Combined chartplotter & fishfinder or separate?

[divelandy]

Our Raymarine 435i has gone back to be repaired (again) - and requires a new CPU for £230. It's done this every 2 years, for the last 6 and i'm a little tired of it.

Our echo is also in need of replacement this year as the pins are about to break off, so was considering replacing both with a combined unit.

How do you guys recon these combined plotter/ff units hold up, compared to the separate units?

Thanks,
Steve

[Erin]

I'd go for a Garmin 750s if you want a good combi replacement. Excellent value for a touch screen and a nice simple packgage to install.

[divelandy]

Originally Posted by divelandy

Our Raymarine 435i has gone back to be repaired (again)

Wow, found an previous rant about the Raymarine A435i unit failing in the forums

[willk]

I have one that is about five years old - no problems other than a little misting.

Just a thought - you remove your electronics after every trip - those connectors are not really designed for repeated on/off, silly I know but there it is. Every time you connect them, you're potentially introducing contaminants into the pins and sockets on the unit.

Have you checked the power supply to the unit while the engine is running?

[divelandy]

Originally Posted by willk

Just a thought - you remove your electronics after every trip - those connectors are not really designed for repeated on/off, silly I know but there it is. Every time you connect them, you're potentially introducing contaminants into the pins and sockets on the unit.

We do wash down with the unit on, and then remove while the boat is stored.

Originally Posted by willk

Have you checked the power supply to the unit while the engine is running?

What do you mean by this - what am i checking for?

I really like the unit - clear and easy to use, but it's so unreliable...