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