What GPS chart plotter to buy???

[jrumon]

Looking at purcasing a color LCD screen GPS CHART PLOTTER with built-in antenna for my 26 Cat project. Anyone have any experience with any of these??? Sure would make boating more "RELAXING" knowing where those shallow spots are! Thanks, Jim

Raymarine RC400
Raymarine DS435i
Garmin 172C or 178C
Garmin 182C or 188C
Garmin 276C Street & Marine

 

[vinny p.]

I have a Garmin 182C with internal antenna. It works great. I think they have come out with a newer version of it. Mine is a few years old.

 

[ynnad]

I got a Garmin 193 C last year. I was looking at the earlier version, but the 192 has all the charts for North America loaded already, and you can still plug in new chips. With some of the earlier versions you had to buy the chips for each area at pretty steep prices. While the 192 costs a bit more, you make up the difference if you were going to buy more than 2 chips.

I really like it, not only does it have depths, but obstructions like wrecks or pipes and landmarks, and channel markers. I used it in Lake St. Clair & Detroit River(Mich) and in the Caloosahatchee River here in Florida, all with the pre-loaded charts...

Only problem was it doesn't have all small inland lakes. I was on Orchard Lake in Oakland County, Michigan and it wasn't plotted (it was just a blue blob with no data)

Really gives you confidence...(of course I have paper charts and a depth sounder to be sure).

Dan

 

[ynnad]

Ooops I fat fingered the number in the first line it is a Garmin 192 C.

 

[Chris E]

i sold a ton of raytheon stuff over the years - top notch quality and technology. Raytheon designs the guidance system for the sidewinder missles in their spare time

 

[checkrocket]

I have the Garmin 276C Street & Marine. Full color display, takes cards. I have a mount for in the boat, and in the car. Great picture, easy functionality, big buttons. Easy to learn. You can also custom display a screen and include the info that you want and the size that you want it displayed. You can have a screen that is set up with top speed, average speed, distance and prioritize the size of each. Great tool, I have it installed in my cigarette.

 

[jrumon]

OK...
Anyone know how good (or bad) the New RAYMARINE RC400 GPS/Chartplotter is???

>>>From the www.raymarine.com web sight:
The RC400 packs big navigation features into a compact and portable GPS. Both fixed mount and portable, the RC400 comes standard with a mounting bracket and cables for 12-volt power and NMEA 0183 interfacing. The battery compartment holds 4 AA rechargeable Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and also accepts alkaline batteries for added convenience.
Outstanding Features Include:
3.5” Daylight viewable transflective color LCD
Submersible to IPX7 Standard:Submersible to 1 meter for at least 30min.
12 Channel Satellite Differential GPS with WAAS/EGNOS
Built in world map and Navionics Gold chart support on compact flash cards
Unlimited waypoint,route and track storage using compact flash cards
Raymarine SmartRoute™ automatically builds routes and waypoints from previous tracks
Autozoom Mode intelligently maintains your vessel and your waypoint on the best chart scale while underway
Screen Amplifier automatically offsets your vessel position for maximum “look ahead”on the chart display
Chart rotation modes:North Up;Course Up and Head Up
Accepts 4 AA NiMH rechargeable (included) or alkaline batteries for handheld operation
Mounting bracket, NMEA/Power cable, and cigarette lighter adapter included.

So...
It looks trick, portable, water-proof rated, internal antenna, nice color high-res display, and takes the Navionics Gold 3XL data card (the 3XL gives me ALL 5 great lakes in detail).

Sound Good or bad??? Anyone have one yet???

 

[NightHawk]

I'll second the Garmin 276C. Great for small speedboats. Portable, transferable and lasts a long time on a lithium battery charge. Perfect for street, marine or even the backwoods.

 

[jrumon]

ynnad...
Sounds like we boat in the same areas... When home (livonia) I'm usually out on Cass or Orchard lake, but most of my boating is in Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay.

Lesson learned: one VERY EXPENSIVE summer a few years back... after 30+ years of boating that area and finding a new "shallow spot" killing a complete Bravo outdrive... With LOW WATER forcasted again for the great lakes, I decided this was a good year to get a GPS/Chartplotter as I plan on some long trips into "unfamiliar areas" with this 26' Cat Deck boat with the family & friends.

I narrowed down my choices by wanting something COLOR and PORTABLE to go from from boat to boat (you all know I change boats just a bit).

I really like that 276C Garmin and even better the new 376C with complete weather info as well, but too big of $$$$ right now!

I looked at the new Raymarine RC400 and that unit is trick... plus I can get the Navionics hot maps to give me all the inland lakes as well... The BEST PART is that I found it on "sale" for $200 off list new in the box... $279!!! The 3XL Nav card covering the all 3 western great lakes (and any river and lake connecting to them) was $50 off on sale for $149. So for $420 I am now set for a season of "fun in the sun" and less worry some boating!

The Raymarine RC400 is a nice NEW model...

check them out!

 

[fnshrmaster]

Jim,I have the 276C and LOVE it!I have City street select for the car and it works great.Been all over with that thing,love it!I also have blue charts for the boat and we used it on 2 or 3 trips last year and it performed flawlessly.I have a mount in every vehicle we own,and believe me,it gets used alot!(Maybe cuz Im lost half the time anyways)