Raymarine Dragonfly4

[CNYBoater]

I’m looking at the Raymarine Dragonfly4 to add to my 1994 200OVOB. Anyone have any experience with this unit?

I currently have a navonicsPlus subscription on my iPhone and I use a mount to the windshield. I don’t trust my depth sounder as it is a 24 year old lowrance in dash. I like the Navonics capable dragonfly as it will give me the Navonics chart plotter map and depth sounder. It would also free up the dash hole the depth sounder uses to install a round dash mount radio.

I saw the dragonfly4 has a flush mount adapter but I don’t really have a good spot to install it.

 

[roberteb]

In the past I had DF5Pro, nice small unit. But if you have the budget, buy the largest screen size possible

Just quick note: DF4 has not chart option, only the Pro! You Navionics subscription on your iPhone isn;t the same. You need to purchase seperate for DF (or package deal)

 

[CNYBoater]

I use the Navonics+ subscription to record my trip tracks and high/low/average speed, view lake bottom contours, etc. If I get the Dragonfly4/5Pro with the Navonics+ bundle, will the RayMarine do the same, or will I need to run the phone app concurrently to have the trip details?

I'm looking to mount on that round flat section of the console under the windshield, or suction mount to the windshield in the same area. Going to look for the largest unit that will fit there. Requires Admiral approval, so my budget is slim, as I also need to replace the sound system and would like a GPS speedometer.

I'm planning on putting a fair amount of money into a 1994 model, but my cost to date is still about half of NADA.

 

[Bop]

I have the Dragonfly7Pro including sonar installed on my RIB and I like it but don't "love" it. It certainly does everything it should but I find the Raymarine interface/software much less user intuitive than the comparable Garmin. I can't anything particularly bad about it other than that.

 

[CNYBoater]

Well it’s a moot point now. Admiral shut it down since an in dash is less expensive and I’m able to use the iPhone as chart plotter.

 

[CNYBoater]

New information. We already own an AT&T tablet. Downloaded Navonics+ to that so I’ll have my 8” screen chart plotter for the cost of a waterproof case and windshield mount. All without trying up my phone.

Love my frugal Admiral.

 

[NorCal Boater]

My research told me that the tablets don't work well in bright sunlight especially if they get hot. I was planning to use one on my 1985, 23' Cobalt project boat but then I found the Lowrance GO5 unit. https://www.simrad-yachting.com/simrad/series/go-xse/go5-xse-no-xdcr-cmap-pro/. I was updating the instrument panel on this boat I am restoring and I didn't want a GPS unit sitting up in a bracket. I love the clean look and it only has on button on it....the power on. All functions are touch screen....just like the big boys.

At first I was concerned the display would be too small but I liked the fact that it could be flush mounted and the picture is brilliant. It has the latest touch screen technology (pinch to zoom) and it is Wi-Fi capable and will accept all varieties of charts. I installed it and was able to load my Navionics charts from my iPad to the Simrad. Here is a couple of pics of my install.

My only regret is I now think I would have had room for the GO7 7" unit. Your panel looks very similar and it looks like you could mount yours like I did. I bought my unit as a chartplotter/GPS only so I did not get the transducer. My boat is a cocktail cruiser and I will never fish in it so I did not need the available functions the depth sounder offers. I have a 2" digital depth finder above the GPS that matches my new gauges. For me that will be enough.

I shopped around and the prices are pretty fixed but I caught West Marine having a sale and I got $50 off plus I had 3 $10 coupons so I was just over $300. Additionally the reviews were good.

It's nice that there is an option for a really good GPS/Sounder for smaller helms.

Shawn