pvanv
Admiral
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 6,567
I'm still using my ancient Magellan Nav 1200 GPS. It has no chart plotting capability, just lat/lon and can do routes and waypoints. I use paper charts of Lake Ontario, and am satisfied with the speed and accuracy of the GPS. But alas, the display is starting to fail, and it's time, after 16 years, to consider an upgrade. I may cruise to other Great Lakes, but don't plan to take my 40 year old HR-28 to blue water.
I am considering a 7-inch or bigger chartplotter, preferably one that can be compensated for chart offset. As we all know, while the position is very accurate most of the time, the cartography can be off quite a bit. So far, I am considering units from Lowrance, Si-Tex, and Standard Horizon. Thus far, I am not considering the Garmin nor Raymarine units, as I have had both customer service and reliability issues with those brands. I would like to stay below the $1,000 price point for the hardware, (but could go up to $1,500 if necessary) but I could/would buy a chart chip, putting me over that price. I do not expect to add RADAR, but might consider NMEA 0183 interfacing to a DSC VHF and my trusty Simrad TP-30 tiller autopilot, and possibly an AIS receiver. I would use it permanently mounted to an interior bulkhead, visible from the cockpit when the companionway boards are open, running on the boat's 12v power, and can use an external antenna.
What are the thoughts of members as to which units are the most reliable, cost effective, easy to read both day and night, and reasonable to operate units? What models should be avoided? I know this may generate some opinions that aren't necessarily backed by facts, and that's OK; Opinions count.
I am considering a 7-inch or bigger chartplotter, preferably one that can be compensated for chart offset. As we all know, while the position is very accurate most of the time, the cartography can be off quite a bit. So far, I am considering units from Lowrance, Si-Tex, and Standard Horizon. Thus far, I am not considering the Garmin nor Raymarine units, as I have had both customer service and reliability issues with those brands. I would like to stay below the $1,000 price point for the hardware, (but could go up to $1,500 if necessary) but I could/would buy a chart chip, putting me over that price. I do not expect to add RADAR, but might consider NMEA 0183 interfacing to a DSC VHF and my trusty Simrad TP-30 tiller autopilot, and possibly an AIS receiver. I would use it permanently mounted to an interior bulkhead, visible from the cockpit when the companionway boards are open, running on the boat's 12v power, and can use an external antenna.
What are the thoughts of members as to which units are the most reliable, cost effective, easy to read both day and night, and reasonable to operate units? What models should be avoided? I know this may generate some opinions that aren't necessarily backed by facts, and that's OK; Opinions count.
