Chart plotter/GPS 99 290

[John_Gault]

I'm looking at adding a chart plotter and really am stuck with 3 questions:
1. Size- on my smaller boat there is no room for a flush mount dream, and I want a balance between viewability and not impeding forward sight when seated at the helm. So I'm split between the 4-5" vertical screens, and contemplating up to a 7" widescreen. Thoughts on those - especially considering..
2. Network - I am intrigued by the possibility of having engine & fuel burn information on the display. This lends toward the wider screen; however, I don't even know if my 99 5.7 is capable of connecting to these devices. And if so, are they overly complex to install?
3. Brand/model - I'm drawn to Garmin from my land experience, but would enjoy hearing input from others on the pros & cons of each. I also have read that Hummingbird is pushing to get into this market, and pricing pretty aggressively to do so. Has anyone tried it?

As a final note, I'm an inland boater on the TN River so the offshore navigation & weather issues aren't the driving factor - I just want one....

Thanks,
Laurence

 

[Lazy Daze]

I like Garmin, myself, too. In fact, I think their 7-series is one of the best pieces on the market. The 7-series only comes as "pre-loaded" with offshore charts (740 model) or the 720, which just has a worldwide basemap - you'd need to get charts for you area. One of the nice things about the newer Garmins, over the last few years, is how easy they are to use. I think the 7-series will even accept radar, if that is a consideration for you down the road.

For mounting GPS's on boats with limited dash space, Ram-Mounts are fantastic. They are extremely versatile - check them out - their website is ram-mount dot com. Jim (BOE Marine), the owner of this forum, may even offer them for sale.

I don't think there's much you can tap into on an EFI (I could be wrong), but extra sensors can be installed (like fuel flow).

 

[LM230]

John. I have the garmin 500 series, not sure exactly which model. It' a great unit, I too am an inland water boater, the pre-loaded "inland waterways" program is excellent. Easy to set way points, but with the zoom in/out feature you can always see where you are. Press of a button marks hazards or area's you need to be mindful of, including fuel, eats, eats. The 7 seres is real nice, the screen is easier to see, but I didn't have room. I mounted my unit using the cup holder at the starboard aspect of the helm. Used a hole saw, cut through a 4x4, hollowed out the back of the wood for the wires, enlarged the hole in the bottom of the cup holder, screwed the mount to the 4x4, dropped it in the cup holder, a quick, removable mount. Sorry, I can't take a picture of the set-up right now. The garmin is a super unit, you'll be happy with it. JA

 

[techmitch]

John. I have the garmin 500 series, not sure exactly which model. It' a great unit, I too am an inland water boater, the pre-loaded "inland waterways" program is excellent. Easy to set way points, but with the zoom in/out feature you can always see where you are. Press of a button marks hazards or area's you need to be mindful of, including fuel, eats, eats. The 7 seres is real nice, the screen is easier to see, but I didn't have room. I mounted my unit using the cup holder at the starboard aspect of the helm. Used a hole saw, cut through a 4x4, hollowed out the back of the wood for the wires, enlarged the hole in the bottom of the cup holder, screwed the mount to the 4x4, dropped it in the cup holder, a quick, removable mount. Sorry, I can't take a picture of the set-up right now. The garmin is a super unit, you'll be happy with it. JA

Great idea on the 4x4/cup holder mount. :smt038

 

[LM230]

Forgot an important detail on the cup holder mount. After I positioned the wires in the groove in the 4x4, I wrapped the 4x4 (and wires) with electrical tape until it fit quite snug in the cup holder. If you don't do this, the unit vibrates, and rattles a little, probably not good for the unit, and definately tough on the eyes. Also, I sanded the 4x4 to shorten it, so it would be flush with the top of the cup holder, had to knock off about 1/4 inch. You can also use a "huggie" instead of the black tape, just use a smaller hole saw, but it isn't quite as snug, the huggie breaks down, and tends to absorb water over time, but it works fine too. JA

 

[JimFromMD]

Laurence,
I have the Garmin 720/740 series with RADAR, in-hull transducer, and Vision charts. Got the entire setup from Jim at BOE marine. I really like it and it's super easy to use. Jim and the crew at BOE were really helpufl in getting the right equipment and also did the install for me.

Overall I find myself typically in the top-down chart mode with RADAR overlay turned on. I've not used the other modes all that much. If you fish, some of the other views may be more useful for you. One factor for me was the availability of the homeport software which lets you do all your charting and waypoints on your computer and then upload it into the chartplotter. I find that much easier than doing all the work on the unit itself. Its easy enough to make adjustments while running the boat, but it's nice to have the majority of the work done where you can sit with a real chart, and the computer, and track along. I run the middle chesapeake bay, so having never done inland cruising, it may not be as big a deal if you're typically going places you are already familair with.

