Which GPS/Chartplotter

W

werlec

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
RO Number
5374
Messages
17
I'm looking for a GPS/Chartplotter for my new(to me) sailboat. We just sold our powerboat & went over to the dark side!

My old Garmin 152 served me well on our powerboat, but it was not the most user friendly unit in the world. Due to "older eyes", I need about a 7" screen now.

I've been looking at the following 3 models:

Standard CP300i
Sitex Colormax 7
Northstar Explorer 567

Does anyone have any comments/experience(good or bad) with these models? Or any other similar priced($600-$700) models.

Thanks for any comments.

Erle
 
I've always had good luck with both Standard and Sitex equipment. Northstar I've had more problems with and I've always felt that they have been over priced in the pasted.
 
Have you ruled out the newer Garmin Units? I have a 182C that is about 5 years old and find it easy to use.
 
I'm a Garmin fan. Your 152 is a good example of why. Did you realize that Garmin is STILL supporting that model, as old as it is, by releasing free updates for it?

It's not unusual for their updates to increase performance and user-friendliness.

This spring, on the maiden voyage with my new touch-screen Garmin display, the display began to blank out when going through heavily detailed areas over 29 mph. Sure enough, Garmin had already released the fix and it's been perfect ever since.
 
I had a Garmin. Can't go wrong with Garmin. I had 17X and I was able to sit in the comfort of my home to plot and program it. The SH is good. Easy on the eyes for daylight viewing. I have no experience with Sitex. Northstar is a player if you have Merc Smartcraft engines. However I too have not heard good things about Northstar.

My $0.02
 
A buddy has the Standard 7" on his Parker. He likes it, I like it. Easy to use, good graphics. I believe the charts are less expensive than Garmin's, but do not know that as a fact.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Furuno 1944CBB
Furuno1920CBB
 
All three units you are looking at use C-MAP MAX charts - full detail, navigation aids that flash in their real-time sequence and color, dynamic real-time tide and current indicators. You can get the entire east coast of the US, including the Bahamas, in the highest level of detail available on one chart card for $199. We also update our master chart database for Notice to Mariner corrections in real-time - then release fully updated libraries to the public every Spring and Fall. Customers can update charts they already own for less than half the cost of buying a new one (we also have a subscription update Club you can join to receive automatic annual updates).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top