Garmin 5208 Touchscreen vs 6208

[SV Demeter]

Im starting to look at Garmin Chartplotter/Radar displays and am trying to evaluate these two. Pricing seems to be pretty close for the 2. the 5208 is a touch screen and the 6208 holds more routes and waypoints but after 5,000 waypoints do I really care? Im wondering about the whole touch screen feature and what that is like to use in a seaway? I have trouble with my iPhone sometimes sitting at my desk. I have been very happy with other garmin products that I own and find their GUI much easier than Raymarine. Any suggestions or comments from experience with either of these units is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ted

[Cotemar]

SV Escape Plan,

I have been using a Garmin 5208 chartplotter with Garmin Radar.
My first mate really loves it and uses it by herself. She never used our Raymarine.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post434810

Touch screen is a no brainer. Very simple and you never need the manual.

Mark

[andrewsc]

I have the garmin 740. Love the touchscreen. Targets on screen are larger than iphone. Easy to use. I am also used to the garmin interface and wouldn't trade my 740.

[senormechanico]

I could have written Cotemar's post.
Love my 5208/18HD.

[ActiveCaptain]

Touchscreen is the way to go in my opinion. In the future, I'd bet you'll create routes in other ways and upload a few as needed to the Garmin. It won't matter that it only has 1,500 waypoints. You'd never use close that many.

Cotemar - really nice setup. I never caught those pictures before.

[CarlF]

+1 on Mark's comment. My Garmin 5212 is the first chart plotter my wife is comfortable using. A huge safety plus. All of the others I've had (Raymarine and Furuno) have too many buttons for an occasional user to remember without consulting a manual.

Some people really hate touch. You need to go try it.

I'd also try 12" versus 8" screen size. Big difference in usability of the chart regardless of brand. If you have the mounting space (a big "if"), it's worth the money.

As you probably know, the 6000 and 7000 series has a faster processor. I don't consider the 5000 and 4000's slow enough to hinder use but speed always helps - much more important than extra waypoints.

Carl

[SV Demeter]

Thanks everyone. Yes space is a concern as I will be mounting what ever plotter I get in one of these:

http://www.edsonmarine.com/newproducts/Vision2.pdf


Glad to hear the touch screen is getting good reviews. Think I am going ot check one out at the local chandlery.

[Lancerbye]

I am also interested in the fact that touchscreen is getting good write ups. I have a Garmin 2010c and was considering getting a 4210c to upgrade mainly to go to SD data loading. I really like my 2010 and was a bit apprehensive about even looking at a touch screen, hence I was looking at a 4210 which would be a plug in replacement upgrade. Now I will be forced to look at the touch screens. lol

[Sashimi]

I'm in the same boat, comparing the 5000 and 6000 models. Does anyone have any experience with the faster 6000/7000 models. Are they worth the extra $$$ for the speed? Seems like the prices are dropping on the "slower" models and might be a good buy in the off season.

[senormechanico]

I've never given the speed of the processor a second thought.
It takes less than a half a second.
After all, you're SAILING and CRUISING !

[webejammin]

We love our 5208 Garmin chartplotter, were connected to radar, XM weather, VHF with AIS, and all my Raytheon gages, windex, depth, autopilot. I did needed to buy a little black box to network the 2 units. We bought the 3 D chips for the USA Costal, inland lakes to cover the Columbia river, and the Salish sea ( the Pacific North West )

[sck5]

I have a garmin 4210 and love it. I absolutely HATE touch screens because if you are bouncing around offshore you can easily touch it and make it do things when you dont want to. But to each his own I guess. I would recommend doing what I did if at all possible - Go to a boat show and go to the Garmin booth and play with all of their different models. Quiz the people about the pros and cons of each. Oh and I am with whoever said above that processing time makes no difference. My 4210 is as close to instant as I could ever want.

[Sashimi]

Thanks for the input.
I too had my worries about going touch screen for the same reason, ease of operation in rough weather. I've had a chance to play with the touch screen in the show room and it's great, so easy to pan thru the chart by simply dragging your finger over the screen. I wouldn't have noticed big difference in speed if the salesperson didn't point it out. By chance the guy beside me in the store had a Garmin touch screen and couldn't stop raving about it.
Here's my problem, I'm the type of person who can't simply go into the store and buy a unit, I've got to research every product on the market! Must be a form of 'OCD', my wife claims it's because I'm frugal yet I'll spend $6 on a coffee, go figure.
After having a chance to get hands on with the units in my price range, I've narrowed it down to the Garmin 5012 or the Lawrence Hds10.
The Garmin is by far the most user friendly unit on the market. I'm positive my ten year old will be able to navigate her way thru the prompts. We're a fishing family and I'm a bit worried about some of the feedback on the garmins fish finder.
Last but not least the Lowrance is using broadband for their radars, good or bad, opinion seems to be split.
Questions,
-Does anyone have experience using the touch screen while bouncing around in the rough stuff?
-Any good or bad remarks with the sounder?
-Radar- Garmin HD vs Lowrance Broadband?

We own a 27ft aluminum power boat and cruise around 20 knots. We spend most of your time cruising and fishing in the Pacific N/W. We don't do to much night travel so the Radar will be mainly used for foggy days. My previous Chartplotter/Radar was a Raymarine rl70c which bit the dust last month.
I've really enjoyed browsing thru your forum and look forward to reading more of your observations.
Mark

[sck5]

I have the Garmin HD radar. It is just amazingly good. I cant compare it with other HD radars, only with the old school type but once you play with an HD type you will never ever be satisfied with anything else ever again.

[jamesbean]

This thread is old, but a worthy update for new readers with the same question. I had the same question but was considering the 6000 vs 7000 series; the 6208 and 12 now have wireless broadcast capabilities for the price of the antenna and downloadable Ipad apps that allow you to use the ipad as a touchscreen controller from anywhere within the boat. It's amazing and works quite well. a touchscreen on the go.