I am in the market to buy a gps chartplotter and am torn between the Garmin 172C and the Navman 5500. Any thoughts positive or negative would help. How different is the charting software? Is one unit easier to opperate than the other.
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They are both OK GPSes
Before I give my 2 cents, what kind of sailing are you going to be doing most of the time. Bluewater long range, weekend trips, daysailing, other?
Before I give my 2 cents, what kind of sailing are you going to be doing most of the time. Bluewater long range, weekend trips, daysailing, other?
For what its worth
I have a Navman 5500 with internal antenna. Purchsed fron Defender Marine. Used it for two years in Lake Michigan and it works perfect. Opperation is very easy. I have nothing to compair it to but a it does what I want it to do and a would buy another one if needed. Good Luck. Joe
I have a Navman 5500 with internal antenna. Purchsed fron Defender Marine. Used it for two years in Lake Michigan and it works perfect. Opperation is very easy. I have nothing to compair it to but a it does what I want it to do and a would buy another one if needed. Good Luck. Joe
I have a Garmin
I have a Garmin 182 (first model, Greyscale) and has workrd perfectly for 5 seasons, now. I also have Navman instruments that I installed this year and love them. But I haven't been able to evaluate the GPS Chartplotter.
I have a Garmin 182 (first model, Greyscale) and has workrd perfectly for 5 seasons, now. I also have Navman instruments that I installed this year and love them. But I haven't been able to evaluate the GPS Chartplotter.
mounting
Do they both mount the same way. As I remember the 172 will rotate 180 degrees. You would be able to sit behind or in front of the wheel and view the screen. Is that important to you? Also, if my memory serves me, the 172 will mount on an attractive Edson 3 inch mount. good luck, Jack
Do they both mount the same way. As I remember the 172 will rotate 180 degrees. You would be able to sit behind or in front of the wheel and view the screen. Is that important to you? Also, if my memory serves me, the 172 will mount on an attractive Edson 3 inch mount. good luck, Jack
Navman 5500 C-map+
So I took the plunge and bought a Navman 5500 for a steal at a West Marine close out store. Where doI get a C-map+ chip for it?
So I took the plunge and bought a Navman 5500 for a steal at a West Marine close out store. Where doI get a C-map+ chip for it?
Sound of the other shoe falling
So you need some chips. You poor sap. They got you hooked now and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. That is way I asked what did you intend to do with it. It is all about the $100+ map chips. A $150 gps wo/mapping and a map book once a year for $27.95 is the way to go if you are not going to distant lands. Even then it just barely makes sense. Go to google and type in C-map there are lots of guys that sell the hardware. Just be sure you order the right hardware chip and software module type. There are several chip formats and map formats that they seem to randomly mix and match depending on the manufacture of the GPS unit. I'm sure you'll love your new GPS but man are they expensive to maintain. BTW those c-map data modules have the maps you find for free on the NOAA site. Dang it but I can't find a reader/writer that will allow me to take the free gov maps and load them onto my c-map chip. Something about proprietary software formats. My linux computer tells me it is encryption software that is causing the hickpup. So my call is they take the free gov maps and encrypt them then charge you $100+. the business of business is making money and boy are they in business. Happy sailing
So you need some chips. You poor sap. They got you hooked now and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. That is way I asked what did you intend to do with it. It is all about the $100+ map chips. A $150 gps wo/mapping and a map book once a year for $27.95 is the way to go if you are not going to distant lands. Even then it just barely makes sense. Go to google and type in C-map there are lots of guys that sell the hardware. Just be sure you order the right hardware chip and software module type. There are several chip formats and map formats that they seem to randomly mix and match depending on the manufacture of the GPS unit. I'm sure you'll love your new GPS but man are they expensive to maintain. BTW those c-map data modules have the maps you find for free on the NOAA site. Dang it but I can't find a reader/writer that will allow me to take the free gov maps and load them onto my c-map chip. Something about proprietary software formats. My linux computer tells me it is encryption software that is causing the hickpup. So my call is they take the free gov maps and encrypt them then charge you $100+. the business of business is making money and boy are they in business. Happy sailing
I think that I paid about 140 bucks for a Garmin
something, that tells me quite accuractly where I am, Latitude and Longitude, then I have to look at a chart in a book to know where "where" is. I don't find this at all inconvenient and it is nice to know where the rest of the world is at the same time. I can spread the paper chart out on the table and have a nice discussion with my friends as to where we want to go. There is a risk with paper charts that doesn't exist with plotters- You can get coffee cup rings on paper charts.
