Chart Plotter Advice

[D and G]

Goinf to upgrade the Plotter on our Princess 25, I was sold on the Simrad Go 9 XSE, that was until I read about the very poor customer service and them switching themselves off for no reason, what would you guys suggest giving that my wants are a good plotter and good fish finder, ideally sub £1000 would like a 9" as cannot justify the price hike for bigger, my heart tells me Garmin or Raymarine so anyone else done similar or considering doing similar and also am I better getting a standalone unit or one of the MFD and installing the NMEA 2000m Backbone?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Goinf to upgrade the Plotter on our Princess 25, I was sold on the Simrad Go 9 XSE, that was until I read about the very poor customer service and them switching themselves off for no reason, what would you guys suggest giving that my wants are a good plotter and good fish finder, ideally sub £1000 would like a 9" as cannot justify the price hike for bigger, my heart tells me Garmin or Raymarine so anyone else done similar or considering doing similar and also am I better getting a standalone unit or one of the MFD and installing the NMEA 2000m Backbone?

I would go for a Garmin Echomap, as long as you don't want radar. Make sure you get one that supports sonar. If you just want depth, fit something NMEA 2000. If you want a fishfinder you don't need to install a NMEA 2000 backbone unless you want to integrate other N2K equipment, because the sonar transducer has its own port on the back of the plotter. The 9" Echomap comes with pre-loaded charts, which would usually set you back about £300. You can pick a plotter up for £800 and buy the transducer of your choice separately, or you might find a bundle deal that has the transducer included.

 

[D and G]

I would go for a Garmin Echomap, as long as you don't want radar. Make sure you get one that supports sonar. If you just want depth, fit something NMEA 2000. If you want a fishfinder you don't need to install a NMEA 2000 backbone unless you want to integrate other N2K equipment, because the sonar transducer has its own port on the back of the plotter. The 9" Echomap comes with pre-loaded charts, which would usually set you back about £300. You can pick a plotter up for £800 and buy the transducer of your choice separately, or you might find a bundle deal that has the transducer included.

Thanks for your great answer, I will try and get a deal with the Transducer, considering if it's worth a 400 mile round trip to see if any not to be missed deals at Southampton Boat Show, will have a look at the Garmin Echomap range, she does have a seperate fishfinder and chart plotter fitted so be good to clear some space and have it on one unit

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks for your great answer, I will try and get a deal with the Transducer, considering if it's worth a 400 mile round trip to see if any not to be missed deals at Southampton Boat Show, will have a look at the Garmin Echomap range, she does have a seperate fishfinder and chart plotter fitted so be good to clear some space and have it on one unit

There are some special offers kicking around at the moment, so i doubt it would be worth a 400 mile trip.

 

[D and G]

There are some special offers kicking around at the moment, so i doubt it would be worth a 400 mile trip.

Your right, just got to try and find the correct model, their website is as clear as mud as to what is low/mid/high range but it was worth my post as think the pre loaded maps as you pointed out is a good saving that has got me going Garmin

 

[PaulRainbow]

Your right, just got to try and find the correct model, their website is as clear as mud as to what is low/mid/high range but it was worth my post as think the pre loaded maps as you pointed out is a good saving that has got me going Garmin

Current model is Garmin ECHOMAP™ UHD2 9" Chartplotters | Marine

Previous model, still in stock with some online suppliers https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/690358

The UHD2 is a little more money, but better spec, take your pick.

Transducers are varied, you'll need to decide what you need from it. Spend from just over £100 to several hundreds.

 

[Tranona]

This is probably the best deal at the moment
marinesuperstore.com/gps-radar/fixed-gps-plotters/garmin-echomap-uhd-95sv?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=pcn&utm_campaign=MSS&utm_term=99600686&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIltXorsOlgQMVJoFQBh1EaAXIEAQYASABEgKQVfD_BwE

Older model, but new one is about £200 more at street prices.

 

[PaulRainbow]

This is probably the best deal at the moment
marinesuperstore.com/gps-radar/fixed-gps-plotters/garmin-echomap-uhd-95sv?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=pcn&utm_campaign=MSS&utm_term=99600686&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIltXorsOlgQMVJoFQBh1EaAXIEAQYASABEgKQVfD_BwE

Older model, but new one is about £200 more at street prices.

That was the cheapest i could find, which i mentioned in post #2. Cheapest UHD2 i've seen is about £975

 

[D and G]

Thanks for the info and links, will suss them out then start looking at transducers now see what I need. Mrs just thrown a curve ball, took me a while to sell her the boat instead of caravan idea, she has just piped up, is it worth changing the plotter as she wants a bigger boat in a year or so

 

[ChromeDome]

Thanks for the info and links, will suss them out then start looking at transducers now see what I need. Mrs just thrown a curve ball, took me a while to sell her the boat instead of caravan idea, she has just piped up, is it worth changing the plotter as she wants a bigger boat in a year or so

On that statement from SWMBO you need to make a strategy. Invest only in the current boat if it improves the sale value or makes it easier to sell.

Then draft a plan for the boat upgrade. You could probably bring a 9" plotter with you, but would it suit the next dream?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

On that statement from SWMBO you need to make a strategy. Invest only in the current boat if it improves the sale value or makes it easier to sell.

Then draft a plan for the boat upgrade. You could probably bring a 9" plotter with you, but would it suit the next dream?

Alternatively he could put SWMBO on the market. Fairly sure a number of us here would be delighted with a lady who encourages the purchase of a larger boat.

 

[D and G]

Alternatively he could put SWMBO on the market. Fairly sure a number of us here would be delighted with a lady who encourages the purchase of a larger boat.

Ah could never part with my no 1 crew member lol, mind you everything has its price

 

[D and G]

On that statement from SWMBO you need to make a strategy. Invest only in the current boat if it improves the sale value or makes it easier to sell.

Then draft a plan for the boat upgrade. You could probably bring a 9" plotter with you, but would it suit the next dream?

Think we both fancy a flybridge next so probably a daft idea to spend money for someone else benefit and the previous owner used her at sea a lot with the current Garmin Plotter, note to self stop looking at the online websites selling nice shiny stuff

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Ah could never part with my no 1 crew member lol, mind you everything has its price

Nor me. I too have one of the rare ones who like boats, the bigger the better, well, up to a point.

 

[D and G]

Nor me. I too have one of the rare ones who like boats, the bigger the better, well, up to a point.

If we could clone them we would soon have our super yachts in Monaco

 

[Chiara’s slave]

If we could clone them we would soon have our super yachts in Monaco

When you get your new flybridge cruiser, you’ll be needing 2 plotters.

 

[D and G]

When you get your new flybridge cruiser, you’ll be needing 2 plotters.

I know yet more expense ,let's hope we find one the previous owner has spent some cash on a good pair of plotters

 

[PaulRainbow]

When you get your new flybridge cruiser, you’ll be needing 2 plotters.

Noooo big plotter on the flybridge and mirror it downstairs to a tablet (mine mirrors downstairs to two 10.4" tablets).

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Noooo big plotter on the flybridge and mirror it downstairs to a tablet (mine mirrors downstairs to two 10.4" tablets).

I was only teasing!

 

[ChromeDome]

The real problem nowadays is to find electronics that can do what you need - just!

All sorts (phones, audio, TV, car gadgets, boat devices) offer a lot that I ideally don't need. On phones and PCs it's a battle to kill all the "help features" someone is forcing on you.