Chart Plotter Advice

[Momac]

While the largest possible screen would be very nice I have a 7 inch screen which must be adequate in practice as I have always found my destination. The dash on my flybridge helm is not exactly huge and the 7 inch display fits nicely.
Smaller screen usually equals usefully lower cost .
I have AIS and while its not essential on every sea trip I have on occasions been comforted but the information it provides regarding movement of ships. So would want the mfd to be compatible with ais. Receive only ais is fine if on a budget. If fitting a new vhf perhaps consider a vhf with ais integrated.

 

[B27]

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 seems like quite a lot of money for a display resolution of 400x800?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

That seems like quite a lot of money for a display resolution of 400x800?

If it were just the display, maybe. That is fishfinder ready, and comes with charts.

 

[wonkywinch]

B&G (Navico) have just announced some decent boat show discounts, no doubt the other manufacturers will follow suit in the coming days.

I've just replaced 7" B&G Zeus 2's with the new model 9" Zeus S which has virtually identical case sizes since it's 100% touch screen.

 

[B27]

If it were just the display, maybe. That is fishfinder ready, and comes with charts.

The point is, it's a very coarse display compared to a cheap tablet.

 

[PaulRainbow]

That seems like quite a lot of money for a display resolution of 400x800?

Bear in mind that it is a) a budget model and b) an old model. For £799 you get £300 worth of charts included, that leaves £499 for a 9" plotter, with full fishfinder capability.

The latest model is the UHD2, which is 1024 x 600

For comparison, a Raymarine Axion 9 has a resolution of 800 x 480 and costs about £1300 by the time you add charts. Almost double the Echomap.

 

[Tranona]

The point is, it's a very coarse display compared to a cheap tablet.

But you are not comparing with a tablet, but with other dedicated plotters, where the poor resolution is offset by wider range of functions and the inclusion of charts. as pointed out the latest model has higher definition and still competitive despite the £200 increase.

 

[B27]

What was wrong with 405 line TV anyway?
The £350 Onwa plotter has a higher res screen.

I wonder if the likes of Garmin and Raymarine might come under a lot of pressure before very long?

 

[PaulRainbow]

What was wrong with 405 line TV anyway?
The £350 Onwa plotter has a higher res screen.

I wonder if the likes of Garmin and Raymarine might come under a lot of pressure before very long?

Which model Onwa is that ?

 

[B27]

Which model Onwa is that ?

Kp39 I think.

Even the super cheap Android car stereos have 600 lines.
Which I find a bit 'second class' compared with Navionics on a tablet.

For sure, display brightness is a trade-off, and you expect to pay to have it in a waterproof case.

But the small Raymarine plotters seem a bit naff compared to the bigger ones.

 

[D and G]

Some great points in the replies so thanks for that, I need to start looking at screen resolution, I get caught up in all the buzz words and go off on a dream lol. Mrs came up with a good idea(again), thats 2 in one week, not bad for a blonde, hope she don't read my forum posts lol, as she wants to upgrade as she puts it to a boat with the sliding glass doors and fingers crossed a flybridge why instead og swapping the plotter invest the money by adding hot water to our Princess25, think it would make it more saleable when the time comes and seen as the previous owner with far more sea experience than me was happy to go to sea with it not a bad call.

Standby and brace yourselves for the Calorifier questions incoming

 

[Tranona]

Kp39 I think.

Even the super cheap Android car stereos have 600 lines.
Which I find a bit 'second class' compared with Navionics on a tablet.

For sure, display brightness is a trade-off, and you expect to pay to have it in a waterproof case.

But the small Raymarine plotters seem a bit naff compared to the bigger ones.

Remember the OP wants sonar, neither of which are available with the alternatives you are suggesting.

I have Garmin 75UHD and while the resolution is not as good as on other devices it has the functionality that I want and at the time was far and away the best value. The latest more expensive version is still the best value when you include charting.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Kp39 I think.