I really wanted to go with the 5208, but didnt have the room in my dash, and also couldnt justify the additional cost. One last note, the touchscreen is very nice to use. The only time I have trouble is if I'm really boucning around out on the bay, sometimes its hard to make an accurate touch. You have to steady your hand on something, and then tap the screen.

-James

 

[John_Gault]

Thanks for the feedback!
I am leaning toward the 720/740 and like the RAM Mount options.
The 4x4 mount idea is also a great idea.
I'm going to try getting this on my Cheistmas list and see how it goes.
It's gonna be a long winter..


Thanks again!
Laurence

 

[Lazy Daze]

I think the cost difference between the 740 (pre-loaded with offshore/navigable waters) and the 720 (basemap only) is only about $100. Might not be a bad idea to get the 740, just in case, since you can plug in charts to either.

 

[D9ever]

Put a Garmin 4210 in my 340 this summer. Just fit in the dash but comes with an external mount bracket. The N2K network is plug and play if you want to add on (Radar, depth, engine numbers etc.). Happy with the performance and the Bluechart. Have west inland waterways and San Juan Islands. Would highly recommend the Garmin series.

 

[MonacoMike]

I think the cost difference between the 740 (pre-loaded with offshore/navigable waters) and the 720 (basemap only) is only about $100. Might not be a bad idea to get the 740, just in case, since you can plug in charts to either.

Dennis is right, get all the pre-loaded charts and add what you need. MM

 

[JimFromMD]

Thanks for the feedback!
I am leaning toward the 720/740 and like the RAM Mount options.
The 4x4 mount idea is also a great idea.
I'm going to try getting this on my Cheistmas list and see how it goes.
It's gonna be a long winter..


Thanks again!
Laurence

Hey Laurence,
So the difference is whether or not the base unit includes the "generic" maps or not. Jim recommended getting the one without the maps, and then buying the vision chip (ends up being nearly a wash $$ wise.) I bought the unit with the maps included, as well as the vision chip, because I'm notorious for forgetting something when leaving the house to head to the boat for the weekend (45 min drive). I take the vision chip with me to work charts/tracks (via the Homeport software and laptop) during the week for the upcoming weekend if going somewhere new. Paid off, as I did forget once, just like I guessed I might.

Just as a side note. BOE has a post-boat-show sale going on. Let Santa know!

James

 

[Bama]

I am not one to be a spoil sport, but I had the hots for a chart plotter for a year at least. but earlier thsi year my work bought me an I pad, and I discovered some very cool "apps" (the highest priced one about 20 bucks some free or almost free) that work quite well. For my type of usage it is perfect and 700 nbucks cheaper.

The one disadvantage is that it works off of the 3G wireless cell towers, using its GPS locator features overlaid on the NOAA costal charts. So while it would not work in the midde of nowhere, it is quite satisfactory in coastal and reasonably populated areas. even when the GPS loses the boat location you have some very good charts until your boat gets repositioned into cell tower range. It is very cool and very cheap...if you have an I pad anyway that is.

My biggest gripe is I set the tablet on the dashboard and it covers up some of the gauges...holding it in my hand is not so safe. I need some kind of rack on the top of the dash. will let you know if that works.

Other than a slight delay in the response time, the software tracks the boat, shows all channel markers, shoreline details, and depths. It is cool for 5 to 20 bucks. Updates are free so far.

it is an option, and I am sure the real GPS plotters are better, but I bet the I pad brings the prices down.

 

[MonacoMike]

Hey Laurence,
So the difference is whether or not the base unit includes the "generic" maps or not. Jim recommended getting the one without the maps, and then buying the vision chip (ends up being nearly a wash $$ wise.) I bought the unit with the maps included, as well as the vision chip, because I'm notorious for forgetting something when leaving the house to head to the boat for the weekend (45 min drive). I take the vision chip with me to work charts/tracks (via the Homeport software and laptop) during the week for the upcoming weekend if going somewhere new. Paid off, as I did forget once, just like I guessed I might.

Just as a side note. BOE has a post-boat-show sale going on. Let Santa know!

James

The Garmin maps are very nice to have and not always HAVE to get a Vision card: "GPSMAP 740s contains preloaded map data for all U.S. coastal areas", and the inland lakes base card is $150. These are not the older "World Base Map" as I understand it. But I do trailer and plan to travel around quite a bit. MM

 

[Lazy Daze]

The "world base map" is what comes pre-loaded on the 720. For whatever reason, the 7-series does not come pre-loaded with inland lakes, like the 4 and 5-series do (431, 531).

Jim - check out those Ram mounts I mentioned above.

