Garmin 551s or garmin 3005c chart plotter. Which is best

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bremar

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Hi,
I'm not that familiar with these pieces of equipment. I currently use an iPad with Navitronics on it but I have been offered a choice of one of these at roughly the same price £175. The 3005c tho needs an external gps (about£59). Which is the oldest?? Also I did a bit of research and the 3005c doesn't take the newer? Garmin blue chart hd vision? In fact can't see how to load maps except by direct download though it has an sad slot in the front unit. Does anyone have any thoughts on these 2. The 3005 looks newer and better specs but I just can't get to find much info on whether it's better or not than the 551s.
Thank you
Bremar.
 
bremar said:
Hi,
I'm not that familiar with these pieces of equipment. I currently use an iPad with Navitronics on it but I have been offered a choice of one of these at roughly the same price £175. The 3005c tho needs an external gps (about£59). Which is the oldest?? Also I did a bit of research and the 3005c doesn't take the newer? Garmin blue chart hd vision? In fact can't see how to load maps except by direct download though it has an sad slot in the front unit. Does anyone have any thoughts on these 2. The 3005 looks newer and better specs but I just can't get to find much info on whether it's better or not than the 551s.
Thank you
Bremar.
Click to expand...

The 3005 is scrap, uses proprietary chart cards which aren't made anymore, you can't get the charts anymore and is basically obsolete.
 
I had a brand new 3005C panel mounted in the cockpit, which after about 3 years failed due to water ingress (supposedly waterproof). Paid £200 for a Garmin factory exchange - same thing happened another 2 years or so on. By then Garmin would not repair - "too old model". Nice sharp screen , but barely visible in sunlight, and I doubt you'd now get an updated chart.

Changed to a SH CP-180 which was half the price, didn't LOOK as well made, but survived rain/spray fine for several years. Last year replaced with a bigger 7" B&G which is not bad so far.
 
I had a 551, which worked fine, but compared with the modern family of plotters is very slow to respond when scrolling and updating the screen. £175 is a bit rich IMHO for a 551s. They were about £370 new, and went end of sale about 5 years ago... They do have a built in G2 chart rather than G2 Vision, which in my extensive Garmin experience is more than adequate. £50 for a UK/Ireland chart update as opposed to north of £200 for a G2 Vision new purchase...
 
I have a 2010, even older than your 3005. The cards and discs come up occasionally on Ebay but I suspect it is impossible to find an updated version of the charts. Not a problem in Greece where no changes ever seem to occur but clearly would be elsewhere. A great shame as the plotter is superb, intuitive and simple to operate, quite a contrast with the latest version as tested by YM, which they found less than user-friendly.
 
I have a GPSMap 551s which came with built in U.K and Ireland charts. I think all units purchased in this country will include the same but I have not investigated how to update them yet. Can confirm Gladys statement that they are slow to scroll in/ out or to move the cursor. They have smallish screens and pixel count so can be difficult to see all the information on the screen but it remains clear in bright sunlight. I note the 3005c has a higher pixel count so might be better in that regard.
Does the £175 include mounting brackets and a power/ data cable? I bought mine s/h (minus bracket/ cables) for £125 about a year ago from the For Sale section.
 
CrikeyChris said:
I have a GPSMap 551s which came with built in U.K and Ireland charts. I think all units purchased in this country will include the same but I have not investigated how to update them yet. Can confirm Gladys statement that they are slow to scroll in/ out or to move the cursor. They have smallish screens and pixel count so can be difficult to see all the information on the screen but it remains clear in bright sunlight. I note the 3005c has a higher pixel count so might be better in that regard.
Does the £175 include mounting brackets and a power/ data cable? I bought mine s/h (minus bracket/ cables) for £125 about a year ago from the For Sale section.
Click to expand...

To update Garmin built in charts, you need to put a big enough SD card in the plotter, and let it become "plotterized" - this means it gets files off the plotter that confirms your license entitlement. You can subsequently use that card to do software updates too. You then go through the menu (if I recall correctly) and get to Data Management, and copy the inbuilt chart to the card... Take the card home, and put in your PC slot, and then go to the Garmin Website (UK) , go to Maps, Select Marine and then "update a preloaded fixed mount Chart Plotter"... You buy the update, and download it to your PC. You then run the executable that downloads, which will copy the files to your SD card. Take the card back to the plotter, turn plotter on, insert card and it will automatically offer to update the built in chart...

Pretty similar process for SW updates
 
£175 is a good price for a new plotter, but the two offered aren't really worth considering. For £249 you can get a Raymarine Dragonfly 5m with 5 times the screen definition. It comes with Navionics Silver charts, which are rather basic, but can take Navionics or CMap cartridges.
 
