What GPS / Plotter

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:55 pm

I was thinking about the GPSMAPÂ® 4200 Series Network Chartplotters with Pushbutton Interface. Anyone seen these in action? It seems to have every thing one would need out on a trip.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... %20GPS%20/

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:29 pm

I've got a Lowrance 5200c it has nema and 183 hook ups check them out before you spend 2k. garmins nice but with a high cost.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:30 pm

I use Furuno radar but everything else is Garmin and I have seperate units for redundancy, if one quits I can still use the others. besides the depth, gps/chartplotters and radar, I also use a Dell laptop with Nobeltec navigation software with usb gps antenna that I throw on the dash. With the laptop I can take it home and work up routes, fuel usage, distance, time, speeds, tides and currents and lots of other fun stuff. I also use my laptop for internet access, e-mail and weather when in port and keep it charged from a small inverter. Pretty handy. I could loose all my dedicated electronics and still have this for backup.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:11 pm

When it comes to GPS on a boat nothing is better then garmin , Very user friendly better charts I have 2 systems on my boat and the garmin is my favorite . The viking I run has 2 systems also and the Garmin it the best there by my opinion and the owners .

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:19 pm

Garmin is the easiest to use and in my opinion the only one to buy

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:27 pm

the garmin GPSMAPÂ® 4200 looks like a nice unit you and add Radar to also

Reely Hall'n · Post by **Reely Hall'n** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:52 pm

I have a humminbird 997 si. It is a combo unit for both sonar and gps. I purchased this one for the side imiging capability. Make sure which ever one you get you can use the Navionics platnium chip. The platnium gives you full color imiging. I would shop around for the best price. The link you posted is a spendy place. Check ebay.

http://store.humminbird.com/products/34 ... c_SI_Combo

chauzer · Post by **chauzer** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:54 pm

stay away from lowrance their customer service is horrible! i've had really good performance from furuno and simrad.

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:06 pm

Garmin by far is the most intuitive to use. It has logical, easy to follow menus and prompts. I have a small handheld gps and a nice color fishfinder that is super bright and can be seen well in daylight.

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:15 pm

Here's another vote for Garmin. Their customer service is great.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:18 pm

Garmin GPS 168 w/sounder. Not offered anymore, but good B&W display and can be updated with my laptop.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:52 pm

I use the Garmin Chartplotter 420 with g2 Vision cartography. Great GPS with outstanding hi-res satellite photos or charts for navigation. The Fish View 3D of the bottom is a real good tool to use in rocky and/or shallow areas. I also have a Garmin 168 as a backup.

I also use Garmin GPS when I am flying.

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:13 pm

Thanks guys for all the input, I was out fishing this afternoon. On the St. Johns river here in Florida.....

NealW · Post by **NealW** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:35 pm

I just set up a system for my laptop. Total cost $19.99. I had an old laptop that was given to me. Downloaded Seaclear(free software), downloaded ALL massachusetts charts for free at NOAA and loaded them into the program, bought a USB GPS receiver online for 19.99 and have a GPS/Chartplotter. Can't beat that. Plus I can surf the web off mine.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:36 am

I am partial to Standard Horizon because I like the C- Map chart systems.
Here is the same size SH

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10803#

The manufacturers page is here:
http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS. ... Archived=0

On the files tab at the bottom is an emulator that you can download and get a feel for all the features.