Chartplotter game plan?

[searay40dad]

I'm wanting to replace my Garmin 2006C chartplotter with a newer and larger CP/MFD. I am considering a Garmin 4210 or possibly Raymarine e97 due to the IPad/Wifi connectivity and Navionics charts. I would mount the new unit in the same spot as my current Garmin (see pic).

I guess the 4210 (and E97) are networkable over NMEA 0183 and/or 2000 but since I won't be replacing the Raymarine RL80C Pathfinder radar, I guess this also means I won't have a radar overlay due the older Raymarine Seatalk protocol. I also still have the oft-non-functioning RN300 GPS; and functioning ST60 and ST6000 autopilot.

So with all the Raymarine gear with Seatalk protocol and its limitations (which I won't be replacing), I'm wondering if it makes sense to continue pursuing a networkable chartplotter/MFD? other than for future upgradeability, what are the pros?

I have 2 GPS antennae on the hard top now. Both CP's will necessitate the installation of yet another antenna (Garmin 17X NMEA 2000 vs. the 17N currently installed; Raymarine Raystar 130 vs. Raystar120 curently installed). Was initally considering keeping the 2006C as a backup CP but probably wont go that direction now due to helm real estate limitations. Maybe the Ipad and Navionics app continues to fill backup duty role.

Another question would be why keep the RN300 GPS as I'm not sure the back-up instrument/data display purpose warrants leaving it when I can put a smaller E7 or something else as a backup there someday... thoughts?

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[kaz911]

1. Garmin will have iPad connectivity soon for the 4000/5000/6000/7000 series, via a box you connect to the Garmin Marine Network I think. (It says release summer 2012.
2. I would NOT throw money after Garmin 4000/5000 series now unless you buy them really cheap. They are 5+ years old and are overdue for replacement. I am hoping for a replacement announcement in October for the Miami boat show.
3. GPS's should be shareable both on NMEA 0183 and NMEA2000. So you can replace your 2 antenna with one new Garmin 19x or other. A 2nd gps is always good for backup though.

 

[searay40dad]

2. I would NOT throw money after Garmin 4000/5000 series now unless you buy them really cheap. They are 5+ years old and are overdue for replacement. I am hoping for a replacement announcement in October for the Miami boat show.

Thanks, good info. Didn't realize they had that many years on them.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Sold my Garmin 4208 for less than half what i paid in less than 3 yrs, loved it though, but you cant beat my IPAD with navionics, and for $4.99 just loaded the "easy view" update which gives you eta to your waypoint and fuel birn etc, if it had Radar, I'd sell my E120 and put gas in the boat,

 

[CSR_Admin]

It will be a challenge to find a non-networkable chartplotter. They pretty much are all networked at this point. Doesn't mean you need to connect it to anything else. You should add the simrad nss12 to the mix too.

 

[kaz911]

Sold my Garmin 4208 for less than half what i paid in less than 3 yrs, loved it though, but you cant beat my IPAD with navionics, and for $4.99 just loaded the "easy view" update which gives you eta to your waypoint and fuel birn etc, if it had Radar, I'd sell my E120 and put gas in the boat,

I like the Navionics iApp as well. But the iPad's cant take 30 degrees or higher. Then they give a nice yellow exclamation mark on the screen and say "please cool me down"

For me that is equal to only being usable in an emergency situation (Unless you have an A/C cooled bridge to keep it in.

 

[searay40dad]

I'm gonna bump this thread to see if there are any other opinions or thoughts out there.

Jim, I'd really like to stay in the <$2500 neighborhood and since I'll be bracket mounting vs. flush mounting the unit due to lack of available real estate on the helm, I'd prefer to keep relatively close to same form factor of the 2006c (10.25' x 6.5'). For these reasons, I dont think the NSS12 would work for me.

I'm now leaning more to the new E97 as its physically just an inch wider than my Garmin and about same height/depth, plus it has a 9" touch screen display. Alot of favorable reviews on raymarines new stuff since FLIR bought them in '10.

What about internal GPS vs. an external antenna? Guess I just assumed I'd install an external antenna for reliability sake, but when I think about it, my IPad has never lost a GPS signal under the hardtop or anywhere for that matter...

 

[Havana Shamrock]

If im correct, the e97 has bluetooth and you can "build" a route at home on your pad and go to the boat and upload it to the E97?