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jzk · 07-04-2008, 07:34

We just got back from our first trip through the keys since installing the Garmin 5212 on the boat.

What a sweet unit. The touch screen is amazing, well lit, and really functional. And, the XM weather is awesome.

ess105 · 07-04-2008, 09:32

Thanks for the feedback. I am probably going to buy this or the 15" version later this year. I have always liked Garmin's interfaces. There's not a lot of user feedback that I can find on the web so any endorsement is helpful. Did you have any experience of using it in wet weather?

jzk · 07-04-2008, 10:36

Our cockpit is pretty well enclosed, so it only took some spray for a few minutes while I zipped up the windows.

The 12" model is HUGE. We were wondering if we should hold out for the 15", but the 15" wouldn't even fit in the dash area where we have the 12.

Furthermore, the 15" is TWICE as expensive as the 12". For that kind of coin, I would rather have 2 12" units any day of the week.

I used to go through the keys with a Garmin 75 and then I had to plot the lat long on the paper chart. What a dream this unit is!

Even if you were forced not to be touching it because of excessive rain and spray, it would still be unbelievably useful compared to anything else I can think of.

The rest of the time, the touch screen blows away anything else out there. Panning is a snap. No more using the little dial to try to get the arrow on the item you want info on. You just touch it. What could be better than that?

ess105 · 07-04-2008, 11:21

2 12" displays rather than 1 15". Hmmm. The gadgeteer within me stirs.

jzk · 07-04-2008, 17:06

The 3512 is available for around 3 grand no tax. The 3515 best price I can find is 4800.

sailabout · 07-04-2008, 17:56

I have the Garmin 4208. Very well done, bright sharp display, intuitive software but I am disappointed with the accuracy of the cartography on the g2 chip covering the eastern caribbean. Up until I purchased the 4208 I used my laptop with the captain software and US charts. This combo has been spot on along the south coast of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. I had not expected the Garmin G2 chip to be up to a quarter mile off in US territory. For peace of mind I keep my laptop on when navigating between reefs and do not rely on the Garmin. Of course I do not put blind faith in the captain either. I met a fellow sailor yesterday that has the 4208 and he also liked the unit. He told me at times the 4208 showed him on land when sailing along the coast of Puerto Rico but he was not critical of this short coming. For what it is worth another friend has the raymarine c80 or something like c80 and he assures me the chatplotter accuracy on this unit is as good as US charts but I have no first hand experience to confirm what he tells me. I had read a few negative things about reliability of the raymarine chart plotters so I opted for Garmin and other then the charts being off the unit seems very well done.