Lowrance 3500C and Nautic Path charts

[MarkRick]

I'm looking to fit a budget chartplotter and am considering the Lowrance 3500C with bundled Nautic Path charts. Any advice on quality of unit and charting? Or are there other alternatives (eg Simrad CP31) that I should look at? Does anyone know if the latest Nautic Path software (v1.7.0 I think) has overcome earlier problems? And what is the guarantee on the unit - some websites show 1 year, others 2 - though I believe all importsl come from Silva?

 

[steverow]

Talk to Nigel.."small_boat_champ" on these forums. He is an expert on the 3500C.
I think he's out in the solent somewhere at the mo'.

Steve.

 

[Guest]

I am certainly not an expert on this machine - I'm still getting to grips with all it can do.

I looked at so many budget plotters colour and B&W ... that my head span. I also priced up sets - that is Plotter + Chart cards and it got worse.
The 3500C came along and bingo - all in one deal and price was very attractive. I bought and I am very happy with it.

In use on board in Solent ....

Initially I was sleptical of the chart card nbeing such a large area - but I have been pleasantly surprised by the detail and its showing of tidal current etc.

The resolution and colour of display is high quality. Price for price - I think it will be hard to beat.

Word of advise - a lot of people have trouble getting the antennae to work - you have to supply 12v to the NMEA 2000 network lead from the antennae as well as the Plotter - then all is fine. Like others - I didn't read the Red sheet added into the manual and box !! Read the installation notes and extra red page and all works beaut.

 

[Sui Generis]

100% agree

edit - only slight concern with the charts is that the rocks in the intertidal zone in places like N Brittany are not as obvious as they might be. Until I try it there I will not know. Here in Cornwall absolutely fine. The plotter is great.

 

[Bavarian]

I have purchased the 3600C which is available for the same price but has an internal ariel therefore making it easier to fit with less wires. I have the plotter but no boat yet (due Hamble on Thursday)! However having fitted a cigar lighter adapter to the power lead I have tried the unit in the car where it picks up a signal no problem within a minute of powering up. I intend to fit the plotter near the wheel where there should be minimal obstruction to the signal.

I have the charts package as well but this remains untested. However I do know the coarse to steer from home to my nearest Tesco store and the average SOG for my latest visit!

 

[Victorious]

My Garmin gps runs on a wide voltage range so my 24v system is no problem.
Does this apply to the lowrance 3600 ?

 

[Bavarian]

The operating instructions for the 3600C state that:

"The unit works form a 12-volt battery system."

So connecting to 24V is probably ill advised!!

 

[Cass_IoW]

Nauticpath Northern Europe

I have just bought a second hand Global Map 3500 with Nauticpath card All works excellently except it crash's occasionally when zooming in. Has anyone else come across this? also I have a red line from my current position to somewhere on the horizon What is it?
Ive deleted all of the routes and trails but cant seem to get rid of this line.
Has anyone got any instructions for the Nauticpath cartography? Im thinking of upgrading to navionics at some time in the future.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I had a 3500C and a later 5200C, both excellent budget units, I only changed to a larger Garmin to have AIS and radar, but I would say that the Lowrance product is as good as any. Would I buy again? Yes.

 

[Richard10002]

I used the Lowrance 3500C from Glasson Dock to Malta, and found it fine. Coverage in UK waters is better than The Med. but, for the money, it's the dogs danglies.