Garmin garbage

[keskus100]

I have had a garmin sv75uhd, and it was good for Lake Ontario.
Now sailing down to the Bahamas...I have found Garmin to just be garbage!
Ex. 1) With garmin assistance, i was advised to buy "US coastal Canada" and "US east" charts. The second is part of the first, and therefore a total waste of money. Good f'n luck geting my money back!
2) countless downloads of maps to my phone, so much time wasted because they just don't seem to load correctly. I was on the phone repeatedly and for a total of about 3 hours! Finally got enuf maps to get to Florida., with some gaps! An that was WITH garmin support!
3) Garmin stopped supporting the unit recently. So now no help!
4) I am in the Bahamas now. And although i was told on the phone that all of the Bahamas was included in the maps i bought, I just found out that everything south of Georgetown is NOT included. So they expect me to spend hundreds more on their garbage?!
My point--- never, ever EVER, purchase or recommend a Garmin product! Just a word to the wise from a guy that got burnt!

 

[Refueler]

Surely you went online and checked the area coverage of each chart set ? Each chart set is clearly shown graphically online. Even ebay sellers of outdated Chart sets give you full graphic view of coverage ...

Second - if you are willing to accept 'last years' chart set - you can buy for a fraction of the price chart set that cannot be updated - but like my Baltic set was updated to end of year before coming out of subscription. Price ? 50 euros instead of 300 !!

I am no fan of Garmin - believe me - but I cannot help but think maybe you jumped in a bit too quick and should have done a little more yourself in research online ??

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have had a garmin sv75uhd, and it was good for Lake Ontario.
Now sailing down to the Bahamas...I have found Garmin to just be garbage!
Ex. 1) With garmin assistance, i was advised to buy "US coastal Canada" and "US east" charts. The second is part of the first, and therefore a total waste of money. Good f'n luck geting my money back!
2) countless downloads of maps to my phone, so much time wasted because they just don't seem to load correctly. I was on the phone repeatedly and for a total of about 3 hours! Finally got enuf maps to get to Florida., with some gaps! An that was WITH garmin support!
3) Garmin stopped supporting the unit recently. So now no help!
4) I am in the Bahamas now. And although i was told on the phone that all of the Bahamas was included in the maps i bought, I just found out that everything south of Georgetown is NOT included. So they expect me to spend hundreds more on their garbage?!
My point--- never, ever EVER, purchase or recommend a Garmin product! Just a word to the wise from a guy that got burnt!

Yet, millions of people are happily using Garmin all around the World !

As post #2, why did you not look online and see what you needed, then order those. As for point 2), how is Garmin responsible for your phone connection ?

 

[PeteCooper]

Your point 3 is irrelevant - all manufacturers have cut off points after which they don't support a particular piece of kit. If they didn't they would be supporting every device they have ever made which would be massively impractical.

 

[dunedin]

………Just a word to the wise from a guy that got burnt!

Any wise mariner thinks and plans ahead - and doesn’t over estimate their knowledge.

You refer to a type of plotter hardware - but not the type of charts you were using. Was it Navionics? But the problems you encountered are common to any leisure chart, and relate perhaps to your lack of experience rather than an issue with the chart supplier?

Firstly, any wise mariner checks carefully the coverage of the charts they need for the voyage, including places they might divert to through exploring or in an emergency. As noted above, this is easily done with any online chart selector.

Secondly, the wise mariner knows that there can be issues with technology, including with chart cards and downloads. Therefore after installing the chart they look at various key locations - including their intended destinations - to check that the chart is working. This tests for user and technical errors in the download / purchase process.

Thirdly, no wise mariner goes into unfamiliar waters, certainly not across an ocean, without at least one - preferably two - forms of backup navigation systems. This applies to charts, the ability to display them and plot positions.
- Did you have paper charts on board as backup (and practiced ability to use them)?
- Did you have one or more backup device with charts installed (and tested the coverage of the intended route as 2 above) - perhaps on a tablet computer with second set of installed charts and backup battery?

It sounds like you are perhaps less experienced than you think you are, but getting more experienced now - like the rest of us, this is a mix of reading/listening/learning and making mistakes and learning from them.
But a sense of humility, modesty and openness to learn is essential before the sea teaches harder lessons. Enjoy your voyages.

 

[PaulRainbow]

4) I am in the Bahamas now. And although i was told on the phone that all of the Bahamas was included in the maps i bought, I just found out that everything south of Georgetown is NOT included.

So, you sailed from Canada to the Bahamas without ever checking to see if your charts covered the area ?

 

[garymalmgren]

Not much sympathy here.

RE: My point--- never, ever EVER, purchase or recommend a Garmin product! Just a word to the wise from a guy that got burnt!

That should be "never, ever EVER, purchase or recommend any product unless you do due diligence!"

 

[PeterV]

I bought a Garmin, it was very good value because the price included full chart coverage of all the areas I’m likely to sail in.

 

[Refueler]

I do not like Garmins update system on the UHD plotter .... Active Captain seems such a strange way to work ... but I assume that over time I will get used to it.

But with regard to charts - Navionics are based on same foundation as all other commercial Vector charts ... I agree that some level detail is removed - but that's because of the market targetted ....

I have full Commercial Shipping Charting based on my work ... and TBH - I rarely use it as Navionics gives me more than enough ...

