Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

[Star]

I lost my old garmin gpsmap 398! I have spent the last ten days trying to find a reliable unit to replace it. From what I have read Raymarine makes the dragonfly 5, but their support is slow. Hummi makes a nice unit but the gps is weak ?
Garmins maps and graphics don't give any land or road info so they can sell nuvis. Any road info disappears as you zoom in. They also have quality problems! I know that lowrance makes a very nice FF but bad bad unit failure and problems with interference with trolling motors. I had that Garmin gpsmap 398 with better lake and boat ramp info, plus all the roads to navigate on ny roads. That unit was 7 years old and no problems. I can't afford a $1500 unit. they say that lowrance switches fail and although the claim a five year, What they mean is if it fails in 2 we will sell you a new one!!!
THEY DON"T seem to fix them???

Thank you for any personal experience with these co.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

If you read enough carp on the inter web, you will find hundreds of people bashing every single product, even the ones that haven't hit the market yet.

So, you can either believe that there are no good products available, or find one that fits your budget and needs and use it.
There are likely hundreds of thousands of decent 5-15 year old units still in use. Mine are about 10 years old, never a problem.
And I bought the cheapest I could find, that had the screen size and used map chip I wanted.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

The biggest problem is only the bashers, dissatisfied users, bad service, etc show up on the web. How often do you see happy users complaining. Very seldom because they're out catchin' fish with all these bad, terrible, busted FF's.

Find a price point and buy what you can afford with the features you want.

 

[Star]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

Wait a minute. I have read many many posts about Hummy's problems with long hookup to satellites and speed variation and disconnecting. So you all say this is a lie!! Lowrance writes a five year warrantee but tells you that they may not fix it but give you a $5 credit towards you new one. These are not real problem??? That is why I am here. I have found some of the nicest people here. Honest, kind, considerate people who go to work every day and bust their butts to build a nice life for their families. All I am asking is that people could tell me about good and bad experiences with $800 gps/map sounders. I just want a reliable unit history. Thank you!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

I'm my world, the big box store units are not even in the running.

Furuno and Simrad rule the sonar world with Garmin making a strong push with their Spread-Spectrum sonar.

Garmin, Furuno and Simrad for chart plotters.

Interesting comment about garmin. Why would you need or want roads and streets on a marine chart plotter?

Raymarine.. not a fan of UK designed electronics. Decent products, but have been know to be "quirky"

I have no respect for companies that misrepresent their products capabilities by advertising non- standard performance ratings. While popular with the big box crowd, two on your list are the biggest offenders.

 

[Star]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

Because we fish lake Champlain and stop off in many of the small towns over in Vermont for lunch and stuff. I used my 398 to get around traffic for 7 years and the fact they have the info in the machine and then they make it go away is bad.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is this the best place to ask about the chart/finder quality?

There are no good units available.

Chart, compass, sexton, is the only way to go.