When you find yourself in the middle of no where, you can be sure that no matter which way you go, you are going somewhere.
something, that tells me quite accuractly where I am, Latitude and Longitude, then I have to look at a chart in a book to know where "where" is. I don't find this at all inconvenient and it is nice to know where the rest of the world is at the same time. I can spread the paper chart out on the table and have a nice discussion with my friends as to where we want to go. There is a risk with paper charts that doesn't exist with plotters- You can get coffee cup rings on paper charts.
When you find yourself in the middle of no where, you can be sure that no matter which way you go, you are going somewhere.
It is interesting how folks
seem to go sailing so they can look at their GPS map. I'm with Ross, sailing is a social event. Lets get everybody involved not just the guy at the helm. Better, I think, to keep my eyes outside the boat and see what I came out here to see. Hay, don't I have to do that anyway to keep from hitting the powerboats? I think my favorite GPS story is the guy who is in the middle of the Atlantic and is trying to set the scale feature so he can tell "where" he is. Nothing for 1000 nm in any direction. Scale out to see the coast line and you can't "see any detail", scale in and all you see is blue. Which is, BTW, what you would see if you looked over the side. Do I really need to pay $$ for that? Roosa Family TRITIUM
seem to go sailing so they can look at their GPS map. I'm with Ross, sailing is a social event. Lets get everybody involved not just the guy at the helm. Better, I think, to keep my eyes outside the boat and see what I came out here to see. Hay, don't I have to do that anyway to keep from hitting the powerboats? I think my favorite GPS story is the guy who is in the middle of the Atlantic and is trying to set the scale feature so he can tell "where" he is. Nothing for 1000 nm in any direction. Scale out to see the coast line and you can't "see any detail", scale in and all you see is blue. Which is, BTW, what you would see if you looked over the side. Do I really need to pay $$ for that? Roosa Family TRITIUM
I'm on a roll
Then there is the issue of what the CG (and others) say you have to have to meet their standards. It is pretty clear that you need to either have gov paper maps of the area or a $50k electronic charting system which was installed by a certified installer and then checked for certification and the rechecked at some interval to make sure it still works right. Well I'm not going the electronic charting system due to cost and hassle. So I guess I have to buy paper charts to meet the CG requirements. So why would I want to buy them again for my GPS. It would be different if they where inexpensive and had all the advantages of paper charts but, alas, they don't. It is fiscally redickalis. Roosa Family TRITIUM
Then there is the issue of what the CG (and others) say you have to have to meet their standards. It is pretty clear that you need to either have gov paper maps of the area or a $50k electronic charting system which was installed by a certified installer and then checked for certification and the rechecked at some interval to make sure it still works right. Well I'm not going the electronic charting system due to cost and hassle. So I guess I have to buy paper charts to meet the CG requirements. So why would I want to buy them again for my GPS. It would be different if they where inexpensive and had all the advantages of paper charts but, alas, they don't. It is fiscally redickalis. Roosa Family TRITIUM
Nothing!!!!
Work provides me with new Laptop every other year and I get to keep the old one and do what I please with it. I know not everyone is as fortunate but if you have a laptop, it never hurts to make use of what you have. Why spend money, if what you have is capable of doing what you want?
Work provides me with new Laptop every other year and I get to keep the old one and do what I please with it. I know not everyone is as fortunate but if you have a laptop, it never hurts to make use of what you have. Why spend money, if what you have is capable of doing what you want?
