Garmin 541/546 vs. Raymarine Chartplotter

Don S/V ILLusion · Jan 2, 2011

I don't know any sailor who has a forward looking sonar and frankly, anything of any utility would cost a fortune. The only critical consideration when choosing a chartplotter is visibility in bright sunlight; other than that, it's purely a matter of personal preference which you choose.
The best advice I can give is to go to your local marine store and look for yourself what the differences are among the myriad of choices and pick the one you like best.

They all do the same thing, the same way.

Joe A · Jan 2, 2011

i love my 546S but you dont want that

I was using a laptop with SeaClearII until I sprang for the 546S. Very usable in direct sunlight and only draws about a quarter to a half an amp most of the time. I love it. I mounted it on a swivel TV mount in the companionway so I can use it either outside or inside. Since it has the coastal charts it is NOT the one for you. You need a different model that has the inland lakes and rivers. Go to Garmin's website to figure out which (i think it's the 536) has the charts you need. The sonar (S) doesn't cost that much to add so I did. Since you'll likely have it for a long time, I would recommend paying for the higher resolution. Just make sure it has the sunlight readable coating like Don said.

kloudie1 · Jan 2, 2011

I have been using the 545 now for a couple of years.. and I really like it. The 546 is basically an improved 545 .. I decided on the better screen because of old eyes and I would do it again. A couple of years ago, the 545 was for coastal use and another number was for inland lakes .. my only problem with it has been the maps aren't 100% tied to reality. The vector chart translations in the vicinity of Slidell, Louisiana are off by 75 yards or so on my unit.. (yes, I have upgraded the software a couple of times) There are probably some other shifted maps, but I haven't found them yet. The SeaClear running on the laptop on raster charts showed the world correctly while the Garmin was showing me out in the marsh instead of in the channel.
Ilike the Garmin/human interface better than the others. Prior, I was using LORAN and paper charts, and a little handheld Garmin as backup.

caguy · Jan 2, 2011

I like having the sonar on my Garmin 398. I like the shallow water warning alarm when for when I'm not paying attention. Especially around the jetties at MDR. The "no go" zone in always changing depending on dredging and tides. As mentioned it's also helpful for fishing.

seadaddler · Jan 2, 2011

C-80

I have a C-80 on my Hunter 36 and it interfaces with all my other instruments that I have hooked up to my C-80 speed,wind,dept ,radar XM weather,Autopilot,DSC VGF it also can interface with sonar,AIS.
I am no computer geek and I find it very good at giving all the info sailing cruising plus alot more than I use it has taken me about a year to see and use all the things it can do.
I have know knowledge of garm except a handheld 76CX which I use Kayaking and it's pretty good and have as backup but never needed it on the boat,I am sure the guys that use garmin also have all good things to say also.
nick

rpwillia · Jan 2, 2011

Sonar /Fishfinder is useful

With the extra resoluton, as compared to the ST60 number readout, you understand a lot better what is below you. You can see the depth contour and view the occasional depth warning as kelp or other junk underwater.

Garmin chartplotters are OK. Garmin FWIW does their own charts while just about everyone else uses Navionics. Both are based, I believe, on the NOAA charts.

Stu Jackson · Jan 2, 2011

Spike033 said:
Wow, thanks for all the input. I checked with West Marine and the Great Lakes are considered "connected" to the coastal regions so the 546/541 is appropriate for the Great Lakes.

Spike, you might want to confirm what you were told by WM by visiting the Garmin website yourself and doing more research. While Garmin does make wide area charts that confirm what WM says, they also make charts for the great lakes.

Try this: http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/lang/en/inlandlakes

Good luck in your choice.

stephen Penny · Jan 2, 2011

Look at the Garmin 3206 or 3210. A year ago I installed a 3210 with radar. You can find both on line at very low prices. The chartplotter offers a split screen for chart and radar and is large enough to avoid using reading glasses to view. I have used both in fog and at night and will find them useful off shore. I have been off shore on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts without radar on other folk’s boats and would not do that again with all the unknown boat traffic.

stephen Penny · Jan 2, 2011

The following link sells one for $1150. I purchased a Garmine 3210 for $1000 + Garmin HD radar for $400 one year ago. Over the year i goggled the 3210 and found it available for ~$1000. Good luck.

http://www.fishingboatingstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=32137

Mike Petsch · Jan 3, 2011

Garmin Does not have Maps Updates for Older Chart Plotters

I would link about the future avaiability of updated charts with any unit that I was considering. I would only buy a chart plotter that uses commonly available third party chart formats such as Navionics or C-map.

I have a Garmin GPSMap182C color chart plotter that I purchased new in 2003. It works well except for several years now Garmin no longer supports the unit with updated charts. The most recent chart available for this unit for Lake Erie sailing area is dated 2002. I think this calculated obsolence is a part of Garmin's company marketing strategy. I found The same problem when I attempted to update my Nuvi 200 for road travel last year that it would only hold about half of the new data base. I was given no choice about what points of interest I could leave out, but only what geograpy would go missing. After I purchase an new replacement Nuvi 705, I felt manipulated and cheated.

It was the same story with the GPS90 that I purchased for my airplane. After a few years they no longer provide updates. I wouldn't advise purchasing any Garmin products until they decide to support older products. If you do purchase a unit from Garmin, you can expect them not to provide chart updates after about 4 or 5 years.

Capt. Pete · Jan 3, 2011

I would tell you to go to a West Marine store and spend the day playing with all the chartplotters. They can also demo all the units. You don't have to buy it from west but it's a good place to see what you want.

Capt. Pete · Jan 3, 2011

I would tell you to go to a West Marine store and spend the day playing with all the chartplotters. They can also demo all the units. You don't have to buy it from west but it's a good place to see what you want.

kloudie1 · Jan 3, 2011

Looks like a Garmin 536 is an inland lakes maps loaded one.. same as a 546 except 546 has coastal charts

Garmin 541/546 vs. Raymarine Chartplotter

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.