Which Electronic to put?

[Chopppywaters]

If you only had the choice of one of these electronics to put on your RIB what would it be?

1)Garmin 182C Color GPSMAP
2)Garmin 188C Color Sounder

Im ordering my boat tomorrow and i still cant decide heh

[Scary Des]

VHF got to be your first choice. Des

[Chopppywaters]

Took VHF off the list im just gonna use a Hand Held one i decided

[UKPOWERBOAT]

I have the 188c in my rib with the sounder and am very pleased with it. Found it to be very accurate. Have had no experience of the 182c but have just orderred a new 188c for my new Rib due end of this week.

[dctucker]

If you're into fishing, certainly the sounder. If not, unless you have a specific need for it, it's of little use IMHO. If you'll be doing lots of cruising and exploring, it may be of some use. However, in our area, you're more likely to go from 30' to a 1' rock! In which case the sounder is again, of little use. I want the sounder, as one of the important uses of my boat in the future will be coaching my wife's disabled sailing team. Knowing water depths across the racecourse will be useful strategic information.

I would seriously reconsider a fixed mount VHF. I frequently carry a handheld, but in my history I have:
1. Dropped it overboard
2. Run down the battery many times
3. Broken the antenna, rendering it useless
4. Left it behind many times

In my entire lifetime of boating I have never experienced any failure of a fixed mount VHF. Not to say you can't have an electrical problem which would cause a problem, but it's never happened to me. And you can't forget to bring it with you or recharge it. Again, just my opinion & experience...

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

If you only had the choice of one of these electronics to put on your RIB what would it be?

1)Garmin 182C Color GPSMAP
2)Garmin 188C Color Sounder

Im ordering my boat tomorrow and i still cant decide heh

To answer the question, get the GPSMAP, you can add a sender on it and have a fishfinder built in as well!

[Chopppywaters]

Alright thanks guys, especialy DCtucker since hes in my area. I didnt really think of the rock scenario hehe. And i rarely go fishing so maybe with the little money i will save from buyin the GPS i can get a mounted VHF too...ill figure somethin out

[DGR]

The Garmin 188C is both a GPS Map and a sounder already. I've got one - and really like it.

D...

[Chopppywaters]

well i just customized the boat and i ended up putting no GPS or sounder heh. Instead i put a stereo with 2 speakers and a built in VHF. Is a sounder really necessary if i am just going to be cruising around in familiar waters? And you can always ask for directions and save 1500USD on a GPS

[boatbuoy]

Don't forget a Mounted VHF is 25Watt output, and a handheld is 5watt max. I know which I'd rather be using in a mayday situation.