret it). Also, go for an external antenna and not one that has an internal antenna. The Garmin 182C is extremely good. Excellent detail on the maps and good tidal information. Very, very good support from Garmin if anything goes wrong. You'll need to stretch the budget a little to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Hi Sheddy All good advice above and we have covered plotters a few times recently so have a look at all the posts. I use a lowrance Global Map 5000c and am very happy with it, and the Navionics gold Charts it uses. Bob has done a lot of research so his advice may save you a lot of looking around, and advice to try and find a local retailer that can demonstrate the sets is also very good. I can power my set up at home if you want to have a look and can not find a retailer with a live set. i believe Bob is going to demonstarte and instruct us in use of plotters at the september club meeting so that may also help. happy shopping Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Gentlemen, thank you for your replies. I have trawled this site and done a bit of looking on the web in general and found that the Garmin can be purchased for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Sheddy, As a guide The South Coast and English Channel map ( which I think stops at the thames estuary so no good for you ) cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Hi Sheddy I use a Navman 5100 This is a mono version of Kam's model I had a small problem with mine but sent it off to Navman, in Southampton and they fixed it quickly for me and upgraded the software. I purchased my plotter from the USA with maps and it still worked out cheaper than buying in the UK. Might be worth looking into. I would agree with everyone that colour is nice but you can get a bigger screen in mono for similar money. I have found C-Map NT+ good but they have just brought out C-Map Max which is suppose to be better. I also run a website which you may find useful My Webpage Good luck in your choice Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Just a note of caution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Coddy ... would it be O.K. to link your site through my forum? Useful stuff on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Sheddy, Welcome Firstly if you want that unit then you can get it at 486 inc vat and postage here Whilst I understand and generally agree with my learned friends regarding screen size (it is important) I would also agree that more colours and pixels (even on a smaller screen) is even better - add CSTN for daylight viewing, less money..........enter the Garmin 172C - 256 colour / 320x320 pixels v the 182C's 16 colour / 320x234 all a 100 less at the same place - gets you the chart in your budget. However I would get the best of both worlds and get the Lowrance 3500C - 5" screen, 480x480 pixels, 256 colours and. same link, around 380 inc postage. Small Navionics chart 5G227S will do the whole of the Thames Estuary up past the Blackwater I think - or the 25G will cover you from Brest and the Scilies to Hamburg if you get around a bit.............. Anyhow - your money and boat. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 the 25G will cover you from Brest and the Scilies to Hamburg if you get around a bit.............. Anyhow - your money and boat. Good Luck I don't think so Its only a Seahog m8, 2x25 liter tanks but it will drink 20 liters an hour. Now, if you want to follow me in a tanker .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Coddy ... would it be O.K. to link your site through my forum? Useful stuff on there. No problem I am STILL waiting club members to send me details and their thoughts on their boats and equipment! When you have had a chance to get to know your boat and equipment PLEASE send me your thoughts, it doesn't matter if there is a report on that product or boat as the more information I can get the better it helps everyone else. (Rant over) Whatever system you get I can help you with a few numbers for the Felixstowe/Harwich area if you every go that way. Regards Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 No trailer? - where's your sense of adventure! Seriously if you do trail it really is usefull to have such a chart loaded - having spent 6 years with small fast boats out of the Medway there is no comparison with the fun you can have in Poole, Plymouth, around the Solent etc on your boat - and the fishing's a lot more varied too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Removed Posted July 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Coddy .... your link is here ... Duncan .... I do have the metal thing with wheels, but its un-braked so towing is 40mph..... how long dop you rekon it would take to get to Poole from Mersea Island? (rhetorical!)Boat Angling forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Yes, absolutely, Ducan. Pixels are important, too. Thanks for remembering that. The new 5" Lowrance range (X102 Fish Finder, 3500C Plotter and LMS-332 combo)all have 480x480 pixels, which is great for the size of the screen. You can still buy the presvious 5" range, but their screen resolution is 320x240 which is why you see them cheaper in the mags. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domino Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Sheddy, If you can wait until September, why not have a look round the Soton Boat Show. I got a really good deal on the Garmin 182c from MES (Bristol), at last years show. The plotter and a chart cartridge, covering most of the English Channel, for around the same price that I would have had to pay for the plotter alone anywhere else. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 paul d has an unbraked trailer and it didnt stop him doing 70mph down the motorway sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Beaten to it Lets hope his wheels dont work loose like mine did though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L. Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 am looking to buy combo gps/ff ...any suggestions please, my eyesight isnt great these days so really looking for as big a screen as i can afford, maybe 7" ? ..Adam who makes the MI21 u refered to in an previous post on the subject, and do u reckon it would fit ok into the warrior Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 Les, You are right to be looking for a bigger screen is you are thinking of a combo unit (as I am at the moment). For screen sizes of 6-7" you should look at: Standard Horizon CP175C - this has a 6" screen size, and a very neat quick disconnect facility for easy removal of the unit from the boat. The FF is a separate box which you have to buy. The Plotter looks good and it has a very nice joystick for moving the curser. The FF unit has only just been released to the market, so it may have teething problems and bugs. Lowrance have the LCX-20C (6" screen) and the LCX-25C (7" screen). The LCX-25C has a much better display with 480x640 pixels, compared to 240x320 on the LXC-20C. At the moment, the LCX-25C is my preferred choice and is probably the one I will buy. Not cheap at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 Les - the MI21 would have a problem fitting into a Warrior - it is a 21' fishing boat! I would look at the Lowrance or the Garmin - Bob F is wrong in that the biggest they do in the Combo unit is 5" - they go way bigger than this at the top end models and basically go head to head with Lowrance, just personel preference really. I also like the look of the Raymarine kit, very proffessional looking and in the way it works. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Garmin don't do a Combo unit with a screen bigger than 5", however, I've just noticed that you can buy a larger screen Chartplotter and add a separate black box sounder unit. Very pricy, though. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap3006c/ They do 3 or 4 large screen combo units...you have to add the black box unit to all of the Garmin combo units as far as Im aware - maybe the very small basic units do a dual purpose, but every other one requires the add on. It is an extra cost - but not massivly expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nipper Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 hi sheddy i have a garmin chart for sale which covers the whole english channel from my old boat but it's your's for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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