Raymarine A65 Vs. Garmin 498C - The Hull Truth

tyates · 05-17-2006, 02:26 PM

Jim, I am undecided between A65 and Garmin 498C. I like the Garmin and pre-loaded charts but screen is a little small and resolution is less than A65 but price is much better. I have a 27 foot bayliner I/O cruiser with limted helm area. What would you recommend? Also I have been told a TM ducer will not work well for my boat due to I/O, is this correct. I use the boat for fishing more than crusing but a detailed chartplotter is more important than FF. If I go with the 498, is the internal ant. ok. I have a soft top. I fish southern california waters.

yachtjim · 05-17-2006, 03:13 PM

Internal antenna is OK for soft top, since you will be fishing a lot I would opt for the A65 since the FF is outstanding on it. As far as the chartplotter goes the Garmin unit is a little easier to use. If cost were not a consideration I would go with the A65 over the 498 in a heartbeat, but once you factor in the cost, if gps was my primary want I would go with the Garmin unit, if FF was what I was after I would go Raymarine.

While both those units do offer a lot of the same things they are in a different class and hard to compare.

Jim DanDee · 05-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Jim, I am wondering if you could recommend a good handheld GPS? I don't go too far from where my boat kept, I might travel 15 or 20 miles along the coast. I was looking at both Garmin & Lowrance. I want to spend around $400.00. Would you recommend one over the other? Or do you think something like the Garmin 178C would be a better choice. My main concern is getting caught in heavy for and having the ability to trace my course back home. I own a 25' Sea Ray Express Cruiser.

Thank you
Jim DanDee

tyates · 05-17-2006, 04:53 PM

What is your price for a full A65 setup. GPS receiver, sounder and thru hull transponder. It seems that the package comes with a TM transponder, which I don't believe will work well with my boat. Also how much is an upgrade to the navionics gold chip over the silver?

Thanks

yachtjim · 05-18-2006, 10:51 AM

I am not allowed to post the price because those units are price protected by Raymarine but you can click the link below and add it to your cart to see. The price of the bundle includes a t/m ducer and there is no way to get the unit without it. If you bought a gps-only version and added the DSM25 sounder it would cost the same as the GPS/FF version but you wouldn't get the ducer.

For a thru hull I would go with the Airmar Tilted Element. It is now avail for the A65.[*]Raymarine A65[*]Tilted Element Ducer[/list]Navionics will give you a $75 rebate when you trade in your Silver chip for a Gold. Gold cost $181.