Electronics - FF and GPS

[phatdaddy]

I picked up a garmin 94 sv in December at west marine for $600. It does a lot more that i know how to do. Got a couple of buddies with simrad go 7 s and they really like them.

[spareparts]

Simrad and Lowrance are the same company now, looks like Simrad is the higher end stuff. Hard to go wrong with garmin

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Simrad and Lowrance are the same company now, looks like Simrad is the higher end stuff. Hard to go wrong with garmin

Totally agree. Never had a bad unit from Garmin, either car or boat. NOT cheap though

[Blue_Runner]

what has me so perplexed is the maps. With my old unit I bough the bluechart card for Norfolk virginia down to charleston sc. Things have changed in the last 20 years. I am seeing units that don't have or accept mapping at all. And I'm seeing where the bluechart G3 card can cost almost 300 bucks! Ouch! I don't want to spend 500-600 only to have to spend another 3 hundo just to make it useable.

Phat - did you $600 purchase include maps or was that an add on? I need to get this thing ordered and installed before Memorial day weekend!

Also - talk to me about touch screen? Greasy, salty fingers doesn't seem like that would bode well. I'm always fussing at anybody who sticks their paws close to my screen LOL

[phatdaddy]

The unit came with topo maps already loaded, like the NOAA charts. They also had most on the public numbers already loaded also. Garmin offers upgrades for the maps, but I think that is the LIDAR iinfo similar to C-MOR maps. As of now, Garmin does not accept any other maps, the simrad/lowrance can.

I thought i paid 599, but checking back it was 699. It was a Black Friday sale. I replaced a Furuno Bottom machine/gps combo.

I was very skeptical of the touchscreen, but so far, no complaints. I like the convenience of tapping on a waypoint and editing or deleting it instantly without having to go through a couple of screens



here's a shot of the maps that are standard



mounted on the dash



shot of sunken sailboat with the side scan

[Blue_Runner]

Thanks man that really helps a lot!

[Blue_Runner]

I ordered the Garmin 74sv plus model with GT54 transducer on Amazon, from what I can tell it is the same as the 94sv plus. Paid $1016 after tax. I could have gotten the 94sv for ~$200 more but was worried it would not fit on my V21 dash due to placement of my VHF and compass, etc. Hopefully I won't regret not getting the larger screen!

Phat, that was a smoking deal u got if it came with the transducer!

Thanks for all the replies, will keep you guys posted once I get installed and use it in the next couple weeks.