Chartplotter Lowrance

[rlw]

Hi I am looking to add a chartplotter to my boat this winter.
It's main use will be as a position backup when visibility is low.
So far I have looked at the Navman 5500 and the Raymarine 435.
However I just spotted the Lowrance 3300C. This is the cheapest of the 3 but seems to have similar functionality. Be interested to hear any opinions about these products.

My main use will be inland waters in Holland with occasional sea use.

Rob

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[duncan]

friend in a boat fishing club got this earlier in the year and is delighted with it. I run the pretty much the same on a Lowrance LCX 15MT and have been pleased with it.
Personally I struggle with the 'Nav' screen and prefer the Garmin 'rolling road' but that's personal preference.

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[Talbot]

I have the navman 5500 and really like it. There was a test on these plotters earlier this year, and the whole team were in favour of the Navman. Site it where you can see it from the helm, and keep a reasonably close eye between plotter depth and actual, and you will be amazed at the extra confidence it gives you when you are short handed.

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[gjgm]

bought the lowrance this year, and am very pleased with it. Farily logical functionality, in fact bit easier than the simpler garmin gps i had, when I get forgetting how to get to various commands thru the menus.
few things to note. The gps antennae that looks like a hocky puck MUST have its own power supply. The antennae obviously plugs into the plotter, but that doesnt power source it. There is a splt screen functionality thats cool. You can have larger scale map of your location, and then another one with very small scale,close up. however, you should be able to resize these two windows, but looks like they forgot to put that in the current software. they tell me it will update will be on their webpage when ready.
Daylight visibility is excellent, its very easy to use, seems very rugged, and for the new £220 chart you get a half of europe!

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[RIN]

Hi Rob
I have just replaced my aged plotter with the Navman 5500. It is very good and so is the Lowrance 3300. I went to SIBS to buy the Lowrance but came back with the Navman because the deal of plotter and whole channel chart was cheaper (The navman came with a free central channel chart but ECS upgraded it to the whole Channel for £100) This was only £15 less than the Lowrance with a whole channel chart (No discount on the Navionics charts)

Practical Boat Owner did an excellent test on small plotters and the Navman came out best with the Lowrance as Best Value.

Never mind how easy they are to use, if you have an open cockpit, the only thing that matters is daylight visibility

Worth checking the chart offers

Good Luck

Richard

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[rlw]

Thank you for all the feedback. I have printed out the manuals from the web and will compare features. My main reason I to manage the boat shorthanded as we have a small child and I need to steer and navigate at the same time.

The navman seems like a good buy. I need to check the chart prices. However the Lowrance seems to have an ability to use the memory card on your PC (SD format) on ad charts on yourself. Still need to read the details on this.

Rob

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[gjgm]

to clarify, you can load waypoints, but you cant load your cmap charts onto the pc .
Guess you could save routes on the ploter onto MMC if you run out of memory on the plotter. But easiest way to plot a course is to scroll on the chart and mark it there. Bear in mind the plotter itself is for more than just marine use , so some of these features arent that much use with marine charts. The Lowrance map features (ie NOT cmap) than can be downloaded onto a pc (for some more software) arent alot of use to us as far as i can see

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[Its_Only_Money]

You can use PC Planner from c-map to access c-map charts on the pc, comes with a dual card reader so you can have both a chart card and user card accessible (user card for transfer of waypoints/routes/tracks).

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds

Simon
Its Only Money
Fairline Sprint
Solent-based