kjw3250

Does anyone know in this area what is the best chartplotter/GPS unit to buy without buying extra cards or chips to go in them( I have a hand held one that I can hardly see and spent about $150 for the card to go in it not including the uint) I am really looking for a good combo unit to save space.
Do alot of bay fishing some rivers and out of VA beach some.
Price limit $1500.
INFO please before I buy and regret it. Thanks

Undaunted

ask yachtjim in hisvendor forum, he is from the Annapolis area and seems to really know his stuff. He even has some really nice factory refurbished units with full warranty.

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t3rockhall

Which card do you have? Perhaps you can look for/find a unit that used that exact card. I have a Raymarine 435 that cost me about 950 including the card.

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Hit the waves on ham radio, even when it rains or snows.

Tedj101

The Garmin 192C/198C (198 includes a FF) comes with charts for the whole US (Coastal only, does not include inland lakes and rivers). I would stop by a local store such as West or BW to see how you like the size of the display before buying. Both are WELL within your price range (<1000 for the 198C, <800 for the 192C).

FWIW, I have the 198C and am very satisfied with it. I am also very old and my eyes are not what they once were. I have sunglasses with a reading lens at the bottom and I do fine reading buoy numbers etc. off the screen.

Regards,
TED

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Sea Hunt Triton 220CC w/ Yamaha F150

bigring

Again this past year, the West Marine tent at the Annapolis boat show had some awsome deals on electronics that you could only get by purchasing at the show. I bought a Magellan color GPS at last year's show for 199.00...I recommend you check out the boat shows for specials.

kjw3250

Thanks for all the info will check out boat shows coming up this winter and spring.

Franco2boat

For that price limit, get the Lowrance 337CDF. This gets you color fish finder, and GPS the transducer, paddle wheel, whole shooting match. Installation was a piece of cake. For charts, there's Nauticpath covers the entire U.S. its about 99 bucks, Or Navionics Gold (I got the one from Nova Scotia to Charleston @ $199.00) . The Lowrance will set you back about 680 - 700 depending on where you purchase it. This plus charts and you're still under budget.

I really like mine, the screen size and resolution are great, but what sold me was the Operator interface. I found it to be the easiest to use of all the units I tested. Want to see what it looks like? Visit http://sempreveloce.tripod.com/id2.html

I have it in split screen mode left right, but you can have any combo you like as in upper/lower big/little just gps, just Fish Finder etc. I like the Navionics, but at this years Annapolis boat show, the new version of Nauticpath was awsome for Chesapeke bay area, and its half the price of Navionics Gold.


KKKKFL

ESMDChris

yachtjim will treat you right, and if you can manage to find a better price (although his prices are excellent), he'll match it.

great vendor.....

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2005 Sea Pro 190 CC
2005 Johnson F140

halfmoon

I am looking at the Raymarine A65, it's a new product out now. Garmin 3205c,3206c and 3210c are coming out in March. They all come preloaded with charts from what I have read. The A65 can be found for around $1500.00. That price incudes sonar andtransducer. I have not seen the Garmins discount pricing listed yet, but I think 3205c bundle might be under $1500.00. with a smaller screen then the A65. I'm NOT an expert on electronics! Just looking like you are for the best unit.

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Sea Hunt 220 Escape DC with F225 Yamaha