Even the super cheap Android car stereos have 600 lines.
Which I find a bit 'second class' compared with Navionics on a tablet.

For sure, display brightness is a trade-off, and you expect to pay to have it in a waterproof case.

But the small Raymarine plotters seem a bit naff compared to the bigger ones.

The KP 39 is 800x480 !

It's a 7" screen, rather than the 9" Echmap. No charts. No fishfinder. By the time you add the Navionics charts it costs £613

For a fairer comparison you need to compare with Garmin UHD 75sv. That has the same 800x480 resolution, comes with full UK charts and is fishfinder compatible. Costs £479.99, £133 cheaper than the Onwa, which doesn't support sonar (and some other stuff too.

If you're going to make claims about features and make comparisons, you should at least compare similar devices.

 

[Sianna]

I fitted the Garmin 95SV with a Garmin in-hull chirp transducer -GT15M-IH, its been brilliant, a very clear and intuitive unit, the fish finder works incredibly well even at speed, it's nmea 2000 compatible too. I would highly recommend it.



ECHOMAP Plus Owners Manual - ECHOMAP Plus

Garmin GT15M-IH 8 Pin In Hull CHIRP Transducer

 

[B27]

The KP 39 is 800x480 !

It's a 7" screen, rather than the 9" Echmap. No charts. No fishfinder. By the time you add the Navionics charts it costs £613

For a fairer comparison you need to compare with Garmin UHD 75sv. That has the same 800x480 resolution, comes with full UK charts and is fishfinder compatible. Costs £479.99, £133 cheaper than the Onwa, which doesn't support sonar (and some other stuff too.

If you're going to make claims about features and make comparisons, you should at least compare similar devices.

The Onwa does come with charts.
God knows what they are like though!
My point was not that I'm a fan of Onwa kit, more that I'm not a fan of low screen resolutions at a high price.
If you want a fish finder, then maybe a separate one is better, then you won't be sharing your meagre ration of pixels between two functions.

 

[ChromeDome]

My point was not that I'm a fan of Onwa kit, more that I'm not a fan of low screen resolutions at a high price.

Does Onwa offer high resolution without a high price?

 

[PaulRainbow]

The Onwa does come with charts.
God knows what they are like though!
My point was not that I'm a fan of Onwa kit, more that I'm not a fan of low screen resolutions at a high price.
If you want a fish finder, then maybe a separate one is better, then you won't be sharing your meagre ration of pixels between two functions.

It does not come with Navionics charts. It is a 7" plotter. It does not support a fishfinder, it looks like something from 15 years ago. It doesn't have an app' to allow you to use your charts on tablets and phones. It actually costs more money than the Garmin if you buy the Navionics charts !

The old model of Echomap is not low res and a high price. In its class, the resolution is comparable with other makes.

Try comparing like for like models.

Can you recommend a fishfinder, of the same quality as the one built into the Echomap ?

 

[tillergirl]

Why not a Onwa Kcombo7a. Chart plotter, AIS, depth (transducer included). Don't you have to buy a transducer for the Garmin?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Why not a Onwa Kcombo7a. Chart plotter, AIS, depth (transducer included). Don't you have to buy a transducer for the Garmin?

You do have to buy a transducer with the Garmin, unless you buy it as part of a bundle. The same applies to the Onwa though, the transducer is not included as standard, it's a £100 option for the basic, plastic, through hull version. The Garmin Mid CHIRP model is about £150, with a whole range of transducers going up to £1000 plus (i'm happy with knowing how deep the water is )

At £795 with AIS, charts and sonar, the Onwa is definitely good value if it meets your needs though.

 

[tillergirl]

Sorry Paul. A thru hull or transom transducer is included. A bronze 'ducer (which I have) is an upgrade. I had a Kcombo7 initially but it was so popular it was stolen! I fitted a 7a with the insurance money and liked the quality I went for an upgrade for a KM12X - the multi-function display. The K maps included on all isn't a disaster.