Gps
 

I am considering buying a gps for my 20' wellcraft. I have decided on 2 models. Garmin 440s or Humminbird 383c. both are gps/depth finder.
the humminbird model is $399 seems ok, when i went to boaters world the guy was pushing me towards the garmin, said it had more features and in the long run would be a better buy for $599. I dont mind spending the extra cash if its really worth it.
Just looking for some feed back from some that might have either one of the models.
thanks

I'm not a big fan of Garmin or combination (fishfinder/gps) When one breaks and you send it off to be repaired you lose the other one too.

Garmin (unless they have changed) you have to spend $200-300 to get the detailed maps for the area you fish/navigate.

Most of the others you buy a chip ($1oo-200) and youre done.

I like eagle or lowrance but I do have a Furuno for fish finder and Eagle for gps.


Just my 2 cents worth.

I have a Lowrance combo unit and really like it. Have'nt had to have it fixed. Billy Mac :beer:

I have a garmin GPSMAP 76CSx hand held and I really like it. I also use it in my truck. For me it is easy to see and use, but garagenc is right you will need to buy the charts for it. I am lucky I have access to the blue charts and road maps so it wasn't a big problem for me. As far as fish finder I just have a hummingbird DX200 it's not fancy but it works.

$599!!!! Thats crazy. You can get the garmin for $350 to $400 online. Does the Humminbird come with the charts preloaded like the 440S does? I am partial to the garmin as I have a bunch of there stuff (including) the 440S but the humminbird stuff is pretty nice as well. I would play around with both of them and see what you like better. The 440 does have a 4" screen over the 3.5" the humminbird has. The sounders on both will probably be about the same quality considering the price and size of display. The charts will be a little better on the Garmin. I don't really think you will be unhappy with either just go play with them and see what you like. Then go and take a look at what you can get them for online, boatersworld is NOT a cheap place to get electronics.

If you have a Q's about the garmin, let me know

-Svence

http://www.boemarine.com/

Give these people a call. They have VERY competitive prices to even those of the to good to be true EBAY prices, AND you'll have an actual person to deal with if you ever need help. And they do answer the phone and go above and beyond to help you get the right product. Give them a call and I'm sure they will hook you up. And as for the 440S from GARMIN, I wasNOT impressed with it at all. The GPS is ok, but the fishfinder portion SUCKED! Maybe I'm just spoiled from using SI-TEX and FURUNO for years, but it wasn't any better than a $100 HUMMINBIRD fish finder.

The Humminbird 383c has very basic detail on the cartography and is not capable of upgrading to more detail.

I have had a few Garmins and love them!! I hate Humingbirds! But I have always had seprate units I no like all in ones.

I now have Foruno on the big boat and like that also but it was $$$ But i still say you can't go wrong with a garmin!

i think it would depend on what you plan to do with the boat. if you are a hard core fisherman, you need to have seperate units. the bottom machine is going to be the weaker half of the above units. if you run out to a general area and drift or troll, you will be ok, but if your hunting for a secret pile of washing machines in 120' you will not be happy. i think garmin has the gps covered hands down and furno on the sounder. i also have friends with lowrance bottom machines that are happy. its nice to have two screens to look at. trust me, the older you get, the harder it is to read info on a 4" screen that is split.

Phatdaddy nailed it - What are you going to mainly be doing, that will drive the features you need/like. The garmin is a better GPS than almost anything out there, but unless you go with their GSD22 sounder and a better tranducer don't expect anything on par with furuno or raymarine.

-Svence

thanks for all the replies, im leaning more to the garmin, its seems for the little extra you get alot more features and functions in the long runs and can upgrade the charts.
I'm a novice boater and mostly stick around the back bays with the kids and catch fish and have fun. just concered if i stray to unkown area or break down and being able to give my location.

I personally have just a sounder mounted on my boat, and carry a hand held GARMIN GPSMAP 76 for my position for those 2 items. I prefer the hand-held myself for most all applications as I can take it on any of my boats(or friends boats) and have EXCELLENT repeatability in finding spots. For a good budget machine I would reccomend the FURUNO 4100 or 6100, they are black and white but excellent machines for the money. If going with a combo in a GARMIN, step up to the 540. You will thank yourself in the longrun for doing it.

Here's a reman 540S with a full 1 year warranty(same as new) for less than you were going to pay for a 440S.
http://www.boemarine.com/Products/01...1/Default.aspx

If you have the coin I also recommend the 540S, the larger the screen the better. Also take a look in the for sale section on thehulltruth.com as there garmin units on there new and used for pretty damn cheap.

-Svence

I have to agree with randle and ferm. You can get a handheld Garmin for fairly cheap, and you can also get a good color Garmin bottom finder for fairly cheap too. The all-in-ones are nice, but IF something does ever happen to them, then you're out of both while it gets fixed. At least if you have them seperate (the off chance one of them breaks) you can still use one or the other. GARMIN is THE ONLY way to go.

Get this. I've got one about 2 feet to my left and ordered another tonight.

Discontinued model, 1/3 of retail.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3AIT&viewitem=

Amazon has them too.....seems like a good deal.

http://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-Cha.../dp/B000MPPXTG

Just bought one. I figured it was about time after telling myself "I'm gonna get a GPS for the boat this year", for the last five years. Seems like a good deal. Eight have you installed yours? Any feedback good or bad?

those are great deals. but they dont have the depth finder feature and I really didnt want to have 2 machines taking up space i was leaning more to the combo unit but now im going back and forth, hold on i might be making myself seasick over this:fight:

If you have the room for 2, then go with 2 units. You will DEFINATELY thank yourself down the road for it. COMBO units are nice for all in one convenience, but for viewing most of them SUCK!!! Unless you go out and get one of the monster units you can't really see both at the same time even in split screen mode. You would be money ahead to get 2 smaller cheap units than to get one medium priced combo unit.

with a humingbird you will soon be humming the blues!! Good Luck

I haven't installed it yet.

I had a gps and a fishfinder before and it worked great. Combo units are a pain if you actually want to use both. My last boat can a small center console and it had enough room for the compass and two 5" screen units.

I've had 3 hummingbird units in the past (2 sounders & a vhf) and they worked ok for about 12 -14 months and then died on me. granted, they were the cheaper units and on a 13 whaler that was the wettest & roughest ride i had.

I wouldn't get the fixed mount GPS. You can get a Garmin 76 and install a LITTLE stand for it (maybe 3"x3") or the suction cup mounts are GREAT!!! You can take it and transfer it from your boat to your buddys' boats lickity split. Then you have all your fishin' numbers with you wherever you go!! :) I've got a garmin bottom finder mounted on the top of my CC and my Garmin mount on the other side with my compass still having enough room to be mounted in between both without interference.

thanks bcmarinamanager that garmin 76 might just be the ticket since im pretty much staying in the back bay and just want it for more of piece of mind. The boat already has a depth finder (its old and beat up had to jury rig it last year when the pins for the unit broke off the power cable). might just upgrade the finder.
thanks
fullofit