Engine Co 454

I am looking for some purchase advice/recommendations.

I have never owned a GPS/Chartplotter. I would like to have mapping so I believe that is a chartplotter with GPS. Which is better handheld or cradle mounted. What would you recommend for each application. Can I program waypoints to these with my laptop through software?

glassdave

iTrader: (1)

definetly go cradle mount, hand helds have to small a screen to do any good. if you zoom in to where its legable you loose all the range and zoomed out the screen becomes to crowded. Lawrance iWay is a great all around unit. does land and sea navigation with pre loaded highly detailed maps. also has Xm radio and is FM modulated. got tons of other features and price isnt to bad.Also this is about the smallest screen you would want to go with.


http://www.davesmarineelectronics.co...OD&ProdID=7946

cuda

Don't put a gps on your boat. It's amazing how the weight of the units slow the boat down compared to bar speed.

Engine Co 454

Not concerned about speed readings, I am talking about navigation.

So the 5" screen is the best? I do like the color display but do not really need the audio features it has.

I went to the Lowrance website and talk about choosing a chartplotter....how do I narrow down my choices? Is there a chartplotter out there that I can set waypoints on a laptop at home and put into my boat and GO?

In doing some searching at Garmin I like the Garmin 276C. Seems to have options but not too many and is under $900. I like the battery supplied units, which make them more portable.

camptappakeg69

I bought a garmin 545 and love it, xm capable and would overlay the weather info on top of the charts. tons of features, came preloaded with US coastal waterways can be upgraded with g2 charts with many more options. Still learning all the features but with the upgraded g chart it will plot its own course around all obstacles. Also 5" color hi res screen.

First Gun

iTrader: (3)

stick with the Garmin line up the 478 took the 276s place, their customer service rocks and they support their products even after they come out with newer units ,might pay a little more but $$ well spent in long run

cuda

I don't know how I managed to navigate all those years before the advent of gps.

Engine Co 454

My uncle taught me how to navigate using nautical charts. However at 65mph the paper is hard to hold on to.

I went to Outdoor World, and got my hands on some of the products. I do like the Garmin stuff, and a handheld is just too small. I don't recall if I saw a 478 or 267 model, but the 3-5" screens seem to be the best for me. Looks like I need to do some more research on these.

With these chartplotters do I plan a trip (waypoints) using laptop software and put the chip into the chartplotter?

jmeng

Planning on buying a Garmin 440 soon. Can't go wrong with Garmin.

razor1115

Cuda,

That is hilarious! A lot of 80mph boats suddenly become low 70's, high 60's. Man, those things must weigh a TON!