Recommendations for Chartplotter/Combo System?

[SerenityTC]

Would be interested in hearing recommendations for a chartplotter for my H27. I have a budget of $2K and will be doing the installation myself. Some basics that may or may not guide your feedback are listed below. I am mostly familiar with Garmin products and would prefer to stay in that product realm as I can get a good discount via a family member. I greatly appreciate your tips and suggestions. Thanks in advance!

• Sailing is mostly within the confines of Lake Michigan.
• We are based on West Bay in Traverse City but make frequent overnight trips beyond the bay to places like Cathead Bay, South Manitou, Beaver Island, etc
• We like to anchor out rather than use transient slips.
• Boat has speed and depth instruments from Data Marine but depth stopped working this year. I am guessing it is a short in the transducer cable but did not spend any time tracking it down.
• Currently rewiring the boat and want to use this time to upgrade electronics.
• Currently using hand-held GPS (Garmin Oregon 600t) with charts as well as Navionics on my iPhone. Paper charts onboard as well and very familiar with paper navigation.
• We don't sail at night and prefer to be anchored before sunset unless we are in local waters.
• Mostly interested in depth, speed, location (charts), wind speed/direction. AIS, radar, etc might be nice but probably not needed for our type of sailing and geography.
• We have slowly been restoring the boat and now at the point where we are looking at updated electronics. We have no plans of ever selling this boat (we love it) and aren't too concerned about doing upgrades with no return on investment.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Get a system that can display lat and long and use a paper chart with "sign here" post-it stickers. The major problem I have with electronic charts is they don't show what you want when you want and you spend a lot of time zooming in and out to get the picture (when you should be keeping a good watch!!!). Also it is not a very effective way of discussing the future travel arrangements with the crew as you all try to huddle around the helm and a 5" display. Charts are a) much bigger, b) can be moved to the salon table or nav station, c) cost less, d) show more detail, e) easier to use.
FWIW

 

[LeoLambert310]

I've replaced a Raymarine C-70 unit with a Garmin 840xs that also included the transducer. What I like about it is that we also use Garmin Homeport on a laptop with Activecaptain. Screen size is 8" an not a touch screen that would be hard to work in 20-35 knot winds with 4-6 foot sea's. The best is the wife had a hard time with the C-70 but works the Garmin with no problem.

 

[Ed Schenck]

I, like Bill, really like my paper charts for sailing on Lake Erie. But I do trust and use my Garmin mostly, an older 172C that probably isn't made any longer. It served me very well from Lake Erie to Tampa Bay. It only requires 12 volts unless you want to tie it into your autohelm and/or wind which I have never done. If you are thinking that you might add radar one day then consider a display that can do both.

 

[frankies56]

What happen to the old days ? before gps. I must admit that I use it. but I have an old hand held that I have had for 15 years as back up and a 5" data marine chartplotter that I can switch out from my sailboat to my powerboat a small 19 footer. I seldom use it most inportant to me is speed and depth. look at it this way you already know where your sailing been to those places so dont spend so much on something that you really dont need, if you sail in the day you dont need radar.I would put my money on an auto pilot and relax. if you already don't have one. as far as wind derection and wind speed wet your finger and hold it up to the air is just as reliable.LOL

 

[SailormanDan]

For Leo's Gamin GPSMap suggestion, I want the immediacy of "where am I now?" that GPS gives you coupled with being able to pre-load it with waypoints, etc. Have paper charts for back up or general planning when you and your wife want to dream about "where to next?".

 

[LeoLambert310]

I also have/use paper charts as backup but find that at the helm with 10-20 kts its the gps that I would use as I don't have to worry about the chart blowing off the boat. (paper chart are required in Canada)

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Before GPS we used Loran and RDF (to answer frankies56). I really like Garmin products mostly because they are so intuitive. I have used other brands and one is constantly pouring through the book trying to figure out how to use the stuff. One hardly, if ever, has to use a manual to figure out how to use a Garmin Chartplotter And you can get one for waaaaay under the $2,000 price point you suggest, unless you want a display that will take up most of your H-27's cockpit.