Gps plotter/ echo sounder

[Rossc]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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