chart plotters?

Mark · #1 01-27-2003, 11:36 PM

Considering getting the Garmin 182C chart plotter. Anyone care to give their thoughts on this or other similar units? Trying to keep it under $1000 if that is any guide....

thanks.

Finster · #2 01-28-2003, 08:25 AM

Mark, I hear their good and those bluecharts kick butt, best e-chart out there from what I hear.

jw · #3 01-28-2003, 09:06 AM

Mark,
I know nothing of the Garmins, only have experience with FURUNO, I think the 1610cp is around 12-14 hundred plus the cards. Worth comparing.
JW

John R · #4 01-28-2003, 10:36 AM

Mark - a freind of mine just gone one and likes it but it was tough looking at in the glare, Polarized glasses helped me see it but it was still tough. Have not seen enough of outher ones in the same conditions to know if it would be any better... We were still tricking the unit out but ran into some interference problems with the VHF

Matt1121 · #5 01-28-2003, 11:10 AM

If you swing the extra $200....I would go for the Garmin 188C. It has a LCD color TFT screen, so glare isn't as much of a problem. It aslo has chart plotting capabilities with Garmin's custom Blue charts chip and it also has a dual frequency sounder (50khz and 200khz).

I recently bought one but have not installed it yet. I bought it from Voyager Marine Electronics in Essex, MA for $1154 with the transom mount transducer included. The Blue Chart plotting chip was an extra $130-150.

-Ed-

Matt1121 · #6 01-28-2003, 11:11 AM

If you swing the extra $200....I would go for the Garmin 188C. It has a LCD color TFT screen, so glare isn't as much of a problem. It aslo has chart plotting capabilities with Garmin's custom Blue charts chip and it also has a dual frequency sounder (50khz and 200khz).

I recently bought one but have not installed it yet. I bought it from Voyager Marine Electronics in Essex, MA for $1154 with the transom mount transducer included. The Blue Chart plotting chip was an extra $130-150.

-Ed-

Finster · #7 01-28-2003, 12:00 PM

You might want to give www.consumermarine.com a call and ask them. They have all the units and can give you the skinny on each. I prefer to go in person and press all the buttons.......If you call talk to Wayne Ryan, he seems to be the best.

GetReel · #8 01-28-2003, 12:59 PM

Just bought the 182C and two charts, one chart is good to about 25 miles out only, then if you ever run further out about to the 30 or 40 fathom line you need the canyons chart (depending on your location), which will take you from the Hudson to the Poormans. I got the canyons chart because I'm running beyond the inshore chart, but also want the detail of the inshore chart.
Boat show price saved another $150 or so off the low price listed at Consumers, great unit for the money!

Scott · #9 01-29-2003, 01:25 AM

Mark.....I would give Consumer Marine a call

This is starting to sound like an ad for CME ....BUT ...as mentioned above they are great to work with..and they sell everything( I'm sure there are lots of other places out there as good ... we are just fortunate to have them in our back yard)..I've never dealt with them over the internet or phone so I can say , but in person they are great and very knowledgeable ....and like Jeff says ...wait for a boat show to buy .... there stuff always goes on sale at that time

Finster · #10 01-29-2003, 01:29 AM

They'll give you boat show price now....or aleast they used to right before the show [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I assume you talking about the AC show.....Any of you Jersey guys going? Maybe we could plan a meeting of our own. And there's a HOOTERS over by the Tropicana [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ January 28, 2003, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Finster ]