You have to buy the GPS anyway Stu
AND I can use the laptop for other things like boat maintenance logs, driving my SSB for at sea email, etc. Since the windvane or autopilot are going to be running the boat most of the time while "at sea" putting the chartplotter at the helm just makes me have to come up on deck to read it. Yea I have to come up anyway to check for traffic but if I have it down below I can "keep a "weather eye" on things navigational" and not be trying "get the whole picture" in a snapshot. Better I think to have it (if you must) at the nav station. If you are doing the daysail or coastal cruise the a paper map and gps wo/mapping for use at the helm works fine. An interesting thing about GPSes. During most open ocean racing events, the crew will take along like 6 GPSes. I wondered about this until I found out that they needed that many to insure that they had one that was working all the time. Now I will admit that they are out on the bleeding edge and treating them pretty rough but this does not make me want to have 1 chartplotter when things get bad. I have this fear that it would crap out on me just when I was really counting on it to help me out. Mr Murphy and I are very close. I'm and old school kind of guy and don't like putting my family's safety in the hands of a couple of AA batteries and some fancy circuits. Magellan didn't even have maps. What a stud! Roosa Family TRITIUM
AND I can use the laptop for other things like boat maintenance logs, driving my SSB for at sea email, etc. Since the windvane or autopilot are going to be running the boat most of the time while "at sea" putting the chartplotter at the helm just makes me have to come up on deck to read it. Yea I have to come up anyway to check for traffic but if I have it down below I can "keep a "weather eye" on things navigational" and not be trying "get the whole picture" in a snapshot. Better I think to have it (if you must) at the nav station. If you are doing the daysail or coastal cruise the a paper map and gps wo/mapping for use at the helm works fine. An interesting thing about GPSes. During most open ocean racing events, the crew will take along like 6 GPSes. I wondered about this until I found out that they needed that many to insure that they had one that was working all the time. Now I will admit that they are out on the bleeding edge and treating them pretty rough but this does not make me want to have 1 chartplotter when things get bad. I have this fear that it would crap out on me just when I was really counting on it to help me out. Mr Murphy and I are very close. I'm and old school kind of guy and don't like putting my family's safety in the hands of a couple of AA batteries and some fancy circuits. Magellan didn't even have maps. What a stud! Roosa Family TRITIUM
Just for a comparison
I did a search on ebay and found a tablet PC for under $150 w/shipping when I looked at it. It may wind up going for a little more but I doubt much. The link is below. This, with a GPS reciever about $60 would do what my laptop does. Free Sea Clear II and free charts of all the US coastal waters, puts the bill at around $210 with color charting. What would that get you with a standard GPSchartplotter???? Not much.
I did a search on ebay and found a tablet PC for under $150 w/shipping when I looked at it. It may wind up going for a little more but I doubt much. The link is below. This, with a GPS reciever about $60 would do what my laptop does. Free Sea Clear II and free charts of all the US coastal waters, puts the bill at around $210 with color charting. What would that get you with a standard GPSchartplotter???? Not much.
8.4" Screen
What I looked at had a color 8.4" screen plus if I remember correctly the software has a user assignable MOB botton. So you are right no comparison. Twice the screen with color and a MOB botton to boot. Actual charts and not just low res line maps.You don't get much in the $210 GPSchartplotter range.
What I looked at had a color 8.4" screen plus if I remember correctly the software has a user assignable MOB botton. So you are right no comparison. Twice the screen with color and a MOB botton to boot. Actual charts and not just low res line maps.You don't get much in the $210 GPSchartplotter range.
Missing the point
I am glad we live in a free society where I am able to buy what I want to buy and outfit my boat in a safe and updated manner. Since we don't use loran c anymore, and paper charts, and handheld GPS in the cockpit can be awkward at times, the logical alternative is a fixed mounted chart plotter with the appropriate software. A laptop with GPS software is not as good an option in the cockpit because of the fragility of the unit and hard drive due to shock and weather concerns. As a nav. table tool, the laptop would be perfect but in the cockpit a dedicated chart plotter is a fantastic upgrade. NOW I don't know about you, but when I drive my car I don't spend all the time looking at my dash instruments. I watch the road and glance down at the instruments as needed. As for price, with a c-map and chart plotter I'm still amazingly under $400. As for the company that is turning paper charts into c-maps, more power to them. I only need one chip which will cover 200 plus nm and won't need to buy one again for a long time. I don't understand how in your view I have been "gotten" or "hooked" - this is an upgrade to our boat. I'm surprised your replies are so long considering that AOL limits internet time on a $5.95 account. True, Magellan didn't use all this gack; but men have walked on the moon since. As for sap, it is the life blood of a tree. I hope this has straightened things out -- my original question was about which GPS unit was better than the other; not a diatribe about armchair sailors or pirates with knives in their teeth. Under certain circumstances I have been both... Happy Sailing!
