Garmin chartplotters

[PaulRainbow]

Nothing intuitive about my Echomap 95 menu, drives me nuts.

"Intuitive" seems to be a personal thing. I find the Garmin menus very intuitive, everything is just where i expect it to be, Raymarine menus, i find that few things are where i expect them to be.

Is it intuitive, or not, or is it what you're more familiar with? I don't know.

 

[sgr143]

If you have an autopilot you can integrate that too, although you cannot engage/disengage it from the plotter, it will steer to wind or a waypoint. If it's an ST1 autopilot it connects via ST1 and the converter, if it's STNG it connects to the converter directly, if it's N2|K it connects to the converter with an adapter cable, if it's NMEA 0183 it connects directly to the plotters NMEA 0183 out port.

Thanks for all the info in your post, Paul - very helpful. I've got an ST1000 tiller-pilot, just running standalone on the occasions when I've used it. I haven't yet run the data cable to its deck plug, though it's "on the list". I dare say to engage / disengage, a simple switch in that connection would be effective?

 

[Dysan]

I’ve been down this road recently and ended up with a 722 xs because I took great lengths of time to find the differences which I don’t think are published that well. It’s been a few months since so bear with me.

The Echomap does come with the maps, will do sonar but won’t do radar and I didn’t think would do AIS either (but I’ll stand corrected on that).

The 722 (no letters) doesn’t come with maps, can’t do sonar with out a hideously expensive extra box but will do radar and AIS and will do ActiveCaptain.
The 722 xs doesn’t come with maps, will do sonar without the expensive box, will do radar and AIS and ActiveCaptain.
Both will support NMEA 0183 and 2000.

Personally I didn’t want to cut a dirty great hole for the unit in the boat or have a pedestal for it to live in, so I saw the need for the ActiveCaptain with its mirroring/control of the units functions for both on deck and quick nap/food prep important. I didn’t know whether I’d fit sonar so opted for the model that could do it with a small increase in price, rather than the big increase to buy the box. I thought I may want radar at some point.

I suspect from a navigation perspective there may be other differences, but I haven’t been able to play with an Echomap to see what they are.

 

[Dysan]

Thanks for all the info in your post, Paul - very helpful. I've got an ST1000 tiller-pilot, just running standalone on the occasions when I've used it. I haven't yet run the data cable to its deck plug, though it's "on the list". I dare say to engage / disengage, a simple switch in that connection would be effective?

The ST1000 can‘t do waypoints from the NMEA

 

[pvb]

The ST1000 can‘t do waypoints from the NMEA

No, but it can accept XTE data.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I’ve been down this road recently and ended up with a 722 xs because I took great lengths of time to find the differences which I don’t think are published that well. It’s been a few months since so bear with me.

The Echomap does come with the maps, will do sonar but won’t do radar and I didn’t think would do AIS either (but I’ll stand corrected on that).

All current Garmin MFDs will display AIS

The 722 (no letters) doesn’t come with maps, can’t do sonar with out a hideously expensive extra box but will do radar and AIS and will do ActiveCaptain.
The 722 xs doesn’t come with maps, will do sonar without the expensive box, will do radar and AIS and ActiveCaptain.
Both will support NMEA 0183 and 2000.

Yes, all correct. I can't see why anyone would buy a 722 and a black box, rather than a 722xs

Personally I didn’t want to cut a dirty great hole for the unit in the boat or have a pedestal for it to live in, so I saw the need for the ActiveCaptain with its mirroring/control of the units functions for both on deck and quick nap/food prep important. I didn’t know whether I’d fit sonar so opted for the model that could do it with a small increase in price, rather than the big increase to buy the box. I thought I may want radar at some point.

Possibly wanting radar at some point makes a GPSMap the correct choice, all other things aside.

I suspect from a navigation perspective there may be other differences, but I haven’t been able to play with an Echomap to see what they are.

I'm not aware of any differences in normal navigation, they use the same charts etc.

 

[Dysan]

All current Garmin MFDs will display AIS



Yes, all correct. I can't see why anyone would buy a 722 and a black box, rather than a 722xs



Possibly wanting radar at some point makes a GPSMap the correct choice, all other things aside.



I'm not aware of any differences in normal navigation, they use the same charts etc.

Probably the best bit of advice i can give, we all expect/want different things from our sailing or boating so no product is likely to suit all. Have a really good think about what you want from a device now and potentially over the next 5 years, then do your homework to marry the two as best you can. The devil is very much in the detail with these things and don’t necessarily expect the dealers to have in depth knowledge either, none of them I approached did.

 

[LiftyK]

My impression is that GPSmap are for leisure boating and Echomap are aimed at anglers. I’ve owned several GPSmap plotters over very many years. I’m always delighted with Garmin kit, including my wrist-worn activity tracker.

PROS
Intuitive and always a pleasure to use
Give you everything you need
Reliable
Incredibly easy to define routes on your tablet then squirt them into your plotter via Wi-fi without fuss or resorting to a manual
Also very easy to define waypoints and routes directly on the plotter as you are going along

CONS
Map updates are 50% of new price so I don’t update maps . I’m sure Garmin would make more profit if they changed this to 20% and got everyone updating

 

[eddystone]

I can only speak about my GPS Map 750 but the routeing function is nowhere near as good as the Navionics app; I would never consider Garmin again because I hate the appearance of the charts although they are built in saving a lot of money.

