New electronics suite, what models to go for?

[ST840]

If I was to completely re fit my electronics suite with a Garmin package, which units should I go for ?? (It has to be Garmin)!
Id be after, new plotter/fishfinder combo, ais and Radar and vhf radio !!!
Thanks

 

[[2068]]

How much space on your dash and how many stations required might be a good starting point.

 

[ST840]

How much space on your dash and how many stations required might be a good starting point.

One helm station with room for a 10” plotter. Already have auto pilot unit fitted.

 

[[2068]]

Chart Plotter
I’d start by looking at their flagship model for the chartplotter, the 8410, which has the best display.
They are touch screen, no knobs or buttons, which some people are not so keen on, but I quite like.

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/blog/g...tters-with-new-sizes-built-in-sonar-and-more/
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/624885

GPS
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-01010-10

Heading Sensor
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-11417-20

Depth / Temp
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-01749-10

Sonar
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/133800
+ pick a tranducer set
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/cTransducers.html?productFilterTransducerCompatibility=gsd25

VHF/AIS - I'd prefer Raymarine Ray91 integrated. But if you must have Garmin ...
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/615464
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/623924

Radar
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/86236/pn/010-00960-00#

+ cables etc.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My boat (saily type) is all Garmin. Quality is good, interface excellent, 100% reliable, tech support from Garmin has been responsive but I hate the charts and there's nothing else (although very recently the Navionics ones claim to be compatible)... so if it HAS to be Garmin, I'd suggest you try before you buy. Mine is a 2017 GPSMap 820. 8" display, probably at the bottom end of size, I'd be happier with a 10" but it won't fit.

Wifi and connectivity features are useless.

Also, ref the touch screen vs knobs debate, my view on this is that used at a sheltered and stable / smooth helm the touchscreen should be fine but if it's going to get wet in use and / or you're going to be thrown around then go for the version with physical controls.

 

[Piers]

Why Garmin?

 

[ST840]

Why Garmin?

Because I can get decent reductions on price!

 

[Piers]

Because I can get decent reductions on price!

Can't argue with that....otherwise I'd have gone for Furuno.

 

[ST840]

Chart Plotter
I’d start by looking at their flagship model for the chartplotter, the 8410, which has the best display.
They are touch screen, no knobs or buttons, which some people are not so keen on, but I quite like.

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/blog/g...tters-with-new-sizes-built-in-sonar-and-more/
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/624885

GPS
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-01010-10

Heading Sensor
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-11417-20

Depth / Temp
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/pn/010-01749-10

Sonar
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/133800
+ pick a tranducer set
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/cTransducers.html?productFilterTransducerCompatibility=gsd25

VHF/AIS - I'd prefer Raymarine Ray91 integrated. But if you must have Garmin ...
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/615464
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/623924

Radar
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/86236/pn/010-00960-00#

+ cables etc.

Brilliant, thank you so much for the response.
What’s wrong with the Garmin maps ?

 

[Piers]

Brilliant, thank you so much for the response.
What’s wrong with the Garmin maps ?

No idea, but I prefer Admiralty Raster charts to Vector charts. I have both on Play d'eau, but only use the Admiralty Raster.

 

[Mr Googler]

Because I can get decent reductions on price!

How are you achieving that if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[ST840]

How are you achieving that if you don’t mind me asking?

A friend is an employee!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...What’s wrong with the Garmin maps ?

I posted a thread about this.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?503189

Summary is that the vector charting used results in either clutter (too much detail on screen) or if you reduce the detail / zoom, key features are then missed out (like the submarine barrier in my example).

Navionics on iPad doesn't seem to suffer the same issue, but until very recently there's no choice on the charts that work on Garmin.

Like Piers I prefer raster charts but not available for Garmin either.

 

[[2068]]

The latest Garmin g3 Vision Charts are using Navionics data as well.
It would be interesting to see what the submarine barrier looks like on one of them.
The ones I played around with at the Boat Show seemed to have plenty of detail.

 

[Piers]

The latest Garmin g3 Vision Charts are using Navionics data as well.
It would be interesting to see what the submarine barrier looks like on one of them.
The ones I played around with at the Boat Show seemed to have plenty of detail.

Data omission is key reason I won't use vector charts. At least I know that admiralty charts (raster) contain everything.

As a point of interest, Digimap has just completed a full survey of (the Baliwick of) Guernsey and its waters to an accuracy of a centimetre. Low tides and clear waters will show exactly where the rocks really are.

 

[jfm]

There was a recent thread about garmin now using navionics charts, having bought the company. I have just got the new garmin chart chip for the med. Didn't have time to try it this weekend but will do next weekend (to OP, my boat is all garmin and I love it).

 

[ST840]

There was a recent thread about garmin now using navionics charts, having bought the company. I have just got the new garmin chart chip for the med. Didn't have time to try it this weekend but will do next weekend (to OP, my boat is all garmin and I love it).

Thanks very much jfm !!

 

[jfm]

Reporting back- not good
I put the new £300 chart chip in and the charts look same as before (red hatching over areas where there should be detail) and nothing like navionics. I’m wondering whether the supplier has loaded the old garmin charts into the SD card not the new ones. I’m going to have to call them get it sorted out. I bought from Cactus who are normally good.

I have the CEO of garmin marine on board as a lunch/dinner guest next weekend (over from Kansas- he is friend of EME) so “escalating” this will be fairly easy!

 

[Greg2]

Because I can get decent reductions on price!

Well on the basis of that reporting that our full upgrade with Raymarine kit has been very good probably isnt helpful but might be of interest to other readers

We have gone with the Ray 90 modular VHF, Axiom Pro chartplotter, Quantum 2 doppler radar, I70S multi-funtion instrument and an all new autopilot system and I am delighted with it so far, albeit we have only done one coastal passage since installation.

We went for the Navionics Platinum Plus chart card and that combined with the Axion Pro (touchscreen and buttons) is an impressive package. It was a chunk of money that my man maths is still struggling with but I have to say that the enhancement in functionality has gone some way towards justifying it.

I am not too familiar with the latest generation of Garmin kit but I have used some of their relativley recent offerings and on a like for like cost basis I think I would stay with Raymarine but I guess I would be swayed by a notable cost saving

 

[Blue Sunray]

Reporting back- not good
I put the new £300 chart chip in and the charts look same as before (red hatching over areas where there should be detail) and nothing like navionics. I’m wondering whether the supplier has loaded the old garmin charts into the SD card not the new ones. I’m going to have to call them get it sorted out. I bought from Cactus who are normally good.

I have the CEO of garmin marine on board as a lunch/dinner guest next weekend (over from Kansas- he is friend of EME) so “escalating” this will be fairly easy!

I (and I'm sure others) look forward to the back brief following your dinner.