Not for "fishing"

[Steve509926]

Thanks all, I'm now a lot more clued up.

Think I'm going to go for the Garmin Echoplus 45cv without a transducer, which I can always add if I find I need one. Initially using the Bluechart UK & Ireland charts as it comes pre installed so it would be silly not to. If I find I don't like Bluechart for whatever reason, I can always purchase Navionics charts later.

Never having experienced the Southampton boat show, do prices for accesories online come down when the show is on as they do when the Caravan & Motorhome show is on? Or would I be better waiting for Black Friday / Cyber Monday?

[GuyC]

There are often show specials at the show but I suspect you are probably correct in that you can get the show specials on line during the show. It's a bit of a trek from your neck of the woods down to Southampton.

Cactusnav and Marine Superstore are both selling the Garmin 45CV at less than £300 at the moment.

[Fenlander]

>>>I'm going to go for the Garmin Echoplus 45cv

I really think you'll be pleased. Great screen, logical menu flow and intuitive button operation which I prefer to the touchscreen of my current Montana.

In some ways I made a mistake selling mine on and getting the Montana... I should just have ditched the depth side of things so saving the trouble of mounting the transducer and leading its cable to the main unit.

[chipko]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Think I'm going to go for the Garmin Echoplus 45cv without a transducer

Good choice.

Garmin groupies here I’m afraid. Started with car sat nav, progressed to cycling nav/fitness shite and now with Echoplus 75 on rib and 45cv on sib and back up Navionics on phone.

Little 45 on sib more than adequate, screen a tad small but all okay for day trips…not talking transatlantic crossings are we. Easy to use and G3 ‘chartography’ good enough for us. Not a fisherman so only use transducer for actual depths and run mapping full screen with salient data displayed at top/bottom of screen. Wouldn’t miss the additional transducer info on the sib for everyday use to be honest.

All powered by the ubiquitous diy sarni box battery mounted under seat. Runs for days on a single charge.

[Steve509926]

Hi Chipko, is that a Poover battery in the box?

[chipko]

Yes, well spotted.

Cheapo Chinese 20a 12v Poover lithium battery (only 1.2 kilo) and charger.

Two years old and not exploded yet.

[GuyC]

I'm also a Garmin person having used them as a WAFI, motorcyclist, in cars and on my RIB. The only slight disgruntlement that I have is that Garmin seem to be moving away from PC based planning to app based where I need to use a tablet or phone to do the planning. I'd rather do the planning on a big PC monitor than a tablet.

[Steve509926]

May have to wait a little longer than I'd hoped for the Garmin 45.

Mrs T has commandeered the idea "what a great Christmas present from the kids"

At least when I have it, I know I'll be in some esteemed company

[Fenlander]

Have you pointed out that however much goodwill there is in that... it's over 3 months away and unacceptable to have a boating present held over until midwinter?

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Have you pointed out that however much goodwill there is in that... it's over 3 months away and unacceptable to have a boating present held over until midwinter?

That's a risk! But it might be one worth taking

[Poly]

Given the type of question, I'm going to suggest that a shorebased nav course (https://www.rya.org.uk/training/cour...ip-course-bnsc) would be a good Christmas present too!

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Poly

Given the type of question, I'm going to suggest that a shorebased nav course (https://www.rya.org.uk/training/cour...ip-course-bnsc) would be a good Christmas present too!

That's not a bad idea Poly

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

If going into shallow / rocky areas the only thing that will spot a submerged obstruction ahead is the Mark 1 eye -ideally fitted to a suitably placed crew member - e.g. hanging over the bow!

Or forward scanning sonar. Using Garmin Panoptix I can see 100ft in front of the boat, However, I generally try to avoid less than 5ft of water where there might be rock pinnacles lurking ..........

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

Or forward scanning sonar. Using Garmin Panoptix I can see 100ft in front of the boat, However, I generally try to avoid less than 5ft of water where there might be rock pinnacles lurking ..........

5ft!!!!!! I wouldn't have gone to at least 50% of the places that I've visited this year. Sometimes I was less than 12"
There has been the odd occasion that I've had to get out and walk off a sand bank to refloat Redneck, but I've always expected sand beneath me. I've always thought that's what a SIB is for "To boldly go where no one's been before" (strange that they always found someone had got there before them!)

[gpsguru]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

5ft!!!!!! I wouldn't have gone to at least 50% of the places that I've visited this year. Sometimes I was less than 12"
There has been the odd occasion that I've had to get out and walk off a sand bank to refloat Redneck, but I've always expected sand beneath me. I've always thought that's what a SIB is for "To boldly go where no one's been before" (strange that they always found someone had got there before them!)

Most of my time is spent fishing 20 - 30 miles offshore !

[GuyC]

The idea of a forward looking sonar (FLS) is pretty cool. I can see the benefit of it for fishing and when you are in a bigger boat trying to thread yourself down a narrow channel. Up in the Hebrides for example where the water depth can go from 20m to 0m in an instant, I'm always very wary nosing in to the shore.

I employ one of the crew as a spotter. Unfortunately as he seems entirely blind to the trail of devestation he leaves in the kitchen as a result of making a small sandwich, there is always an element of doubt in my mind as to whether a) he would notice the rocky pinnacle or b) think it was important enough to mention. A FLS would be helpful in these situations.

As the forward range seems to be based on the depth of water, the water depths being explored by a SIB would often negate any benefit of the FL bit of the sonar.

I think the Garmin 45 plus a course would make ideal Xmas presents.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by GuyC

I think the Garmin 45 plus a course would make ideal Xmas presents.

Me too

[jonp]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

Or forward scanning sonar. Using Garmin Panoptix I can see 100ft in front of the boat, However, I generally try to avoid less than 5ft of water where there might be rock pinnacles lurking ..........

Realistically how good is the forward panoptics ? I have considered it but I already have a panoptics p30, Airmar 175hw and a GT51 on my 14ft boat. I have considered the forward scope but its range is not 100ft if in 5ft of water, its more like 15-20ft from what I can gather, which would mean creeping about at snails pace in the shallows.

[Steve509926]

I have it on very good authority that a Garmin 45cv will be under the Christmas tree so I will be needing a compatible transducer.

I would appreciate some advice.

What transducer recommendations would you give, bearing in mind I am more interested in not hitting a rock/reef rather than catching fish.

[Steve509926]

So the box under the tree from the kids turned out to be as promised by Mrs T

Had to wait until today when all the bits came to sort out the battery box (already had a spare alarm battery) and fit it to the front bench.

You may notice a very similar design to Chipko's. My thoughts being "Why re-invent the wheel" - thanks Chipko