Gps plotter/ echo sounder

Rossc · 29 March 2010, 12:12

Peeps the dive club I'm in are looking to purchase a gps plotter / echo sounder for our rib we would like to spend no more than £700 for a combined unit ... Would any one have any recomendations please...

treerat · 29 March 2010, 12:22

Welcome accross young Ross.

I'm sure those in the know will be along shortly to give you their depth of knowledge - and just as YD there are some great fonts of knowledge on here.

Downhilldai · 29 March 2010, 12:49

Are you limited in what physical size unit you can fit?

Do you need chart software included? If so, do you need local or national charts?

Internal or external antenna?

£700 is a bit mid-market. There's loads of small units around for around £400-£500, but the bigger stuff tends to be £1000+

Rossc · 29 March 2010, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Are you limited in what physical size unit you can fit?

Do you need chart software included? If so, do you need local or national charts?

Internal or external antenna?

£700 is a bit mid-market. There's loads of small units around for around £400-£500, but the bigger stuff tends to be £1000+

Max size we could fit on top of the console and behind the wind screen 10x 8 inch roughly.

We have an aframe so mounting an antenna isn't a problem

charts would be good ... We mainly dive local to us Lyme bay Weymouth but do head down Plymouth and Cornwall every once in while.:-)

Razorbill RIBs · 29 March 2010, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by treerat

Welcome accross young Ross......just as YD there are some great fonts of knowledge on here.

Hi Ross, welcome.....

My migration happened the other way around to you....RIBnet to YD (Razorbill Dan on YD).

When we were looking for a new plotter for the RIB we went with the Standard Horizon C180i (i=internal antenna so no need to mount on A frame). Quite a lot of people on here recommended them....and they were right, the joystick is fab too.

The next size up C300i has larger screen, but IMO I am perfectly happy with the 180 screen size. I am, afterall, standing right next to it...

Dan

Channel Ribs · 29 March 2010, 15:51

For a combined plotter/sounder I would start with the compact Garmins, they are all a similar physical size but you have three screen size and resolutions to choose from according to budget:

451S, 551S and 556S With prices ranging from about 420 to 680 with transducers. They all have a basemap included but more detailed charts are easily added if you find a need.

BruceB · 29 March 2010, 15:56

I would second that, for a club unit I would stick with Garmin as the are very intuitive. I prefer Lowrance now but only because I am the only one using them so the awkward bits aren't so awkward to use as I know them.
For lots of folk using them something that can be used with a limited amount of familiarity and no instructions is the best type of unit.

Downhilldai · 29 March 2010, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

They all have a basemap included but more detailed charts are easily added if you find a need.

'basemap' is a bit of an understatement for these units. The pre-loaded chart software has the same detail as the Garmin Bluechart cartridges available for previous Garmin units. The 'G2 Vision' SD card upgrade gives underwater view, aerial photos, etc.

Channel Ribs · 29 March 2010, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

.... 'basemap' is a bit of an understatement...

Well said. That is why I put "if you find a need" but your way is much more succinct.

And yep, Bruce is right about Garmin - few people even feel the need to open the destructions as they work pretty much how you think they will.

Razorbill RIBs · 29 March 2010, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

Well said. That is why I put "if you find a need" but your way is much more succinct.

And yep, Bruce is right about Garmin - few people even feel the need to open the destructions as they work pretty much how you think they will.

As a caveat to my earlier post, I would agree that garmin is intuitive. It took me a little time to adjust to the Standard Horizon.....getting there now though.....and I really do like that joystick operation....

Dan

Channel Ribs · 29 March 2010, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Worth

and I really do like that joystick operation....

Nipple

The Horizons are great, but when it comes to value for money in the depth soundering then their need for a black box is a downer.

Rossc · 29 March 2010, 19:37

guys thank you very much for the info so far :O)

Units i'm going to look at so far are ....

Garmin 5515 and a couple other simular

Lowrance HS5 and maybe the 7 if i can squeeze some more out of the commitee

Standard horizon cpf180i and maybe the 300

ive seen quite a good deal on a simrad NX40 NAVSTATION 8.4 INCH again this would involve hanging the committee up by the ankles and giving thema shake

Should i discount any of these to make the search easier ??

Chris · 29 March 2010, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossc

guys thank you very much for the info so far :O)

Units i'm going to look at so far are ....

Garmin 5515 and a couple other simular

Lowrance HS5 and maybe the 7 if i can squeeze some more out of the commitee

Standard horizon cpf180i and maybe the 300

ive seen quite a good deal on a simrad NX40 NAVSTATION 8.4 INCH again this would involve hanging the committee up by the ankles and giving thema shake

Should i discount any of these to make the search easier ??

I previously had a Garmin which was OK and had little trouble with it. I now have a Lowrance 38C (8" screen). TBH I prefer the Lowrance and I think the build quality is better. The transom mount trasducer is also a much stronger unit than the Garmin one.

I found both to be fairly easy to operate without the manual to hand.

walruz · 29 March 2010, 21:01

I have an older Garmn GPSMAP 178 with sounder in B & W. Has been trouble free. I drove someone elses boat down here with Lowrance last summer (I don't have a clue which model). The biggest difference I found was my Garmin picked up Satelites and was opporational in seconds where the Lowrance took over 5 mins.

Just my tuppence worth.

Ian

Downhilldai · 30 March 2010, 00:23

I'm just finishing off a winter re-fit to my SR4.7 which has been treated to a new Garmin 551S. The menu system seems quite straightforward to use (in my garage, anyway - it hasn't been outside yet)

It's good to have all the UK charts pre-loaded, if you intend to take the boat to new venues.

lucky ribster · 12 April 2010, 21:37

have a look at the garmin 550s very easy to use and you should get change