Advice on plotter.

[robanfield]

Hi to all, I am about to renew my gps and buy a colour plotter. I have seen adverts and articles about using laptop with appropiate software instead of dedicated plotter. I can only afford up to max £500. I only use my boat for leisure fishing.
Could some of you experienced guys give me some advice as to which avenue to take, I like the look of the robust type of laptop with larger screen than the type of plotter that I could afford.
Thanks in advance to anyone who has the time to reply.
Regards, Rob.

 

[BarryH]

I don't know if the offer is still going, ut I purchased a Lowrance HDS5m from Force 4. It was sub 500 quid and came with a full set of charts for uk/europa. More functions than I'll ever need and fairly intuitive to use. Even thought the screen is only around 5 or 6 inhes the display is very clear and easy to read. A nice touch is that your able to set the amount of deatail thats displayed on the cart. So its easy to "declutter" the info that you don't need or take notice of.
Worth a look. For the money you get a lot of spec for the £.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Standard Horizon usually does quite well for customer service and standard of kit.

There's the CP180i for £299,99 so plenty left for charts or a seperate fishfinder. They do a combined fishfinder/plotter, the CPF180i but it's a bit more expensive at £510 without the transducer or charts.

http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/38385/Standard-Horizon-CP180i-GPS-Chartplotter.html

I've got the CP300 and I'm really pleased with it but it's slightly over budget @ £549,99 without charts. I'd search out a deal with charts included - it's usually cheaper regardless of plotter.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Thanks in advance to anyone who has the time to reply.
Regards, Rob.

Hi Rob

I spent some time looking around and went for a SH 300i for only £20 more than your budget at £519.94 http://www.marinechandlery.com/checkout/cart/

Very pleased with it and you can also at a later date do what I have done and added the SH GX2100E radio http://www.marinechandlery.com/elec...0e-fixed-dsc-radio-with-integral-ais-receiver which will give you AIS coverage.

Both excellant bits of kit with good Pre and after sales backup.

Mike

 

[johnphilip]

Irritating but good news

Hi to all, I am about to renew my gps and buy a colour plotter. I have seen adverts and articles about using laptop with appropiate software instead of dedicated plotter. I can only afford up to max £500. I only use my boat for leisure fishing.
Could some of you experienced guys give me some advice as to which avenue to take, I like the look of the robust type of laptop with larger screen than the type of plotter that I could afford.
Thanks in advance to anyone who has the time to reply.
Regards, Rob.

I have for some while been a Garmin fan and was just sent an e-mail with this link to the best prices I have seen by a margin. The 750 is a big reduction from what I paid.

https://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/article/53/March1-eNewsletter.html

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Hi Rob

I spent some time looking around and went for a SH 300i for only £20 more than your budget at £519.94 http://www.marinechandlery.com/checkout/cart/

Very pleased with it and you can also at a later date do what I have done and added the SH GX2100E radio http://www.marinechandlery.com/elec...0e-fixed-dsc-radio-with-integral-ais-receiver which will give you AIS coverage.

Both excellant bits of kit with good Pre and after sales backup.

Mike

+1 I have installed last week a 300i well pleased with it so far had to buy a C-map max card for it though another £174. It has a video input which allows you to fit a camera probably at the top of the mast gives a clear view of the route ahead and other possibilities.

 

[sharpness]

Garmin have recently reduced their prices on the 451 / 551 / and 750 series plotters which come preloaded with chart covering UK. Best prices i came across were with TCS Chandlery and also Marine Electronic Service Ltd. I've just purchased 551 Garmin for £340 from TCS chandlery. No connections etc, just a satisfied customer.

 

[Ripster]

Have a good look at Garmin kit - that is what I'd go for every time. Its easy to use and reliable and the backup service is second to none IMO.

 

[robanfield]

Thanks to everybody for the advice. About 10 mins ago I bought a Garmin 620, brand new in box c/w charger brackets etc.
I had to take at this price £280. as it fitted my budget more than perfectly. I already have my Eagle Optimer fishfinder / sounder, I am now going to upgrade vhf to AIS type.
Could you guys give me an opinion if I have done the right thing.
Regards to everybody,
Rob.

 

[Zagato]

Thanks to everybody for the advice. About 10 mins ago I bought a Garmin 620, brand new in box c/w charger brackets etc.
I had to take at this price £280. as it fitted my budget more than perfectly. I already have my Eagle Optimer fishfinder / sounder, I am now going to upgrade vhf to AIS type.
Could you guys give me an opinion if I have done the right thing.
Regards to everybody,
Rob.

Bargain

 

[prv]

I have for some while been a Garmin fan and was just sent an e-mail with this link to the best prices I have seen by a margin.

You've not been looking in the right places then . MES is the first place I check for big-ticket electronics, and sure enough they're £15 cheaper than your link

Pete