Chartplotters

[dlb511]

Any good advice out there about new generation chartplotters and fishfinders. I am looking for something for my ,soon -to-be mine, 20' MA. I am thinking of two separate units and not a combo. I should have room on the console for both. Would like to stay in the $500-600 range for the chartplotter, and under $400 for the fishfinder. West coast saltwater, Southern B.C. to include the Gulf of California. I am a little confused about the available charts, it seems most just include U.S. coastal waters, and I am not sure if or how much it costs to get charts for other areas. Any advice?

[BigLew]

With regards to chart plotters, first let me say my experience is in coastal waters. Having said that, aside from chart availability, consider very closely the way image data is stored.

There are generally two methods of doing so. The first, and most common, is the raster method. This simply means that in essence, NOAA charts are photographed at various levels of zoom and those images are stored on that chip and when you get to the most zoomed/enlarged presentation of the image- that's it. If you still can't visually differentiate on the screen your position from that which you want to avoid, you are is some trouble.

The second is a vector method, used by Garmin only to my knowledge, which essentially digitizes the NOAA chart image. That means that each point on the chart is assigned it's digital location relative to all the other points. What this translates to is that in situations where high levels of zoom are desired, the vector information allows the greater magnification of the associated data points.

A situation where this might be desirable is in a very narrow channel with hazardous obstructions very close by. If your zoom capability is not great enough then you may not be able to SEE, on the plotter, the very close distances desired in order to avoid those obstacles.

With regards to open water charts and your availability I believe that C-Mapp, Garmin and others have availability if you contact the company. I am not sure of that however.

I fully expect that some on the forum here are going to disagree with this in general. To them I say, I've seen it and I know it is in fact true. Recent boating has been on the Merrimack River in Newburyport Massachusetts. At the very mouth of the river and channel is extremely narrow and is bounded by a rock seawall on the north. I have needed to discriminate distances of 10 feet and less, in fog and have been able to do so with the Garmin unit. I have not been able to do it with a Raymarine radar/plotter unit. However, in those cases I have been able to use the radar image overlayed on the chart and have been aware of other boats by keeping close watch on the radar as we approached the mouth of the river.

Keep in mind that this particular discussion has focused on close quarter visualization ability and not open water chart availability.

Good luck.

[Old'sCool]

You probably won't find a new gen. plotter you're happy with for that $$. The Garmin 478 is very nice, loaded with all the charts/maps, can be used on motorcycle, boat, car, or carried....but a very small screen. I opted for an outdated 2010 and am very happy!! I can actually see the screen. Sometimes BOE will make a package deal and is a Seacraft fan.

[dlb511]

Yeah, I know the money kind of limits me, but i just can't afford more. Garmin seems to be the most popular from my research, but they have a bewildering list of models and the numbering system for the models does not correlate to any set of characteristics that I can figure out. When I read the descriptions, about all I can understand is the size of the screen and some are mapped for freshwater and others are for salt. What about a built-in antenna versus an external? Does a built-in have a lot of problems, or is the difference negligible? I will just be using it inshore so best resolution would be a consideration, I don't need a lot of extra bells and whistles. I would like color because they say it is much easier to read and my experience agrees. I have no problem with buying an obsolete model if I can find one and it will fill my needs.

[Miles Offshore]

i am using an obsolete 192C garmin that although has a small screen is really a nice little unit i have not had any problems with at all. I am sure you might be able to find one in your price range leftover maybe on ebay, BOE etc. good luck-

[McGillicuddy]

I'm a big fan of Furuno souders and I think Garmin leads the industry in GPS, but I've made charts for Garmin and never really liked their interface. For the budget you are considering check out NAVMAN/Northstars products. Their Explorer plotter series offer quite a bang for the buck and they have excellent warranty and post warranty service ($99 for out of warranty repairs). Very user friendly and all are compatible with their digital fuel flow meters and Smartcraft if your running an Optimax. Some have integrated sounders like mod 657

Their fishfinders are quite good - just get a dual frequency like the mod. 457. Pricing might actually be reverse of your expectation (plotter being less than sounder) as popularity of GPS units has really brought their prices down.

Coastal maps that come standard with most units are fine for having a good idea of where you are but will be next to useless for for navigating tricky channels or pea soup fog, or staying on the edge of your favorite ledge. Good regional or local maps usually run about $180 for a c-map or navioncs card and due to the number of boaters in the Sound you may find a more local card for $90 or so. Check out these sites to get an idea of what's available:
www.getfeetwet.com
www.turtlemarine.com
www.thegpsstore.com

Most of these shops will put west marines price matching policy to the test

Just my 2 bits... Good Luck Gillie

[peterb]

I have had Furuno, Raymarine and Garmine chart plotters.

For simplicity, chips and overall functionality I will take Garmin.

Last year there was a good thread on this over at thethulltruth.

Out of the three here is the ranking that I remember:

GPS
1. Gamrin
2. Raymarine
3. Furuno

Fish finder
1. Furuno
2. Raymarine
3. Garmin


In answer to your other question many of the smaller Gamrins do come in with an internal antenna and I have never had a problem with mine (other than it seems to take a little longer to triangulate than the external antennas).


Good luck.


Peter

[dlb511]

Thanks for the input. I will look a little more at the Northstar stuff. I know Furuno is top-of-the-line from my experience in the commercial end, but I also know it usually is priced above my limits. There seems to be two different types of charts available, which is best for inshore use? or does it matter? I don't need satellite weather, man overboard, or any of that extra stuff. Any recommendations for what to look for in a secondhand model? My last real experience with this stuff was when I was still using paper in my fathometer.

[McGillicuddy]

Regarding extra features the man over board (MOB) is fairly standard now. Granted it has a designed purpose but personally I think its a great feature for fishing. As soon as I get hit on the troll, or mark a big baitball, or good bottom I go right to the MOB button and thus the repeatability of the fishing that zone is again greatly enhanced.

I just got a new Northstar 538 Chartplotter with ext. antenna for $258 from getfeetwet.com because its being discontinued, its only a 4" screen but for fishing that's all I really need. Same tech and features as their $800 units but smaller.

I just saw a Northstar 457, a 5" hi-res screen, dual freq. fish finder for $519 which includes a very good transom mount transducer. That group also has very nice 6" combo units for about $650. Regarding chart cards, the 2 big players are C-map and Navionics... Former partners, and both pioneers in digital mapping, their two owners/founders are constantly trying to improve over the other in a lively and spirited competition. Garmin also has their own Bluecharts, a variation of those, perhaps the improved version Big Lew spoke of. Any one may be short a channel buoy or a shifted bar or obstruction but for the most part they are all pretty impressive. Which is better? Depends on the chart. Additionally they all have various levels of "marketing features".
Be careful with second hand stuff cuz people may not want to remove their antennae or transducers (why fill holes if their new unit is compatible w/ old antennas and transducers and those parts are more expensive when bought w/o unit) Good Luck.

[dlb511]

McG. Thanks for all the good input. I hadn't thought about the ramifications of buying used. I'll check out, getwetfeet.com.