I also have a 551s and agree with Gladys and CrikeyChris regarding slow scrolling. With what's available re. wifi, PCs, tablets and smartphones I wouldn't bother with a fixed plotter again. Mine had to go back to Garmin for 6 weeks in 2015, under warranty and whilst I was cruising, and I missed it not one jot.
 
Quiddle said:
I also have a 551s and agree with Gladys and CrikeyChris regarding slow scrolling. With what's available re. wifi, PCs, tablets and smartphones I wouldn't bother with a fixed plotter again. Mine had to go back to Garmin for 6 weeks in 2015, under warranty and whilst I was cruising, and I missed it not one jot.
Click to expand...

I'd miss mine...
 
Gladys said:
To update Garmin built in charts, you need to put a big enough SD card in the plotter, and let it become "plotterized" - this means it gets files off the plotter that confirms your license entitlement. You can subsequently use that card to do software updates too. You then go through the menu (if I recall correctly) and get to Data Management, and copy the inbuilt chart to the card... Take the card home, and put in your PC slot, and then go to the Garmin Website (UK) , go to Maps, Select Marine and then "update a preloaded fixed mount Chart Plotter"... You buy the update, and download it to your PC. You then run the executable that downloads, which will copy the files to your SD card. Take the card back to the plotter, turn plotter on, insert card and it will automatically offer to update the built in chart...

Pretty similar process for SW updates
Click to expand...

Can't speak for the two plotters being considered but the 2012 does not have an SD slot, it takes the Garmin version. Support for this plotter ceased some years ago although it is still excellent.
 
Thank you everyone. This has been very helpful. Still on offer to me and now a little cheaper.
Couple more questions please.
1. Do you think the 3005c will be faster because of the external antenna and do the cheap ones on eBay fit.
2. Can you or can't you actually get up to date maps for the 3005c. If not I suppose that's the deal maker.
3. I guess the 3005c is older than the 551s but are the graphics the same?

Still thinking about these as I know they should be ok from this person.

Thanks.
Bremar.
 
PaulRainbow said:
The 3005 is scrap, uses proprietary chart cards which aren't made anymore, you can't get the charts anymore and is basically obsolete.
Click to expand...

vyv_cox said:
I have a 2010, even older than your 3005. The cards and discs come up occasionally on Ebay but I suspect it is impossible to find an updated version of the charts.
Click to expand...

pvb said:
£175 is a good price for a new plotter, but the two offered aren't really worth considering. For £249 you can get a Raymarine Dragonfly 5m with 5 times the screen definition. It comes with Navionics Silver charts, which are rather basic, but can take Navionics or CMap cartridges.
Click to expand...

vyv_cox said:
Can't speak for the two plotters being considered but the 2012 does not have an SD slot, it takes the Garmin version. Support for this plotter ceased some years ago although it is still excellent.
Click to expand...

bremar said:
Still thinking about these as I know they should be ok from this person.

Bremar.
Click to expand...

Seriously ? :ambivalence:
 
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bremar said:
1. Do you think the 3005c will be faster because of the external antenna and do the cheap ones on eBay fit.
Click to expand...

Quite likely a cheap "antenna" will work (whether you need an actual antenna or an entire GPS receiver with built-in antenna depends on the plotter, which I'm not familiar with, but both kinds are available). But this will have no bearing whatsoever on the speed of the plotter interface.

I suspect if you fitted either of these old plotters you'd find it a disappointment after your iPad.

Pete
 
I've gone through a 3006 (identical to the 05 just an inch larger) and a 520 and a 545, so my views:
bremar said:
Thank you everyone. This has been very helpful. Still on offer to me and now a little cheaper.
Couple more questions please.
1. Do you think the 3005c will be faster because of the external antenna and do the cheap ones on eBay fit.
Click to expand...
Cheap one should fit, it's just a rj-whatever cable (sorry don't remember) with a bayonet fitting. As someone mentioned, external antenna has nothing to do with refresh speed on screen. I find both slow (currently running a 4008 (faster than the 5**) and a 751 (MUCH faster!).
bremar said:
2. Can you or can't you actually get up to date maps for the 3005c. If not I suppose that's the deal maker.
Click to expand...
AFAIK you CANNOT, probably end beginning of naughties. However, with an awful lot of hassle and the right usb reader you can get a recent bluechart to fit on a large propitiatory card. I've done it, but although I kept the instructions I wont attempt it again EVER!
bremar said:
3. I guess the 3005c is older than the 551s but are the graphics the same?
Click to expand...
The graphics on the 3005 would be slower than on the 551 (or any 5** for that reason)

cheers

V.
 
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You will definitely not be able to update the 3005C if it does not have a DSC slot, the old Blucharts were discontinued by Garmin some several years ago now. This prompted me to change from a 2010C to a 5012, but I would agree with Vyv that this is not as good in many ways as the 2010.
 
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