rjr

I thought I would give my boat a new GPS for Christmas. Too many to choose from any thoughts and experience would be appreciated.

I am thinking a small chartplotter would be nice but I am concerned that a small screen would be impossible to see bouncing around at speed. I have to stop to see my handheld chartplotter. but I do not have a feel for how much larger you need to have. 7" Garmins are pretty pricey. Can you see a 4 or 5" screen?

Thanks

AppSysCons

I put a Garmin 492, 5in screen, in my 2007 30/308 Skater when I had it built. It is very easy to read and follow pre-defines routes, at speed.

Location is more important than screen size.

Having said that, I would almost always put the biggest screen I could fit.

Turbojack

I see it is not in front of the driver. Can you see it when you are driving?

AppSysCons

Yes, but obviously I do not stare at it for very long. It is quite bright, and easy to see. I plan out almost all of my trips, with pre-defined routes. They show up as a thick purple line, right over the chart.

5 in screen is plenty, but if you have room for a 7 in, do it.

VetteLT193

one thing to consider, if you have engines that are Smartcraft compatible you can get a GPS / Plotter unit that is Smartcraft capable. It's nice to be able to get to the extended engine info as well as have a plotter.

Mine is a Northstar.

1MOSES1

we just bought the garmin 541...it works wells and is very visible. i would vouch for buying at least a 5" screen. anything smaller may not be as useful. for $600 you should buy something you will have for multiple season and be fully satisfied with. just my 0.02

Baja_man

Which model did you end up with?

450RRRR

garmin 640..it can be used on the boat as well as in your car..very accurate...big enough screen.im useing a r a m mount on it .suction cup type. never had it break loose.to be honest i ve never had it in the car..but its a garmin. it would have to work well there to..and it a plotter

omerta one

I had the Northstart with the Smartcraft interface; switched it out to a Garmin.

Wildman_grafix

Why?