 

[Westymarlow]

Am I right in thinking that it does NOT have GPS?
Edit Ah! This site Galaxy Tab Active 3 Tablet | View Specs | Samsung UK
Says

• Location Technology GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo

interesting..... certainly is a more cost effective solution. So if this tablet has GPS does that mean you can use it as a GPS chartplotter if you download and subscribe to an app on it like navionics ? I assume you’d need to install 4G wifi router on boat or a 4G SIM card into the tablet right ? Is that it or am I missing something ?

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

That's interesting! You don't happen to know which particular models do that?

That's the sort of location I was thinking of. It looks like the Echomap is more easily dismountable for safe-keeping when the boat is left unattended. Though I guess one could construct a permanent housing.

What I have bought is a Digital Yacht AIT2000;
Digital Yacht AIT2000 Class B Transponder (AIT2000)
They sell a range of models with lower spec than this one. It's a while since I did my research, but I think the AIT1500 might also suit . Have a look at the range on the Cactus website.
AS for a place to fix it , I had considered having it in the fascia of a hatch garage, but I would have to build one, because my boat, a Dufour 30 Classic was designed without one. Alternatively, I could just possibly fit it onto the companionway hatch as there is about six inches to spare when the hatch is fully open, allowing me to have the plotter just about within reach of the helm with the hatch fully closed, (risking a sore head for anyone venturing up the steps without looking upwards first ).

 

[PaulRainbow]

What I have bought is a Digital Yacht AIT2000;
Digital Yacht AIT2000 Class B Transponder (AIT2000)
They sell a range of models with lower spec than this one. It's a while since I did my research, but I think the AIT1500 might also suit . Have a look at the range on the Cactus website.
AS for a place to fix it , I had considered having it in the fascia of a hatch garage, but I would have to build one, because my boat, a Dufour 30 Classic was designed without one. Alternatively, I could just possibly fit it onto the companionway hatch as there is about six inches to spare when the hatch is fully open, allowing me to have the plotter just about within reach of the helm with the hatch fully closed, (risking a sore head for anyone venturing up the steps without looking upwards first ).

No mention of it multiplexing ST1 though ?

 

[salar]

Just adding my Garmin experience here - I am a huge Garmin fan and when I did a major refit in 2013 I installed an all-Garmin network of MFD Plotter (GPSMap4008 - from a previous boat), black box fishfinder, AIS transponder, radar, WiFi box and VHF. I since added two more Garmin fishfinders (because I'm an angler!) I also used Navionics on an iPad mainly because I can create my own fishing charts with it. Last autumn I replaced the GPS Map4008 with the GPSMap922+ which also meant I could dispense with the WiFi box and the fishfinder black box because those are built in to the 922+. I could also stop using the Navionics app because Garmin uses Navionics charts, and now has its own fishing chart creation feature. However I have kept the iPad because the Garmin Active Captain app is brilliant. This is a free app that turns your iPad into a duplicate interactive screen, so you can "drive" the plotter (in the wheelhouse) from the iPad (in the cockpit) or vice versa. You can also take you plotter home on your iPad for passage planning etc. I added a weatherproof case to the iPad and I'm delighted with it. I'm looking forward to using it more extensively after 29th March!

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

No mention of it multiplexing ST1 though ?

No, I had misrembered the details when I posted that post. My plan is to use an E22158 and an A06045 to get the data from the Tridata onto the backbone. The AIS will multiplex the NMEA0183 data between the VHF and wind and the plotter

 

[PaulRainbow]

No, I had misrembered the details when I posted that post. My plan is to use an E22158 and an A06045 to get the data from the Tridata onto the backbone. The AIS will multiplex the NMEA0183 data between the VHF and wind and the plotter

Sounds like a plan. I'd suggest a look at some of the Emtrak AIS units too. There are some nice models that have built in splitters and or wifi and they'll also mulitplex your 0183/N2K.

 

[Daydream believer]

I now have a Garmin echomap 95SV which i am pleased with & this is hooked up to aan AIS transponder. the display is excellent
I sail single handed & need the plotter near to my tiller, Along with autopilot controller, so I can adjust as I helm the boat. For that reason it would be no good on the bulkhead where I could neither see nor reach it. If there was a crew they would be sitting in front of it & possibly accidentally pushing buttons.
the picture is of my old Lorenze plotter (which was useless & I hardly used it.)
For general navigation planning I have a Yeoman hooked to a GPS down below.
My current plotter is on a mount that enables me to easily detach it in port & over the winter. In wet weather i have made a polycarbonate hood to drop over the top
If the Op has a 28 ft boat he may find the position I have adopted immediately behind the tiller useful as it does not get in the way of any lines, is easy to adjust & see etc The base is made to swivel for either tack.
I bought mine from Maintsprite in Maldon. It was not the cheapest deal but in the end worth it as I had a problem with the wiring & when their man was in Bradwell he stopped by my boat & sorted it for me.I have always found them excellent for backup with electronics
The active captain programe does not work with a computer & older Ipads & frankly is poor I have never managed to download the update chart which one should be able to obtain within the 1 year of purchase. Very user unfriendly