Which 12-inch Chartplotter?

jonnybuoy

jonnybuoy

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Am trying to decide which chartplotter for the new boat (Princess V42 -arrives end year).
Princess suggest the Raymarine E120W (the helm instruments supplied are Raymarine so makes sense). However having used Garmin before I have also looked at the GPSMap6012 which seems to be the nearest equivalent.

In case anyone on here has either of these plotters I'd be interested to hear your opinion and whether you'd buy the same again.

On a separate thread someone mentioned the Simrad NSE12 but at ~£3,500 but it's hard to see how it's justified versus the Raymarine ~£2,800 or the Garmin ~£2,200.

Thanks
Jon.
 
Garmin seems to be flavour of the month around here but your best bet is to have a play with both and see which user interface you prefer. I have used both and definitely prefer one over the other, but they both do the business.
 
Not exactly what you're asking, but i recently removed a Raymarine C90W and fitted a Garmin 4010. I had problems with Navionics cartography and found their service and support was appalling, three weeks to get the damn thing fixed. I'd never buy anything that relied on Navionics cartography again.

A few weeks later i started getting intermittent problems with the internal GPS antenna on the plotter and found Raymarine support was also not very good. They reported it was working OK on the desk in the office, so they were going to send it back, so i could "see how it went". Hmmm

The plotter wasn't bad when it was working, few things i didn't like, but the screen was very clear and bright and viewable over a decently wide angle. Easy enough to use too. I find the Garmin equally as clear and bright, viewable over a good angle, although a few degrees less than the Raymarine. On the one occasion i had to contact Garmin support i found them very helpful (radome came with a faulty cable, promptly sorted with no fuss). I find it very easy to use, never have to get the manual out. It has some nice features that the Raymarine didn't have and the AIS implementation is much better.

Cartography is very good, lots of detail and POI's. Integration with the Garmin radar obviously works flawlessly as does integration with a Garmin fishfinder, Standard Horizon VHF and Comar AIS.

If i was buying electronics tomorrow, it would be Garmin, without any question.
 
I have had a Standard Horizon CP500 for a good while now, its fantastic IMO.

C-Map charts are good, great zoom, good service from SH, long warranty. I have had to use SH support before and it was very good so I stuck with them when I upgraded from the 10".

They are probably all great in this size!

cheers

D
 
jonnybuoy said:
Am trying to decide which chartplotter for the new boat (Princess V42 -arrives end year).
Princess suggest the Raymarine E120W (the helm instruments supplied are Raymarine so makes sense). However having used Garmin before I have also looked at the GPSMap6012 which seems to be the nearest equivalent.

In case anyone on here has either of these plotters I'd be interested to hear your opinion and whether you'd buy the same again.

On a separate thread someone mentioned the Simrad NSE12 but at ~£3,500 but it's hard to see how it's justified versus the Raymarine ~£2,800 or the Garmin ~£2,200.

Thanks
Jon.
Click to expand...
Do they have to fit Raymarine?
Only had a little play but that touch screen Garmin was a toy and a half!
 
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I've used the e140W x 3 which is basically same as e120w and it's a pretty good plotter. If starting fresh I'd suggest Garmin over Raymarine but as you have a raymarine system already the e120w surely makes sense and the differnece between them isn't huge. The touch screen function on raymarine works generally well and the screen brightness is good. It does have software glitches now and again which is a shame (see other threads)

If you get Raym and want the special video cable to upgrade from 2x cameras-in to 4, and to allow video out to your tv, let me know. I have two official raym unused ones left over (if i can rem where I put them...)

If you have st70 for the small raym instruments they function well but screen is disappointingly not bright enough on sunny days

If you were going garmin the one to get is 7012 surely?
 
Thanks.

PaulGooch - interesting your comment about AIS integration as I will defo be adding that (we use AIS at work for tracking oil ships around the world, it's great technology- at pleasure boating level if only for the added interest of identifying boats in the area and where they are going).

Neale makes the valid point of having a go with them - outside of boat shows does anyone have any idea where you can see them in action? (anywhere from London to Southampton). I couldn't get to SIBS and EXcel will be too late.

Jfm: thanks for the offer on the cable have PMd you
 
Another vote for Garmin - Just had a 4012 (12" plotter) and 4008 fitted upstairs. When comparing Raymarine (which is what was replaced) the Garmin kit was faster, clearer and IMO easier to use. Cheaper too in my case. Again, only in my experience, but the support from Garmin is excellent compared to what I got from Raym.
 
Raggie here. I had Raymarine kit fitted from new four years ago, with a C80 chartplotter down at the charttable. Last year I had a Garmin 7012 fitted at the wheel, taking its feed from the Raymarine. No question which plotter is better - the Garmin is SO much easier to manipulate, better cartography etc. The refresh rate is also vastly better than a year ago. Al in all, a very useful bit of kit.

It was fitted by a company associated with Princess Motor Yachts, PM me if you would like details.
 
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