Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder?

ArkadiyS

ArkadiyS

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Oct 28, 2013
132
Catalina 42MKII Fairfield, CT
When we bought our 1985 Cat 30, the first things that we really missed was working electronics. Neither the GPS, Depthsounder nor Knotmeter were functional. I am looking to replace them for next season, with a single piece that will do all of these functions. But with SO MANY choices in so many price ranges, my head is spinning... I am looking for a mid-size screen, waterproof GPS with transducer, chartplotter that will fit on the Edson wheel pedestal, where I can connect a non-transom depthsounder. We sail around Long Island Sound and do not need anything super fancy. Any recommendations to help narrow the search?
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

Garmin 820xs. Also supports radar, AIS and DSC.
 
Alansails

Alansails

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Oct 3, 2011
835
Anam Cara Catalina 310 Hull #155 155 Lake Erie/Catawba Island
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

West Marine has the Garmin 740 on sale and also supports all that...
I know we just bought one!
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Alansails said:
West Marine has the Garmin 740 on sale and also supports all that... I know we just bought one!
Click to expand
True but it is touch screen. Not a big fan of touch screen CPs. You cannot control a touch screen when wearing gloves. The 820xs is a button driven unit. It also support the sidevu and downvu sonar which is much better than the sonar the 740 supports. The 740 is cheaper but everything is a compromise.
 
jimmcgee

jimmcgee

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Feb 26, 2008
603
Catalina 30 Marathon, FL
I've got a Garmin 441S on our boat mounted on an Edson mount along with two Garmin GMI-20 displays in a NavPod.

I think it's been three years now with the 441 and I'm pleased with it. I'd eventually like to go up to the new 741 at the helm. If and when I do I'll move the 441 down to the nav desk.

Garmin 441
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-G...lotter-and-Sounder-with-Transducer-P2170.aspx

Edson Mount
http://www.edsonmarine.com/marinestore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87_100&products_id=430

GMI-20 Display
http://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-GMI-20-Marine-Instrument-Display-P3705.aspx
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

Hello,

How much do you want to spend and what size screen do you want?

Lowrance stuff is inexpensive and works well. For around $500 you can get a unit that will have a 5" high resolution color screen, fishfinder to display depth, and high quality charts built in.

My current boat has a Lowrance plotter from 2007 that works great. I mounted the 'transom' transducer inside the head, just forward of the keel. I used a wax ring for toilet bowl use. This was supposed to be 'temporary' but it still works great.

My new boat has a Garmin 740 that also works great.

You didn't ask but I would also recommend you buy a new VHF unit. Now they all have DSC so connect that to your new plotter and if you have an emergency you will be able to send a coded distress call right to the coast guard.

You really can't go wrong!

Barry
 
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ArkadiyS

ArkadiyS

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Oct 28, 2013
132
Catalina 42MKII Fairfield, CT
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

BarryL, I have never heard anyone mention using a transom-mounted transducer anywhere other than engine transom. Our current transducer is mounter through the forward locker in the head as well. Are you able to set it up so that it compensates and provides accurate depth reading? As for price range, i am not looking to go cheap, but would prefer not to spend more than $1,000, including $100 for the installation. Our boat has a fairly new VHF (Standard Horizon) that i am not looking to replace. All of the wiring is already at the wheel pedestal, but i am not sure if i will be able to reuse it. Our marina neighbor said that we will need to run new wires??

Thanks for the feedback and recommendations!
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

Hello,

Your Catalina 30 has a solid fiberglass hull. The depth transducer will easily shoot right though the fiberglass. I suppose you might lose some deep water detection, but since most sailors only care about skinny water I don't see this being a problem. Mine works at well over 100' (the deepest I have seen is around 150') and it also provides a clear picture of the bottom (sand, mud, etc.) in 10-20' which is where I typically anchor.

I sail on the LI sound, so your conditions will be very similar to mine.

Regarding wires, I have no idea how any of your gear is currently wired. You might be able to reuse the power lines, but that's about it.

For prices, I don't know how you can get anyone to even show up at your boat for $100 but maybe you do. I installed my Lowrance unit myself and it was pretty simple. I had to run wires for power, SONAR transducer, and DATA for VHF, and GPS Antenna (now must units have an internal antenna). It wasn't too bad. I use a very simple RAM mount that I attached to the pedestal guard.

Barry
 
ArkadiyS

ArkadiyS

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Oct 28, 2013
132
Catalina 42MKII Fairfield, CT
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

BarryL, you are correct, i am more interested in depth from 100 - 6ft. Based on your feedback, it does not sound like you are going through the hull at all, and resting the transducer unit somewhere inside the boat. How and where do you install the transducer? Should it be next to the through-the hull plug that we currently have in-place? Thanks!
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

Hi,

The 'best' way to mount a transducer INSIDE the hull (as opposed to THROUGH) the hull is to use epoxy, or mount it inside a PVC tube filled with mineral oil. I planned on using epoxy. HOWEVER, as a temporary method, you can put the transducer inside a ziplock bag and fill it with water. Run the transducer cable to the display unit, and move the transducer (inside the bag) along the inside of the hull, where you think it will work best (forward of the keel). When you see good results on the display, you know you have a good mounting location. Another temp solution is to take a blob of wax and squish the transducer into the wax. That's what I did. It has worked so well that the transducer is still stuck into the wax.

I mounted mine in the head. I have a small removable panel that gave me access to the hull. It's forward of the keel so I MIGHT have a chance of seeing the bottom BEFORE I hit it. I picked that location because it made it easy to run the cable from the hull, through the bilge, and then into the storage area under the cockpit and then to the display unit.

Good luck,
Barry
 
knot smart

knot smart

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Feb 8, 2013
92
beneteau 352 Raritan Bay
Re: Looking for recommendations for GPS/Chartplotter/Sounder

i just did a lot of leg work on this topic.. my vote is the B&G Zeus 7".. heres why.. once you have the B&G MFD ,which has "sailsteer" (a great function that will make it easy for my wife who has no sailing experience), installed you can add your transducers without having to buy additional control heads.. huge savings.. all info from trandsducers will be displayed on your MFD. with Raymarine in addition to to having the MFD you must buy a control head for everything.. a control head for autopilot, one for instruments, ect.. garmin has THE best charts for OFFshore fishing.. but if you own a sailboat? B&G is the way to go.. its designed by sailors for sailors.. and it uses less power than all the other manufacturers, which is a concern for sailboats.. just my 2 cents.. google and youtube B&G zeus, its impressive

good luck
 
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