I am glad we live in a free society where I am able to buy what I want to buy and outfit my boat in a safe and updated manner. Since we don't use loran c anymore, and paper charts, and handheld GPS in the cockpit can be awkward at times, the logical alternative is a fixed mounted chart plotter with the appropriate software. A laptop with GPS software is not as good an option in the cockpit because of the fragility of the unit and hard drive due to shock and weather concerns. As a nav. table tool, the laptop would be perfect but in the cockpit a dedicated chart plotter is a fantastic upgrade. NOW I don't know about you, but when I drive my car I don't spend all the time looking at my dash instruments. I watch the road and glance down at the instruments as needed. As for price, with a c-map and chart plotter I'm still amazingly under $400. As for the company that is turning paper charts into c-maps, more power to them. I only need one chip which will cover 200 plus nm and won't need to buy one again for a long time. I don't understand how in your view I have been "gotten" or "hooked" - this is an upgrade to our boat. I'm surprised your replies are so long considering that AOL limits internet time on a $5.95 account. True, Magellan didn't use all this gack; but men have walked on the moon since. As for sap, it is the life blood of a tree. I hope this has straightened things out -- my original question was about which GPS unit was better than the other; not a diatribe about armchair sailors or pirates with knives in their teeth. Under certain circumstances I have been both... Happy Sailing!
Bill, not to change the subject
But where does it say the Coast Guard "requires" charts on board your boat. You said " the issue of what the CG (and others) say you have to have to meet their standards. .......... So I guess I have to buy paper charts to meet the CG requirements." Yes, I totally agree that anyone who goes out on the water should have updated charts, but I don't think there are any requirements to do so. Now if you got involved in an accident then you could be held responsible for not adhereing to Navigations Rules. But, if you ever got pulled over and checked by the CG they might be able to ticket you for not having enough PFD's or not having fire extinguishers, but I don't think they can cite you for not having charts.
But where does it say the Coast Guard "requires" charts on board your boat. You said " the issue of what the CG (and others) say you have to have to meet their standards. .......... So I guess I have to buy paper charts to meet the CG requirements." Yes, I totally agree that anyone who goes out on the water should have updated charts, but I don't think there are any requirements to do so. Now if you got involved in an accident then you could be held responsible for not adhereing to Navigations Rules. But, if you ever got pulled over and checked by the CG they might be able to ticket you for not having enough PFD's or not having fire extinguishers, but I don't think they can cite you for not having charts.
Chartplotter
Rad- Here is what I believe you want to know. The 5500 has a larger and a better screen than the 172 Garmin, the real compairison unit by Garmin is the 292 (no loaded software) to the 5500. The Bluewater chips are roughly $150. The C-mapNt's are $200. Both are good and reliable units. If you can buy the NavMan for equal or less than the 172, you are ahead.
Rad- Here is what I believe you want to know. The 5500 has a larger and a better screen than the 172 Garmin, the real compairison unit by Garmin is the 292 (no loaded software) to the 5500. The Bluewater chips are roughly $150. The C-mapNt's are $200. Both are good and reliable units. If you can buy the NavMan for equal or less than the 172, you are ahead.
A couple of years ago Nancy and I were
returning from a three day cruise and motoring up the channel around Susquehanna Flats when we were hailed by a guy and a girl in a bass boat. So I stopped and they came along side and asked if I knew where Elk Neck state park was. I told him that I did and asked if he had a chart, "No". Do you have a gps? No. Do you have a compass? No. So at that point I pulled my chart book out of its place and showed him where we were and where the landing at the state park was. I pointed him in the right direction. he thanked me and left at about forty mph. For those of you not familar with this place We were within sight of the susquehanna, the northeast, the elk and the sasafras. the flats are about six miles across and at low tide you can walk for several miles. It is not a good place to get lost.
returning from a three day cruise and motoring up the channel around Susquehanna Flats when we were hailed by a guy and a girl in a bass boat. So I stopped and they came along side and asked if I knew where Elk Neck state park was. I told him that I did and asked if he had a chart, "No". Do you have a gps? No. Do you have a compass? No. So at that point I pulled my chart book out of its place and showed him where we were and where the landing at the state park was. I pointed him in the right direction. he thanked me and left at about forty mph. For those of you not familar with this place We were within sight of the susquehanna, the northeast, the elk and the sasafras. the flats are about six miles across and at low tide you can walk for several miles. It is not a good place to get lost.
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