Chartplotter advice needed

[dave]

I am finally going to put a chartplotter on my Alumaweld. I want as large a unit that will fit on the dash. It needs to have an internal antenna and be able to be removed easily when I'm not using it. I want it very user friendly. I have a Raymarine C70 on the other boat, and I really don't like it. I don't want a touch screen. How are the Lowrance HDS 8 & 10 units? How about Garmin or Standard Horizon. It will not be hooked to a marine VHF. I may or may not put a depth finder on it.

Suggestions, observations, complaints?

[Chaps]

I have the HDS-10 and its strong suite is the depth/fishfinder function especially if you get the side scan sonar, I wouldn't spend the money for it if your main interest is chart. I'd probably go Garmin.

[MacCTD]

I have a HDS7, I really like the chart portion of the unit, the detail of the insight USA is great. I use it for a fish finder as well.

[pjay9]

I have the HDS system...the chart side is really good...the button pushing is sometimes a little cumbersome to do the track and route stuff...but once you get it down it does a wonderful job.

The fish finder side is very good and with the addition of the side-scan it has become even more useful. I have experienced chart-plotters from Garmin and Furuno and some other on different yachts I have piloted. Some are really easy to operate and others..GET the MANUAL OUT!

So basically it is up to you...but I do think the HDS will be a good unit on your/our size boats...plus it can do so much, Radar Weather overlay, Steering, trip plan, record data of trip both route and depth/fish...if your motor has the right plugs then it can do the gages also...it is amazing! But somewhat pricey...but they all are! Capt PJ

[dave]

I'm going to take the boat down to West Marine to see what will fit. On a 16 ft boat, I am more interested in navigation than fish finding, however it would be nice to know how shallow the water is. When I run aground, I just jump out and push it into deeper water. A 7 to 10 inch unit is as big as I will get.

[dave]

I got a Garmin 740S with the Blue Chart G2 Vision card.

[dave]

I just finished getting my new Garmin 740S installed. I will be evaluating it tomorrow.

[pjay9]

That is a good unit...hope it does what you need and want. Will be waiting to see what you think. Capt PJ

[Kelper]

I've been pretty impressed with the raymarine 57d. It's seems to be the perfect size for me. It takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you figure out how to do everything on it, it's rather easy to use. One of these days I'll actually read the instructions, and find out what it really can do.

[dave]

I've been pretty impressed with the raymarine 57d. It's seems to be the perfect size for me. It takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you figure out how to do everything on it, it's rather easy to use. One of these days I'll actually read the instructions, and find out what it really can do.

I have a Raymarine C70 with radar and a Raymarine VHF radio all networked on my big boat. I really have problems with the Raymarine. It isn't user friendly enough.

I have been out twice with the Garmin. It is OK. The Blue chart G2 vision card is really just a gimmick. It really doesn't add much usable info. Just another way to see the road ahead. It really isn't worth $300. One observation is that I would never get a GPS any smaller than the 7 inch ones I have now.

[Kelper]

What functions are you having trouble with?

[dave]

What functions are you having trouble with?

For one, I would like to have the chart on full screen with the depth in a little box as a number as I can do on the Garmin 740S. As it is now, I have to have a split screen to also have my depth.

The radar is hard to use.

I get two speed and mileage readings, and the difference is not miles vs knots. The one is about 1/2 of the other.

[3f8]

My experience with my Humminbird 1195 has been good. It dose not support side scan. It will be replaced by an HDS 10. I can add side scan and broadband radar. The HDS 10 supports the same Navtronics chart chip. So it should give the same chart performance as the 1195. Charting on the 1195 is fine. If my Humminbird supported N2k and side scan I would not being doing this. The HDS 10 looks real good from here.