Compact GPS Plotters

warwicksail

warwicksail

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Dec 2007
Messages
219
Location
Carmarthen West Wales UK
wwc.co.uk
I am looking to purchase I GPS plotter suitable for costal cruising there are many on the market and to be honest not entirly convinced on there capabilitys, are the base maps any use GARMIN offer the 450 and 550 with base maps built in but how detailed are they??? will I need to add bluechart to this unit to get anywhere??
Any help will be greatfully appeciated
 
The preloaded UK charts on those two models are quite detailed - they include most if not all of the detail that most people would want/need. The optional G2vision chart upgrade option adds 3d views and photographs for example.

You could definately use either of those two plotetrs 'out of the box' without adding anything else to them.
 
The "Base Map" in my unit only show the details down to 1 cm = 20 kn, which is only good for ocean going. I need to buy detailed charts for real netvigation.
 
I have just fitted the 450 and the detail is pretty good. For instance; Individual pontoons in the marina, sectored lights, various soundings (but not contour lines (I think!), all the marks etc

Very intuitive to use (you almost don't need the booklet) and easy to zoom in / out
 
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Very intuitive to use (you almost don't need the booklet) and easy to zoom in / out

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If anything I think the 450 and 550 models may be too simple, they have lost some of the ability to customise the display, still they are stunning value and very much ready to use "straight out of the box" as Mr Jobs likes to say. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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