Does anybody have any experience with Sitex chartplotters? They appear to be the best value (features for cost).
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The silence says it all !!!
Please don't buy a chart plotter based on price! I've owned Furuno, Raymarine, Northstar and Garmin chart plotters and I find Garmins to have the best reliability, customer service and ease of use. Buying an off brand, IMHO, in the marine industry usually spells trouble somewhere down the road. That said the most expensive units, like my very expensive Northstar, are not always the most reliable. Get consensus on the forums and you'll be in good shape. Having been on this forum for many, many years I'd have to say that Garmin has the biggest fan base.. My buddy Kai bought a cheapie "Lowrance" and it died in four weeks! He sent it in for warranty repair, and got it back still broken, even after waiting many months to get it back. He threw it in the trash and bought a Garmin 176 that still works to this day. The Garmin would have cost him $62.00 more at he time he bought the Lowrance.. Penny wise pound foolish!!
Please don't buy a chart plotter based on price! I've owned Furuno, Raymarine, Northstar and Garmin chart plotters and I find Garmins to have the best reliability, customer service and ease of use. Buying an off brand, IMHO, in the marine industry usually spells trouble somewhere down the road. That said the most expensive units, like my very expensive Northstar, are not always the most reliable. Get consensus on the forums and you'll be in good shape. Having been on this forum for many, many years I'd have to say that Garmin has the biggest fan base.. My buddy Kai bought a cheapie "Lowrance" and it died in four weeks! He sent it in for warranty repair, and got it back still broken, even after waiting many months to get it back. He threw it in the trash and bought a Garmin 176 that still works to this day. The Garmin would have cost him $62.00 more at he time he bought the Lowrance.. Penny wise pound foolish!!
I still like Raymarine
I've seen several responses on on-line from people, who seem to be down on Raymarine equipment. I've had a Raymarine chartplotter on my boat for 3 years and have had no problems with it. I have been able to get software updates from the Raymarine website, and have updated my plotter twice. I still believe that many problems result from a substandard initial installation. All that aside, had the Garmin equipment been available when I bought my electronics, I would have given it strong consideration. Garmin has a great reputation.
I've seen several responses on on-line from people, who seem to be down on Raymarine equipment. I've had a Raymarine chartplotter on my boat for 3 years and have had no problems with it. I have been able to get software updates from the Raymarine website, and have updated my plotter twice. I still believe that many problems result from a substandard initial installation. All that aside, had the Garmin equipment been available when I bought my electronics, I would have given it strong consideration. Garmin has a great reputation.
Chart Plotters
l'Attitudes6 We have had a Raymarine C-80 chart Plotter since we bought our boat in Sept 2004. Loved its faultless performance. 6 weeks ago a pin came out of the Compact Flash Card reader of the plotter (probably due to our error, i.e. putting in the card carelessly). Sent the plotter back to Raymarine in NH. 12 days later we got it back postage paid, fixed, software upgraded, and marked NC (no charge, warranty.) Actually the warranty expired a year ago, but they still fixed it for free. We understand that Raymarine has a fairly new high quality service program in place. to try and salvage a formerly less than desireable reputation. I'd say they have achieved their goal. "Bravo Zulu" Raymarine!
l'Attitudes6 We have had a Raymarine C-80 chart Plotter since we bought our boat in Sept 2004. Loved its faultless performance. 6 weeks ago a pin came out of the Compact Flash Card reader of the plotter (probably due to our error, i.e. putting in the card carelessly). Sent the plotter back to Raymarine in NH. 12 days later we got it back postage paid, fixed, software upgraded, and marked NC (no charge, warranty.) Actually the warranty expired a year ago, but they still fixed it for free. We understand that Raymarine has a fairly new high quality service program in place. to try and salvage a formerly less than desireable reputation. I'd say they have achieved their goal. "Bravo Zulu" Raymarine!
I agree with raymarine comments
I have had a C-80 installed since June-2004 with no issues. As mentioned previously I also keep up with the software updates which are easy to install. I really appreciate how well integrated it is with the rest of the systems. I especially like the radar overlay on top of the charts. It really helps distinguish what is a landmark and what is not. I added an integrated Raymarine gyroscope this year and I now have MARPA (see link below). With MARPA I now have target tracking working. Really helpful in the thick New England fog I run into occasionally. Andy
I have had a C-80 installed since June-2004 with no issues. As mentioned previously I also keep up with the software updates which are easy to install. I really appreciate how well integrated it is with the rest of the systems. I especially like the radar overlay on top of the charts. It really helps distinguish what is a landmark and what is not. I added an integrated Raymarine gyroscope this year and I now have MARPA (see link below). With MARPA I now have target tracking working. Really helpful in the thick New England fog I run into occasionally. Andy
Raymarine
I have owned ray chartplotters since my first hunter in 2001 and now have a new C-80 in my 2007 and just love it. When I owned my 2001 chartplotter was always helpful to me without complaints,tech service was great on the phone. Nick
I have owned ray chartplotters since my first hunter in 2001 and now have a new C-80 in my 2007 and just love it. When I owned my 2001 chartplotter was always helpful to me without complaints,tech service was great on the phone. Nick
Garmin 4208
I purchased a Garmin this year and am not dissapointed. They have all the maps loaded and user friendly. Look on the bright side... whatever you purchase... 5 years down the road it won't be supported anymore.
I purchased a Garmin this year and am not dissapointed. They have all the maps loaded and user friendly. Look on the bright side... whatever you purchase... 5 years down the road it won't be supported anymore.
Garmin at annapolis Boat Show
Funny story - a young salesman at the Boater's world tent at the recent Annapolis boat show was showing a new Garmin 4208 to a fellow sailor. The salesman was looking up prices so I listened in. I don't recall the exact prices but for sake of argument lets say he says the 4208 has a boat show special of $1720. the other sailor asked how much for the XM weather module and the guy looked this up and said $430. the salesman than says "so that would make it about $1250 plus tax". the other sailor and I looked at each other and both grabbed for our wallets at the exact same moment. the sales guys was shocked at how quickly both of us were ready to buy when he reealized his eror and said, "no, that's like $2200". I know we wouldn't have made it past the cash register, but I thought we had one hell of a deal. BTW - I have had both Garmin and Raymarine chartplotters. I prefer the Garmin units for looks, ease of use, updates, etc....and I really like this new generation with the preloaded charts and screens. Next year I'm upgrading my systems and the Garmin 4208 or whatever replacement unit they have at that time is on my short list. tim
Funny story - a young salesman at the Boater's world tent at the recent Annapolis boat show was showing a new Garmin 4208 to a fellow sailor. The salesman was looking up prices so I listened in. I don't recall the exact prices but for sake of argument lets say he says the 4208 has a boat show special of $1720. the other sailor asked how much for the XM weather module and the guy looked this up and said $430. the salesman than says "so that would make it about $1250 plus tax". the other sailor and I looked at each other and both grabbed for our wallets at the exact same moment. the sales guys was shocked at how quickly both of us were ready to buy when he reealized his eror and said, "no, that's like $2200". I know we wouldn't have made it past the cash register, but I thought we had one hell of a deal. BTW - I have had both Garmin and Raymarine chartplotters. I prefer the Garmin units for looks, ease of use, updates, etc....and I really like this new generation with the preloaded charts and screens. Next year I'm upgrading my systems and the Garmin 4208 or whatever replacement unit they have at that time is on my short list. tim
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