Garmin 3005c or Lowrance 3500c?

[muckypup]

Trying to decide between these 2 GPS plotters...

The 3500c is a cheaper unit, but I need to Navonics Gold XL map to cover all the regions I'm likely to go. I have heard good things about both the navonics charts and the 3500c plotter.

The (new?) Garmin 3005c is more expensive, but I can get away with a "Small" area bluechart map at nearly half the price, and can be connected at a later date to a GSD20 unit to add sonar/fish finder functionality.

Does anyone think the 2005c is worth paying a bit extra?

Does anyone think buying a garmin product is stupid as they will bring out CyanChart next year and stop making bluechart carts?

Steve

 

[bluedragon]

Have you compared the displays and functionality of the two units? IMHO this is just as important as the charts. I prefer the Lowrance plotter + XL3 charts, but there are many Garmin fans out there, so it's down to personal preference. See also my earlier posts about problems with the tidal module on the Lowrance plotter. I expect (hope) that this will be corrected shortly.

 

[duncan]

no to Cyan chart...........but hello to a new proptiatory Lowrance chart that wll also run in their plotters.

looks like admiralty

basic chart for over here covers iceland to gib - enough for you? as they aren't actually retailed yet...........

 

[pvb]

Or something completely different?

There are lots of people who wouldn't buy another Garmin plotter after their previous G-chart experiences. But, that aside, your argument that BlueCharts are cheaper isn't very convincing when you bear in mind that the Garmin 3005C is about £300 more than the Lowrance 3500C!

If you're prepared to buy a 3005C, why not spend a bit more and get a Raymarine C70? It has a 6.5" screen (70% bigger than the Garmin), it has the same ability to add a depth/fishfinder module, and it has the ability to add a radome and give you radar too (with radar/chart overlay and MARPA). You don't buy a plotter every year, so why not invest in one you'll be happy with for 5 or 10 years?

 

[muckypup]

Re: Or something completely different?

[ QUOTE ]
Your argument that BlueCharts are cheaper isn't very convincing when you bear in mind that the Garmin 3005C is about £300 more than the Lowrance 3500C!

[/ QUOTE ]

How convincing would the argument be if I said I found a local chandler advertising them for only £100 more than the 3500c, and that the bluechart maps for this region were £70 less which makes the deal only £30 more /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

It may be a misprint though, but I'm going to the chandlers tomorrow to find out!

Steve

 

[pvb]

Land & Water??

Now that's more convincing! If you can get a 3005C for £460 (rather than the £670 most people ask), it does change the argument. Also makes you start to wonder just how much margin there is in this stuff.

But do make sure before you buy that a 5" screen is going to be OK for your intended mounting position, presumably at the helm. With plotters, bigger does tend to be better. I used to have a Navman 5600 (6.4" screen) and I've now upgraded to a Raymarine C120 (12" screen), cockpit-mounted under the sprayhood, and it's much easier to use.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: Or something completely different?

I just bought the 3500c at libs, missed out on the 'free' charts but £50 for the coverage you get is great value. We compared the detail of an area known to us, the new Lowrance chart against Navionics, the only difference we could see was that the pontoons are missing from the marina, I can live with that!

We also checked the Raymarine 435, which whilst larger, in practice was no better than the 3500C, also the refresh on the 435 was slooooooow.

FWIW, the Brixham based dealer who sold the unit to me on the Lowrance stand, assured me that the tidal problem is being delt with, in fact he promised a refund if it didnt happen. At £430 incl charts from th eArctic circle to Gib, it has to be the one.

 

[duncan]

Re: Or something completely different?

missing pontoons - you was robbed!

mine, in a little backwater in Poole Harbour, show up fine and I cross referenced some detail contours in areas I fish and found them to be as detailed as anything I have found charted.

Produced for Lowrance by Transas so I am sure that someone will know the underlying chart data source they use?

really good news of course is that the plotters use either standard Navionics or these - must be good news

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: Or something completely different?

[ QUOTE ]
really good news of course is that the plotters use either standard Navionics or these - must be good news

[/ QUOTE ]

As opposed to Garmin charts!

Can you have a look at Northney marina, the chart I looked at had no pontoons, I know they are there, my boat is tied to one! I was going to put in a waypoint so that I could use the Autopilot into the berth, thats OK isnt it? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[duncan]

Re: Or something completely different?

[ QUOTE ]
I was going to put in a waypoint so that I could use the Autopilot into the berth, thats OK isnt it?

[/ QUOTE ]

don't see why not it's your boat and your berth.

I have to admit that I have had to berth using my plotter on more than one occassion - there used to be no lights at all in the area around the pontoons and with glass etc on a really wild night 'we should be coming alongside........now.......was the default! Differential plotters rule!
When my chart arrives I will stick it in my other Lowrance plotter already in the boat and have a look; then compare it to the Nav XL chart I have as well just for good measure.
Remind me in acouple of weeks if I haven't come back to you by then!

 

[muckypup]

Re: Land & Water??

In the end I bought the lowrance 3500c as a forum member offered a Navionics XL3 charts for £80 (rather than the £199 for new ones).

Marine Scene are still offering the 3005c for £459 which is £150-200 cheaper than anywhere else!

Steve

 

[duncan]

Re: Or something completely different?

I have put the Navionics chart into the 3500c and all the pontoons in Northney are clearly shown (on 0.2m range setting you should be able to navigate in quite easily!)

Still waiting for the Lowrance Nautipath chart to appear in the post from Silva following the show - will check it when I do get it.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: Or something completely different?

Yeh, I'm still waiting for my chartware, the Navoinics showed Northney ok it was the Lowrance product that missed it out, no big deal though.