Chart Plotters

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boat193

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Hi i am looking at getting a new chart plotter not sure which one to go for have a budget of around 600 squids that is with the sd chart i have been offered the Lowrance GM7200 c:w Navionics 23xg chart for 590 inc vat or the Lowrance GM6500 with 23xg chart for 560 squids inc vat which one do you guys think is the best deal or would you go for somthing else, i am looking at the 7" screen is this the better or do you lose picture quality, thanks.
 
I think the biger the screen the better, the cartography you chose is important, have a look at a few different charts if you can.
 
didnt one of the mags review plotters this month?
Personally, I wouldnt worry so much about the chart software;whatever you choose, you get used to it.
More important is the logic and ease of use of the menus. That rather up to you.
Size.. well, fairly obvious, but you do need the space to fit it !
 
[ QUOTE ]
I chose the Garmin 525 because of it's hight resolution, stunning, but it's not 7".

[/ QUOTE ]Yes the Garmin 550 (£400 approx) also includes pre-loaded charts of the entire UK, Ireland and the channel, so is great value as you don't need to buy charts at extra cost.

Screen quality on this 5" Garmin screen is better than some 8" plotters I've seen and is ultra bright. Size isn't everything, screen resolution and brightness can be more important. The GpsMap 450 is an easier to read screen than some of their 6.5" models like the 2106, 3006 and nicer imho than my raymarine C-Series C80 8" screen. The Garmin 4008 is superb but big money for the extra inch compared to the 550.
 
Just to be clear. The reason I went for the 525s (not available here, bought from the USA) is that it has the 640x480 resolution and it makes a HUGE difference. Make sure you get one with this resolution and you'll be happy! Vision card is superb too...can't rate this machine highly enough.

Trouble with the 450/550 is they have the lower resolution...just my two pennies worth!
T
 
Yes the 555 is the same as the 525 but has the UK charts pre-loaded and included in the price, but as you say with the higher res.
 
Yes I agree buying marine electronics in this part of the world is bordering on insanity. I buy most my gear in the usa, and with the exchange rate, even after vat and duty it's almost exactly half the UK prices. Reign on the internet. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif World wide warranties too for most major brands despite the "lies" of some local distributors.
 
It's just a bit mad. Replaced my Clarion radio with one of the latest ones, new speakers and new remote wired controller. £250 the lot, when I was in Cisco a couple weeks back. Over £500 here..go figure..nuts.
T
 
Yes our home marina brought a job lot of ICOM sets in from the states some years ago with the highest spec sets for LESS than HALF the UK rip off cost. CE my "ass" it's a con used to justify a distribution channel and agreements that predate the internet. Sink or swim suppliers you can't buck the market especially when its on www /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Of the Standard Horizon range the CP-180 goes head to head with the Garmin 550, the CP-300 has a much better spec than the 550.

Both the 550 and CP-180 are 5" screens, the 180 has the screen in landscape format and the 550 in portrait.
The choice here is down to your own preference.

In recent reveiws in the mags both the CP180 and CP-300 either win or get very high ratings over the others tested.

Must liking the ease of use and clarity of the screens.

All the best
 
Jon,

I admit I prefer the Garmin Portrait layout and the ease of menus. The horrizon is also a great bit of kit and I was impressed, just could not tear myself away from Garmin!

In the end it is personnal preference. Garmin and Bluechart or other!

Cheers

Paul
 
Totally agree, each to his/her own.

Mind you I always had Garmin prior to joining SH and even if I left I would still have SH.

I use my boat most weekends during the year and the kit is so easy to use, in most cases I find easier than Garmin and takes the abuse of being fittied to a 9m RIB!!!

Oh and the three year warranty is a bonus, if ever needed!

All the best
 
Sure that's fair. Aside from BlueCharts and the easy menus, it's Garmin's PC passage planning and route editing software (ie MapSource CD) that I have found impressive and straight forward to use, yet powerful. I prefer it to Raytech, Navplanner and PC-Planner NT, all of which I also have used extensively. For most folk the best plotter is probably the one they know how to use now. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Not sure though where garmin are going with this on their new pre-loaded cartography plotters (ie will they support reading charts from SD card reader on MapSource software).
 
It costs. And it doesn't yet work with G2 Vision cards. You'd have to buy the CD versions of BlueCharts "again" which includes with the MapSource program, which you could then use to route plan and exchange waypoint data with your Garmin plotter via SD cards. I understand Garmin are planning phase out the CD chart products.

This is a BIG problem for garmins new range of 07 line up plotters, especially the ones with pre-loaded cartography. How does one passage plan when there's no SD card to remove from the boat plotter and bring home? Awaiting Garmins new policy and annoncements on this.

Currently I have BlueCharts (ie 1st gen) all on CD so I can use them on the PC AND on the boat by downloading the charts to memory cards which can then be brought to the boat - best of both worlds - pay once for a chart but use it both at home for PC planning and on the boats plotter.
 
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