garmin 168 gps fishfinder

[The Jackeens]

Has anyone got or tried one of these.

I am looking for a gps first and the fishfinder / water temp second.

Seems like a reasonable price for the spec of it although I havn't seen one in the flesh.

Have carried out numerous searchs here and it is a mind field of selections and choices.

Any others to recommend have set aside £500 quid for the toy.
I liked the look of the Navman 450 which had the fuel consumption but alas not the GPS.

Any advise from my esteamed oldies would be most welcome.

[Charles]

Surely you mean Garmin? - You cannot go wrong with any Garmin product.

[Mike B]

I have its poorer cousin the 125 GPS/Sounder

It doesn't have any background mapping but it does exactly what it is supposed to and I have no complaints.

[The Jackeens]

Sorted the spelling.

It says it stores 2.5 mb of maps in the internal memory - no card slot.

I have no idea in reality what that means !!!!

Is 10 miles 20 miles of coast line or what.

Its no good going on a cruise to Poole if the gps map doesn't go that distance.

[jools]

Well I have the Garmin 188 - this is a combined Chartplotter and Fishfinder (water temp) all in one.

You can select between nav Chart and Fishfinder screens, or how I normaly have mine set up displaying the chart with a digital display of speed and depth at the top

Looking at the garmin website the 162 you mention is Bluechart compatable and has 2.5Mb of internal memory

To get proper charts on the unit you would have to purchase the Bluechart CD and then download the section of coast you were going to visit into the plotter.

I would have thought 2.5Mb would have given you a reasonable area - maybe say, covering the Solent or a bit more.

With my 188 I have used the Preprogrammed cards, which I think are 32Mb. These cover a huge area, say from Lands end to the Thames and everything inbetween including Northen France and the Ch. Islands.

looks like you get all the cables with the 162 - I've just found these are quite expensive for the 188!!!

Amyway - as said the garmin units - and Bluecharts - are excellent, consider a combined plotter and fishfinder - takes up less space on the console and must save some pennies!

Cheers
Jools

[The Jackeens]

Thanks for that.
The one I am considering is tht 168 which includes the fishfinder water temp gps etc, seems to be the little brother (cheaper) of the 188 which is a little too expensive for me.

The screen is smaller that the 188 but the main diffenence seems to be the 2.5 mb limitation on the extra charts and this is my consern.
Not much point in having to being a laptop along to upload additional coverage !!!

Cost is under £500 quid for the unit excluding the sonar sensor £30 ish +charts

As a newbie I am oviously nervous on getting a unit suitable for may needs. Would love the 188 but the bucks are too high.

[Charles]

A VERY important consideration on a rib is the screen size. Get the biggest you can possibly afford.

[Dilbert]

One word of warning - whatever model you finally decide on, it will have a 'fish lier' not a fish finder!


On a serious note, agree with going as large as practical with the screen. Also ensure that you are happy with the angle of the screen to the helm. Nothing worse than having to strain your neck looking at a badly fitted GPS unit!

[Dilbert]

I know - Should read liar, not lier!! Two finger typing too fast!

[Rene]

HI

If you in any way can afford the 188 go for that one.

I'm considering changing my 176 for the 182 (I have an other fish liar), because of screen size.

Rene