 

[Sandy]

Hello and Welcome

A fascinating first post especially as this is a UK based forum. Very few of us will have experience of the waters you sail in, but will have experienced Gamin support in the UK and Europe. Which in my experience has been outstanding, even the salespeople knew what they were talking about. My chart plotter is quite ancient and over the last few years have added both NMEA 2000 instrumentation and a modern radar - true plug and play.

If you take some time to look at through the forum at the Raymarine issues people have that might be eye opening, but some of us still use paper charts and sextants for fun.

 

[keskus100]

If people read my post, and still want to buy Garmin, go ahead! It was just a heads up for those that read forums before they purchase.
I simply wrote a factual account of my experience, and I'm not sure how some go off on tangents.
I did bring backup electronic and paper charts, and my phone 'connection' has nothing to do with this. I can also pull numbers out of the sky and say "and yet there are millions of UNsatisfied users all over the world".
I thank everyone for their response. And for those thinking of buying Garmin, just look around at the other options.

 

[Refueler]

If people read my post, and still want to buy Garmin, go ahead! It was just a heads up for those that read forums before they purchase.
I simply wrote a factual account of my experience, and I'm not sure how some go off on tangents.
I did bring backup electronic and paper charts, and my phone 'connection' has nothing to do with this. I can also pull numbers out of the sky and say "and yet there are millions of UNsatisfied users all over the world".
I thank everyone for their response. And for those thinking of buying Garmin, just look around at the other options.

Fine ... that is your decision to ignore and not believe ...

It would appear that whoever you spoke to in 'Garmin' was in error and gave you bad guidance.

Second that it would appear that you may have failed to conduct Due Diligence in checking out Chart coverage yourself before believing the poor advice of whoever you spoke to.

I have no love of Garmin, even less for Raymarine ... but in all fairness - your plight appears to have been mainly self inflicted.

 

[lustyd]

"U.S. & Coastal Canada - Lakes, Rivers and Coastal Marine Charts" does include the Bahamas but not the Caribbean.

"U.S. East - Lakes, Rivers and Coastal Marine Charts" does not include Bahamas.

You almost certainly have either the wrong card inserted, or the wrong chart selected. That's not a Garmin issue.

 

[Beneteau381]

Yet, millions of people are happily using Garmin all around the World !

As post #2, why did you not look online and see what you needed, then order those. As for point 2), how is Garmin responsible for your phone connection ?

Did he download the relevant bits?
I know they used to send just a bit and then ask to download what you need in the relevant area you have bought?

 

[Alicatt]

I do not like Garmins update system on the UHD plotter .... Active Captain seems such a strange way to work ... but I assume that over time I will get used to it.

But with regard to charts - Navionics are based on same foundation as all other commercial Vector charts ... I agree that some level detail is removed - but that's because of the market targetted ....

I have full Commercial Shipping Charting based on my work ... and TBH - I rarely use it as Navionics gives me more than enough ...

I also have a Garmin UHD, it is a pain and cack-handed in the way it updates it's charts and software, my Ocean 37 came with a Simrad Go9 plotter, it can connect either by bluetooth or WiFi to your phone or a mobile hotspot to update software and charts, it connects to a WiFi hotspot or as in my case it connects to my 4g router and updates through that and you can share the plotter screen over the Wifi to the phone or tablet.
Being used to the way Garmin does things for many years, my first Garmin GPS was from the 1990s and used them on car, boat and motorbike, going to Garmin was a bit of a culture shock, the system is very user friendly it even has a web browser built in to it's system, the more I am digging into it the more I am liking it. At least you do not have to disconnect your phone from the www to connect to the plotter like what you have to do with Garmin/Active Captain

 

[Alicatt]

Hello and Welcome

A fascinating first post especially as this is a UK based forum. Very few of us will have experience of the waters you sail in, but will have experienced Gamin support in the UK and Europe. Which in my experience has been outstanding, even the salespeople knew what they were talking about. My chart plotter is quite ancient and over the last few years have added both NMEA 2000 instrumentation and a modern radar - true plug and play.

If you take some time to look at through the forum at the Raymarine issues people have that might be eye opening, but some of us still use paper charts and sextants for fun.

I must admit that the support from Garmin has been exemplar once I got through.

Then again I hate their web site and it's forced geolocation, if I wanted to go to the French language site I would have gone there, when what I wanted was the UK site, and guess what when I finally got through the the tech support guy he was a Belgian in the UK

Not had to use Simrad's support yet.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I must admit that the support from Garmin has been exemplar once I got through.

Then again I hate their web site and it's forced geolocation, if I wanted to go to the French language site I would have gone there, when what I wanted was the UK site, and guess what when I finally got through the the tech support guy he was a Belgian in the UK

Not had to use Simrad's support yet.

Think yourself lucky !

 

[Sandy]

Then again I hate their web site and it's forced geolocation, if I wanted to go to the French language site I would have gone there, when what I wanted was the UK site, and guess what when I finally got through the the tech support guy he was a Belgian in the UK

There website is a nightmare! Clearly created by a team from Alpha Centauri, obtuse reference to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy there.

 

[lustyd]

Then again I hate their web site and it's forced geolocation

It may not have a button to change location but you certainly can do so. Just use standard location codes in the address bar.
Garmin Instinct 3 – 45 mm, AMOLED
Garmin Instinct 3 – 45 mm, AMOLED
Garmin Instinct® 3 | AMOLED | Rugged GPS Smartwatch | 45mm

The reason they redirect by default is that Garmin sell regionally via distributors so you can’t order from overseas easily. The website is identical from what I can tell so aside from language and pricing there’s no reason to do so.