Chart plotter

G

Gregory S

Well-known member
Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
2620
Messages
5,967
OK guys, since I'm leaving the confines of the Ohio river, I think I need a chart plotter. what would you recommend? Lets not break the bank here, remember, I'm going to be a gov employee in a few weeks!
 
Check the Garmin site. They have one of the widest selections of GPSs. Then check for prices on various units both on eBay and through web distributors. Then compare the units and costs with what you want to spens and with what your local marine supply stores carry. Good luck and safe boating. Hy
 
Garmin look at the 4200 series Greg. For something smaller the 700 series is real nice. Both are NMEA2000 compliant.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by littlebookworm

Check the Garmin site. They have one of the widest selections of GPSs. Then check for prices on various units both on eBay and through web distributors. Then compare the units and costs with what you want to spens and with what your local marine supply stores carry. Good luck and safe boating. Hy

Click to expand...


After bad experience #2, costing me $122 I don't recommend anyone ever buy anything on eBay. Buyer protection plan my butt.

Sorry for the venting.

Bob
 
Greg,
Do you need anything with a chartplotter like fuel management, cameras, radar,etc.
I would look real hard at the garmin units. The touchscreens are great, and installation is simple.
 
Garmin are nice. But for the money so are the Standard Horizon units.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

Click to expand...


Greg

With the help of Bill I may be trading up to a newer Garmin.

I will then have a Garmin 2006-2010 available. Works fine Any interest?
 
quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

quote:
Originally posted by littlebookworm

Check the Garmin site. They have one of the widest selections of GPSs. Then check for prices on various units both on eBay and through web distributors. Then compare the units and costs with what you want to spens and with what your local marine supply stores carry. Good luck and safe boating. Hy

Click to expand...


After bad experience #2, costing me $122 I don't recommend anyone ever buy anything on eBay. Buyer protection plan my butt.

Sorry for the venting.

Bob

Click to expand...


I agree with the no more buying on ebay. If you must buy something from there, make sure the seller takes a credit card and not PayPal. PayPal is basically useless. At least with a credit card you can dispute the charge and you stand a chance if the merchandise is not what you expected.
I've found that you can often get the same price on new merchandise from other reputable online sites as you get on ebay anyway.
 
Garmin is the way to go, on a budget or not. Quality easy to use gear.
 
I have had excellent experience using E Bay, I have never been burnt and the products have always been as advertised in the 10 + years I have been purchasing off the service. However I think you will find BoatFix has some excellent deals on Garmin packages. contact Les if you want a package he will give you a good deal. For the record I do not sell chart plotters or radar I am helping Joe pick out a package from BoatFix.
I just have a lot of use with most of Gamins products starting with the 3200 series through the 6200 series and all their add on's.
Bill
 
Garmin's biggest plus for me is starting with the 4200 series plotters you can upgrade the firmware off their website for free. You simply need to check the website for the latest system firmware then download a simple program that writes the updates to an SD card on your laptop once downloaded simply install the SD card in the plotter with all Garmin devices turned on and it will update everything hooked up through the Garmin network and devices on the NMEA2000 network.
Bill
 
I personally avoid garmin like it was walmart. They have te same business mind. Plus their software doesn't convey and updates are expensive. I much prefer the graphics on standard horizon gear.
 
I had great happiness with Garmin ever since they were "ProNav" selling GPS units that had no more guts than the very early "four function" calculators.

We brought the boat to FL from NJ with a new 740s and liked it enough to add a 6212. Both are truly daylight viewable. Our smaller boat has a 3205 which is limited only by its dayhlight viewability.
 
I bought garman because all charts came preloaded, no extra cost every time went somewhere. I also like that the touch screen allowed a larger display in the same space because there didnt have to have room for buttons. The remote solved the problem of hitting the screen or buttons while the boat gallops. It is very readable in sunlight.
 
I bought my last Garmin from Boatfix great unit and great price. I have two 4208s and I'm very happy with the features and reliability.
 
Standard makes a great product, at a reasonable price, and stands behind it with a 3 year warranty. I will be upgrading my chartplotter to a SH CP 500 this season
 
Has anyone ever tried calling Garmin's customer service in the past two years? I have never had a Garmin Marine unit, but my experience with customer service with both aviation and hwy persuaded me to purchase other than Garmin for my boat.

Now for the rest of the story; Lowrance doesn't answer their phone either, just voice mail - or ignore as I now choose to call it. You can get through to these companies but you have to be persistant.
 
Lowrance customer "service" is the WORST. Prepare to be on hold for 1/2 - 1 hour before someone will talk to you.
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Lowrance customer "service" is the WORST. Prepare to be on hold for 1/2 - 1 hour before someone will talk to you.

Click to expand...


When was that? Lowrance was bought by Navico who are the folks who make Simrad.

According to the electronics fellow at the RIC Boatshow, he agreed the earlier Lowrance were a bad experience. He continued to say they are no longer "that" company.

YMMV, however for that reason and I like the price and associated PnP gauges, I was going to say Lowrance and Standard Horizon.

From personal experience, SH has served me well.
 
Last year I had problems with my Lowrance chartplotter. On several occasions when I would dial their number the second they opened for business, and invariably, I would have to wait on hold for between 30 - 60 minutes.

I will never buy another Lowrance product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top