Which is the best Garmin GPS for the boat?

[Ben Smith 89]

Hi , Guys
I want to buy a best Garmin GPS for my boat .
So can you suggest me an affordable GPS ?

[sailah]

Define affordable. What do you want to do with it? What size boat? Do you want radar or network other sensors to Garmin eventually?

I have a 942XS which I really like. Connected my older Garmin radome so now I have radar. Touchscreen, lots of sailing features. Also networked all my Raymarine sailing instruments to it so I have wind, depth features on my main display. It was about $1200 for the headunit and it fit the navpod which I had a really old Garmin mounted in with minimal trimming and screen size is much bigger. Has other nice stuff like ability to see helm from any iPad, smartphone. Pretty nice to keep a second eye on helm from my bunk.

If you want cheaper, you can forgo all that connectivity and screen size and get something like an Echomap. It's meant for fishing but works well. I just installed one on my Whaler 17. 5" screen has charts built in. Still has ipad etc connectivity but no radar support. Was about $500.

If you want the feel of a smartphone the newer units are so much nicer than an older one but they aren't cheap