GPS, garmin vs. magellan? $300-$500 range

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centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
with all the features available on the newer GPS units in this price range, which is the most preferred unit?
I have always had garmin units with the grayscale screens that used computer downloadable charts, but I am kinda leaning towards the units that have the charts on sd cards rather than having to deal with the computer, and will definitely have a color screen!...... the graphics on the magellan units has improved in the last few years and the cost seems slightly less than garmin, but other than that I have had no experiance with magellan.
I am looking for a mounted unit rather than a handheld, but what brand offers the largest screen in a hand held model?
also, what is your thoughts of a combined unit GPS/depthsounder vs. seperate units?

I have read many reviews but I want to read some input from people that actually use the type of unit im wanting to purchase. thanks.......
 
Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
I've used both a handheld Garmin and the smaller Garmin chart plotter. The handheld was sufficient to get us from Florida to Massachusetts and back via the ICW, in conjunction with paper charts, of course. The chart plotter worked very well on our next trip from Florida to Mass. The plotter has enough charts stored to cover the entire US. SD cards are available, and provide 3D views and views from above, but I haven't tried one yet. I would suggest keeping the paper charts available to give a better overall view of the route ahead. I've never used a Magellan product, and I have to say I've been very happy with the Garmins.
 
patrickfarley

patrickfarley

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Jan 10, 2011
370
Macgregor 25 675 Lake Lanier
Lowrance Elite-4 Color Fishfinder/Chartplotter
It comes with maps.
It does not show all the mangroves and sandbars but it is plenty close.
I plan to travel to Cayo Costa this Christmas vacation. I plan to use it to locate the anchorage and the dock for the state park. This will be my first trip in completely unknown waters.
I will post how it does.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
patrickfarley said:
...I plan to travel to Cayo Costa this Christmas vacation. I plan to use it to locate the anchorage and the dock for the state park. This will be my first trip in completely unknown waters.
I will post how it does.
Click to expand
Where are you putting in at? Make course for the Red Marker 74 on the ICW which is just outside the bay. Enter the bay by sticking close to the shore on your starboard side. Once you enter Pelican Bay you will...



... see the dock and....



... probably a number of boats on anchorage. It is very popular and we don't really like to be there on a weekend.

You can dinghy to the dock and either walk to the Gulf side or they haul you over or back every so often. You can walk over or back on pretty much different trails. We liked it.



If the wind kicks up out of the west (cold front) then with your shallow draft you can move into a more protected area (top arrow). Just be careful of the shallows, right arrow. We spend most of our time where the bottom left arrow is and there again with your shallow draft you can suck up closer to the shore there than most boats can.

If you haven't seen it I have more on our Fall 2010 trip here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/macgregor-trips-1-index.html

Have fun and All American, see trip, is a pretty good place to put in if you are putting in for some period of time,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
G

Gary_H

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Nov 5, 2007
469
Cal 2-25 Carolina Beach NC
I have the Garmin 441s and I like it. It's easy to use, has a color display and is not too expensive. Mine incorporates a built in depth finder and has an SD slot and is easy to connect to the marine radio. I can't really give a comparison though since i haven't used a Magellan.
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
I have used a number of different kinds of GPS units, from different brands and from cheap to expensive and I rather like the Garmin products. The reason being they are very intuitive and you can figure them out without really having to look in the manual (for sure the later models). I have found they all do the same things, basically, if set up for marine use, but with others you have to pour through the books to figure them out. I might have an understanding you don't have because you are just starting out, but I still stand by my statement that Garmin is intuitive and easier to use. I presently own 4 different Garmin Marine units and one for my road vehicles. I bought an Oregon by Garmin once, but it wasn't so good for plotting courses like other Garmin marine HH GPS's. The Oregon was better for folks who were hiking or something. But, for plotting courses with many waypoints, etc. there are better Garmin units. That's my 2 cents.
 
capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,075
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Back in the days when all you could get was handhelds, one of the yachts I operated had a Magellan. It was so user unfriendly that I've used Garmin units ever since. I have 4 Garmins on this boat, and 2 car units. They have great customer service, should you have a problems.
 
centerline

centerline

.
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Barnacle Bill said:
I have used a number of different kinds of GPS units, from different brands and from cheap to expensive and I rather like the Garmin products. The reason being they are very intuitive and you can figure them out without really having to look in the manual (for sure the later models). I have found they all do the same things, basically, if set up for marine use, but with others you have to pour through the books to figure them out. I might have an understanding you don't have because you are just starting out, but I still stand by my statement that Garmin is intuitive and easier to use. I presently own 4 different Garmin Marine units and one for my road vehicles. I bought an Oregon by Garmin once, but it wasn't so good for plotting courses like other Garmin marine HH GPS's. The Oregon was better for folks who were hiking or something. But, for plotting courses with many waypoints, etc. there are better Garmin units. That's my 2 cents.
Click to expand
Im not quite "just starting out":D.... ive been using garmin gps units for about 20yrs, and I still own 3 of them, but there are newer units on the market and i want to know what is the best in todays market...it sounds like magellan is not even worth considering, but lowrance has been around for awhile now but I havent heard much about them.... so im asking for reviews:)
 
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