Chart Plotter/Sounder

[Jalepeno]

I’m considering asking Santa for a Chart Plotter/Sounder Combo. It is down to either the well respected Standard Horizon CPF180I or the Lowrance Elite-5 Gold. Both are on sale locally right now:
The CPF108I is about $600 plus you have to add the sounder transducer for about $130 plus the Navionics charts for our part of the world for about $200. The total with HST comes to a bit over $1000. Sounds like a lot but that is a lot lower than normal prices.
The Elite-5 Gold is about $600 and the package includes “a special-issue Navionics Gold” mini-SD card. The total with HST comes to about $670.
I was originally going to go for the CPF80I but that is a big difference for the total package. Does anyone have any experience with these units and especially about the “special-issue Navionics Gold charts”?
I'm talking about real Canadian costs and charts for the Canadian west coast. I have no interest in the free US charts.

 

[BarryL]

Hello,

I can't comment on the charts for canada. I can write that I currently own a Lowrance LMS 337 C DF, which looks like an older version of the Elite 5. Anyway, I am very happy with the unit I have. I use to own a smaller Lowrance unit, a 3.5" screen that came with a sounder and built in charts. Those charts were very nice, similar to the Navionics that I have in my current unit.

I have played with the Standard Horizon unit and I find it cumbersome to use. Maybe it's because I am 'trained' on the Lowrance and I like the way it works.

Note that you can download simulators of both products so you can play with them on your PC to get feel for how they operate.

Good luck,
Barry

 

[dscribner]

Jalepeno,

I have no experience with your chartplotter, but I'd like to give you some food for thought, if you don't mind. If you do, just buzz by this post.

I'm a Yankee, through and through. I was looking for a slightly cheaper setup than yours but I had to ask myself, "Do I need this?" Though it would be nice to have a really cool setup for it, I (talking about my own experience) couldn't bring myself to spend $500 for a GPS. So, I found one on EBAY for $180 and bought the blue charts for another $90. I can get depth data and location within 6 meters. For actual depth, I use a sounding line. A little archaic, I admit, but the money I saved is going towards a assym. If money isn't an issue . . go for it! I envy you!

 

[Jalepeno]

Thank you for taking the time to respond and for your feedback. I wish more members would do the same. I think I will go with the Lowrance model.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Not to confuse the issue, but I would take a serious look at Garmin because I think it is great equipment and very intuitive to use. You won't have to pour over the manual to figure out how to use it.

 

[pogo2]

check out www.marine-electrionics-unlimited.com I think you'll be surprised. I have the SH180 with the external antanna, that I mounted ay the Y in my backstay, also have the sounder. For the sailing I do on the Great Lakes its a wonderful unit.