Hi Folks -
I am in the market for a new chartplotter.
Currently I have a Magellan Meridian Color unit with a SD card for my local charts - however the unit has very poor sunlight viewabilty, and a small display, and Magellan orphaned the line's support, killing the WAAS (I found an unsupported firmware hack - no thanks to Magellan) - so I am looking for a better unit.
I have been looking at Raymarine and Standard Horizon, and am open to others as well. Lots of folks seem to use Raymarine, but I can't seem to get a handle on why they command a price premium. For Example:
http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=154&products_id=5387
or...
http://www.thechandleryonline.com//product.asp?dept_id=1205&pf_id=065_EE33020
What am I getting for 800 bucks more ??
My requirements are:
- sunlight viewable display
- weather-resistant (wont get dunked, but might seem some rainfall in cockpit)
- WAAS corrections - we have some really tight areas here......
- 5 to 7 inch display
- internal antenna preferred, but not a deal breaker.
- dont give too hoots about radar or fish finder interface - not useful to me
- charts that I can get upgrades for - the Magellan has been a horror show - never again from that company.
- any brand except Magellan / Thales.
What do you folks think / recommend ?
Note that I am in Canada - so the freebie US Coastal charts offered by most vendors are about as useful as one dollar rebate to me......ie: unless it comes with an option for a detailed Canadian chart area (NOT the Navionics silver stuff - too coarse for my use), the "included" charts are not really a decision factor.
Paul
I am in the market for a new chartplotter.
Currently I have a Magellan Meridian Color unit with a SD card for my local charts - however the unit has very poor sunlight viewabilty, and a small display, and Magellan orphaned the line's support, killing the WAAS (I found an unsupported firmware hack - no thanks to Magellan) - so I am looking for a better unit.
I have been looking at Raymarine and Standard Horizon, and am open to others as well. Lots of folks seem to use Raymarine, but I can't seem to get a handle on why they command a price premium. For Example:
http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=154&products_id=5387
or...
http://www.thechandleryonline.com//product.asp?dept_id=1205&pf_id=065_EE33020
What am I getting for 800 bucks more ??
My requirements are:
- sunlight viewable display
- weather-resistant (wont get dunked, but might seem some rainfall in cockpit)
- WAAS corrections - we have some really tight areas here......
- 5 to 7 inch display
- internal antenna preferred, but not a deal breaker.
- dont give too hoots about radar or fish finder interface - not useful to me
- charts that I can get upgrades for - the Magellan has been a horror show - never again from that company.
- any brand except Magellan / Thales.
What do you folks think / recommend ?
Note that I am in Canada - so the freebie US Coastal charts offered by most vendors are about as useful as one dollar rebate to me......ie: unless it comes with an option for a detailed Canadian chart area (NOT the Navionics silver stuff - too coarse for my use), the "included" charts are not really a decision factor.
Paul