Best Chartplotter / GPS for Least Amount of $

[bdurham]

I would be interested in hearing what your opinions were on the what your best value for money is on new and used chartplotters.

[Cotemar]

bdurham,

Take a look at the Garmin 740s with a 7"display
1) Color
2) Touch screen
3) Pre-loaded charts
4) built in GPS anntena
5) NMEA 2000
6) Accepts radar input
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=148&pID=37721

I have a Garmin 5208, but if this was out at the time I would have bought this instead.
Mine is Sweet.

Mark

[MarkJ]

Have a look at the iPad with 3G and GPS. Its about $1,000 and the worldwide charts for $160.

Beats the crap outta any plotter and you can watch movies while you pretend to steer.

Its not waterproof so you need a waterproof box for deckwork.

I think they might wipe the traditional plotters out of business for cruisers in the next few years.

[Cotemar]

MarkJ,

Where can you get worldwide charts for $160 ?

Mark

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

MarkJ,

Where can you get worldwide charts for $160 ?

Mark

Its some applet I was shown a few weeks ago. The stuff was fine, don't know its origin. The aplett was free, I think, you just pay for the charts. The Navonics one is only $48 for the whole chunks of earth too. The one with the Navonics was on an Oyster 65. He was using it over ther Raymarine 12 inch screens, but I think he's still testing it and I can see him using it as a replacement. Route making was so insanly easy... just touch the screen a few times...

The next version of iPad comes out sometime in the next few months so I am thinking its gunna solve my issue with my old plotter.

[ActiveCaptain]

The original question doesn't give enough information. It's like asking, "what type of vehicle should I get for the least price?" The best answer might be either a skateboard or a Hummer. It sort of depends on other requirements.

For example:

- Is waterproof/water-resistant use imporant?

- Is visibility in direct sunlight important?

- What charts are needed (what parts of the world)?

- Is power a consideration?

- What other instruments are onboard and do you expect to connect them and view their data together?

- Is there radar onboard? What type, manufacturer, etc?

- Given that cost is a major consideration, what about ongoing costs for charts? In other words, is there an advantage to being able to use freely available charts or are supported ones more important?


The answers to those questions will provide a list of chartplotters that really fit the needs. Usually, the best chartplotter for the application usually finds you after that because the choice becomes more obvious.

[ReMetau]

We were in the market for one ourselves and have decided on the Garmin 740s.

[John Galt]

On the Garmin 740,
Just make sure you keep the screen dry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QGRp...e_gdata_player

[PamlicoTraveler]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Have a look at the iPad with 3G and GPS. Its about $1,000 and the worldwide charts for $160.
.

Mark...where do you get the worldwide charts for $160? That sounds too good to be true.

[witzgall]

if lots of charts in a waterproof sunlight visible screen is important to you, I would look at the latest units coming from Standard Horizon. Check out Panbo: The Marine Electronics Weblog for more info. The 190i has these charts:

The CP190i has award winning C-Map coastal charts built-in which cover USA, Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Caribbean, Cuba and parts of Central America. Details include: all Navaids icons on chart page, depth contours and soundings up to 66Ft and tidal information

here is a link. Note, I not seen the new units, but their other gear, while not as snazzy as others, seems to be reliable units.

Welcome to StandardHorizon.com


Chris

[bdurham]

Originally Posted by witzgall

if lots of charts in a waterproof sunlight visible screen is important to you, I would look at the latest units coming from Standard Horizon. Check out Panbo: The Marine Electronics Weblog for more info. The 190i has these charts:

The CP190i has award winning C-Map coastal charts built-in which cover USA, Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, Caribbean, Cuba and parts of Central America. Details include: all Navaids icons on chart page, depth contours and soundings up to 66Ft and tidal information

here is a link. Note, I not seen the new units, but their other gear, while not as snazzy as others, seems to be reliable units.

Welcome to StandardHorizon.com


Chris

do you know where you can buy software to add global charts..? pacific, australia, etc? and will this chartplotter accept them?

[glenn.225]

Cost is a really an issue go with a net/note book with GPS dongle and OpenCPN, lots of free charts. Check out OpenCPN subforum in Navigation.
Should be able to do it for less than $500, but not waterproof.

Or go the way I am; build a MiniITX PC with external 10" touch screen monitor in homemade water resistance case + 21" internal monitor. Then you can have TV, Wifi and all the other goodies you want. Less than $1K.


Glenn

[sedentary]

did you ever construct this thing? I'd love to see pictures if you did. sounds amazing