Garmin GPSMAP 1042xsv Upgrade?

[Windjammer]

Thinking about upgrading the chartplotter and radar on my '06 340DA (existing Raymarine C80 & 2K radome) to the Garmin GPSMAP 1042xsv. I'm still "old fashioned" enough to like knobs and buttons as opposed to the touchscreens, and 10" display has got to be better than a 9", right?
Noticed there is a "combo" that includes the GMR18+ radar, but there is also the GMR18XHD which looks to be a better unit?, for about $250.00 more...
Looking opinions (and alternatives) from members who have purchased and installed these units...
What do you like best?
What do you like least?
If you had to do it over again, would you change anything?
Boat is on an inland lake.

 

[Captn TJ]

Can't comment on the 1042. However, I went from 2 E80's (identical to your C80) , radar, etc. to Garmin 942xs which is touch screen. After a few minutes of using the 942 touch screen, I'll never go back to the knobs and buttons like what I had on the E80's. This stuff is just too easy to use especially the zoom in/out..

 

[b_arrington]

I have a pair of 8612 Touchscreen units. After having a 4208 non touch model for many years, the touch screens are heavenly. No issues using them in heavy seas.

 

[pyro]

Look for units with touchscreen and knobs. I think the marine industry is slowly figuring out what car manufacturers have learned in last few years. It looks fancy to have touchscreen, but knobs are more useable for simple tasks, especially while moving. I won't buy a car that you need a touchscreen to change radio volume. Even US Navy is moving away from touchscreen only due to collusions blamed on it (and experience). Expect consumer marine industry to add more buttons in coming models. Raymarine just did this year, unfortunately they charge a lot more for it.

That being said, touch only is way better than button only.

 

[310sundancer]

I’ve been very happy with the Garman 1042 SXV, paired with the phantom radar. Although I would’ve preferred a highbred unit with touch and knobs, garman is just not there yet.

 

[Ezsteps]

In 2014 I upgraded my 310 with the Garmin 740 chartplotter/ radar combo from West Marine and I was extremely happy with it. I thought it was a pretty simple install. I think Garmin is simple to operate and I didn't have any trouble using the touchscreen. So when I decided to upgrade my 400 I went with Garmin again. I didn't do this install because I was having everything upgraded and didn't understand how to tie everything together so I could run everything from the chartplotter. IMO I prefer the touchscreen over the knobs/buttons I had on my original Raytheon equipment. Good luck with the upgrade.

 

[b_arrington]

Look for units with touchscreen and knobs. I think the marine industry is slowly figuring out what car manufacturers have learned in last few years. It looks fancy to have touchscreen, but knobs are more useable for simple tasks, especially while moving. I won't buy a car that you need a touchscreen to change radio volume. Even US Navy is moving away from touchscreen only due to collusions blamed on it (and experience). Expect consumer marine industry to add more buttons in coming models. Raymarine just did this year, unfortunately they charge a lot more for it.

That being said, touch only is way better than button only.

Definitely touch vs button.

I agree about touch screen on cars. I refused to by a Honda because the volume was via touch only.

That said, I think boats are a little different than cars and I’m more willing to use touch screens on a boat. Where touch on a car leads to more distractions in a faster, more crowded environment, I find touch screens in my boat actually speed up operations. It’s also generally a slower environment with less people around.

One trade off with the models with buttons is a meaningfully smaller screen compared to the overall dimensions. I looked at installing the Garmin button models; where I can fit 2 8612 units, I could could only fit 1 12 inch button model or 2 of the 8 inch models. The side bezel takes up a lot of space.

 

[bobeast]

Touch screens and buttons don't have to be mutually exclusive. Garmin sells a Grid-20 remote that includes assignable buttons as well as a joystick type control. The combo gives you the best of both worlds. Zooming for example is a simple twist of a knob on the remote.

 

[Craig]

I added the remote pad to my axiom and it definitely enhances the user interface. Highly recommend. I think all manufacturers have some sort of remote pad.