GPS/Chart plotter

[Jackman]

I need to get a new gps/chartplotter sometime soon. The old one is about to be displaced from the bridge. Its old and doesn't have what I need. I want a high quality stand alone unit that will give me charts of the canyons on the east coast. I am partial to Furuno and Garmin. I do not want the big screen navnet unit because of lack of space. Any ideas on a particular model#? I may even consider used if any of you who buy new electronics every couple of years has one for sale. I could use color but have had b/w for the last few years so color is not a must.

 

[scottwvyc]

I like my Raymarine C120, its easy to use, great viewing in sunlight and you can get the C or E series in different sizes. As for used units , have a look on Ebay.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Garmin, Raymarine, Standard Horizon all are good. Do get color. It makes a difference. Also be sure to get one with a TFT screen (transflective LCD) which is very sunlight readable. I like Standard Horizon. I got 2 identical units (one for the helm and one for the bridge) so I can take my chart chip with me when I switch positions and not have to buy 2 sets of chips but still have independent, redundant GPS.

Doug Shuman

 

[SeaEric]

I'm very pleased with my Garmin 3006. I have the charts, XM weather, dpeth finder, radar modules in it. Works great and was easy to self install.

 

[Will]

I really like our Sitex Fishplot 10 although it may be too large for what you have in mind.
Will

 

[Capt K]

I just installed the Garmin 3210. It is awsome! Garmin has a smaller version with the same features.

Garmin has always been the most user-friendly and reasonably priced units for nav IMHO.

K

 

[Maynard Rupp]

We are very happy with our Navman syatem. It is now made by Northstar. They are not expensive at all. We have one unit that is a GPS, the other one is a fishfinder. Our fuel flow data reads on the fishfinder, but could go to the GPS . Both units exchange data, dimming, etc. We also use a laptop with a Nobletech program that gets position data through a NMEA 0183, (serial port), from the GPS. We used this rig from Detroit to Miami with no problems, and more data than we could ever need.

 

[fissioneng]

I just bought a Lowrance 520C. It has a square very high resolution 5" screen and includes a fishfinder. I am very happy with it.

Lowrance is at the fore front in implementing the NMEA 2000 protocol which makes NMEA 0183 look like the dark ages. Once you install a NMEA network, all devices will work no matter which manufacturer they came from (assuming they support NMEA 2000 of course). If you go with Garmin, Furuno, or Raymarine, they all use proprietary networking and won't work with one another. Also, engine manufacturers are starting to use NMEA 2000 compliant engine harnesses too, so all the engine data can be available on any screen in the network.

 

[MarioG]

I have only great things to say about our Garmin 3210. on the Flybridge we have a Garmin 178C combo that is ok but nothing compaired to the 3210.

 

[MikeP]

All the manufactureres makes good, capable GPS units.

I have a Garmin 3010 which I like very much HOWEVER, I don't think much of Garmin's computer software for downloading maps and planning routes on the computer. It's clunky and I have had frequent reliability problems trying to download (unlock) additional map sets. In fact, in prep for our trip to the Chesapeake I finally gave up trying to unlock the final map series I needed. Consequently, when we passed under the Ches Bay bridge southbound, I entered uncharted "Here be there dragons" waters with no nav data available. It didn't matter because I had all the necessary elec charts/gps data running on a Mac Laptop with MacEnc software and all the appropriate paper charts as well.

So I recommend you determine which system has the best/easiest support and THEN decide. That being said, the laptop running MacEnc (I'm sure there are equally good windows programs) was over-all far superior to the 3010 as far as nav alone was concerned. Of course the GPS unit is easily visible in stong light while the laptop is definitely not. The GPS units can also incorporate other data should you desire as Eric mentioned.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I have a NorthStar 6000i. It is very good, but if you are thinking about the RADAR option, I'd keep looking. NorthStar's RADAR got lousy reviews in the late lamented Powerboat Reports. If you want RADAR, get a RayMarine or a Furuno.

I haven't seen Garmin's RADAR. Any good?

You might also look at Simrad. Their stuff is quite good, but tends to be expensive. The NorthStar is fine for navigation and their sonar is good, but that's it, from all the reviews.

 

[Nick]

I have the Raymarine C-120 multi function GPS/ radar and soon the depthfinder. This is my second season with it, it is easy to use and I like the large screen. I have a 4KW radome and it is adequate for navigation. I had a 4kw raytheon with an open array antenna prior to the present unit and the target discrimination is not quite as good now. The advantage of the single unit is the radar and chart overlay. The disadvantage is if the unit goes down all goes out, although Ive heard that its not usually the problem. I do have my L600 Furuno color finder and back up 6 inch Horizon GPS as backups.

 

[Lucky Dog]

Garmin, Garmin, Garmin.

 

[Capt K]

Garmin, Garmin, Garmin.

Yeah yeah, yeah! And redundency, redundency redundency!!


K

 

[dougl33]

I have Garmin 182C and a Raymarine C120 with the RD218 2kw radome and the Raystar 125 gps antenna. I love the huge screen of the C120, the radar is fantastic, and the clarity of the Navionics Gold chart is great on the 12 inch screen. However, the chartplotter functionality is no where as easy to use as the Garmin. If I had to have one stand alone GPS, I would go with Garmin. If I were going with a multi function unit I'd go with Raymarine as I do not think Garmin's radar is as robust as Raymarine's (yet).

 

[hcalmar]

I purchased and installed yesterday, the Garmin GPSMAP 2010C 10" color for $799 on Ebay with the 1yr factory warranty, NY to Cape Cod canal preprogrammed chart from WM for $129( they matched Defender's price) and for less than 1k I think it is a lot of chart, tides, fast draw ect. I jyust saw a different company advertising it for $756 but I had a friend who had previously bought a 2010C fron "radios for you" and I had a comfort level.It is all I need and alot better than my old Raymarine and Garmin 210.FWIW
Hal