 

[MonacoMike]

The Garmin maps are very nice to have and not always HAVE to get a Vision card: "GPSMAP 740s contains preloaded map data for all U.S. coastal areas", and the inland lakes base card is $150. These are not the older "World Base Map" as I understand it. But I do trailer and plan to travel around quite a bit. MM

The "world base map" is what comes pre-loaded on the 720. For whatever reason, the 7-series does not come pre-loaded with inland lakes, like the 4 and 5-series do (431, 531).

The quote is copied from the Garmin site. The language seems the same, are they different. When I got the 441s it seems to me they called them "BlueChart2" maps. (not to be confused with "BlueChart2 Vision") Is it different now? MM

"The GPSMAP 441s comes ready to go with preloaded U.S. coastal area map data. For areas outside the U.S., the GPSMAP 441s has a worldwide basemap with satellite images in place of more traditional maps"


"GPSMAP 740s contains preloaded map data for all U.S. coastal areas, including Alaska and Hawaii, plus Explorer Charts for the Bahamas"

 

[Lazy Daze]

There is still "Blue Chart" (standard feature on pre-loaded machines) - that was something they came out with a few years ago when they updated their charts. The "Vision" is the optional, or upgraded, version. Same charts, but more features... pictures, underwater view, etc.

EDIT: To better explain... the 441s and the 740 (anything that has a "4" as the second digit) come pre-loaded (Blue Chart) with all coastal and navigable (some rivers) waters. "3" as the second digit indicates pre-loaded with inland waters. "2" as the second digit comes only with a base-map - not good for true navigation.

2nd Edit: The above pertains to the smaller units (7, 5 & 4-series).

 

[dpmulvey]

There is still "Blue Chart" (standard feature on pre-loaded machines) - that was something they came out with a few years ago when they updated their charts. The "Vision" is the optional, or upgraded, version. Same charts, but more features... pictures, underwater view, etc.

EDIT: To better explain... the 441s and the 740 (anything that has a "4" as the second digit) come pre-loaded (Blue Chart) with all coastal and navigable (some rivers) waters. "3" as the second digit indicates pre-loaded with inland waters. "2" as the second digit comes only with a base-map - not good for true navigation.

Thanks! That's really good to know.

 

[dpmulvey]

Put a Garmin 4210 in my 340 this summer. Just fit in the dash but comes with an external mount bracket. The N2K network is plug and play if you want to add on (Radar, depth, engine numbers etc.). Happy with the performance and the Bluechart. Have west inland waterways and San Juan Islands. Would highly recommend the Garmin series.

I'm in the market as well. Is there a gateway to suck smartcraft data from the engines to the Garmin and display it. I know Lowrance has one, but I have always had good luck with Garmin. Kind of a stick with what you know thing.

 

[JimFromMD]

I am not one to be a spoil sport, but I had the hots for a chart plotter for a year at least. but earlier thsi year my work bought me an I pad, and I discovered some very cool "apps" (the highest priced one about 20 bucks some free or almost free) that work quite well. For my type of usage it is perfect and 700 nbucks cheaper.

The one disadvantage is that it works off of the 3G wireless cell towers, using its GPS locator features overlaid on the NOAA costal charts. So while it would not work in the midde of nowhere, it is quite satisfactory in coastal and reasonably populated areas. even when the GPS loses the boat location you have some very good charts until your boat gets repositioned into cell tower range. It is very cool and very cheap...if you have an I pad anyway that is.

My biggest gripe is I set the tablet on the dashboard and it covers up some of the gauges...holding it in my hand is not so safe. I need some kind of rack on the top of the dash. will let you know if that works.

Other than a slight delay in the response time, the software tracks the boat, shows all channel markers, shoreline details, and depths. It is cool for 5 to 20 bucks. Updates are free so far.

it is an option, and I am sure the real GPS plotters are better, but I bet the I pad brings the prices down.

Hey Jim,
Perhaps we need to start a new thread (or maybe there is already one, I havent looked), but what ipad apps have you tried and what are your impressions of each? I looked into a few, and those didnt need the cellular or 802.11 wireless connection once you loaded the maps onto the ipad. Thought about getting a version as a backup, but the one that seemed most preferred was around $40. I think it was Navionics or something to that effect.

James.

 

[Bama]

that separate I pad thread sounds like a good idea. If you do a search for apps using "Marine charts" about a dozen or so will come up. I bought 2. One is called "Marine US" (with an icon looking like a wooden ship wheel) and the other is called simply "Charts" with an icon looking like a boat. They are both very similar. One cost 5 or 10 bucks and one cost 20 bucks. But you do have to have a 3 G unit and subsribe to the wirless apple service at 20 bucks a month.

The only real difference is the shoreline services like marinas and so on. The basic chart without that seems to work a little more efficiently, and I dont recall which one is which. The boat icon showing where you are is a bit bigger on Charts and a bit easier to see. but with the zoom feature it is not a big deal.

Try it out; it was a cheap way for me to obtain a charting system plenty good enough for me.