Garmin Bluechart g2

[Calin]

Want to share my experience with purchasing a Garmin GPSMAP. I have a Garmin forrunner 305 and I am very pleased with it. Based on that experience I decided to purchase a Garmin charplotter for my 26M. I targeted a small one that fit on the pedestal. Also wanted to have the AIS version as many of you considered it a valuable feature.

So I decided to buy the GPSMAP 430s. 430s comes with US inland lakes. Not sure what lakes it would cover but I hopped it would cover the Great Lakes. The store I decided to buy it from accepts Paypal and that was one on my criterion as I had some money on the account.
Talking to the sale representative he told me that they do not have the "S" version (the one with sonar), they carry only the non sonar version. However I just have to buy a transducer and it will be as good as the 430s.

Got the GPS, got the transducer surprise! the power/data cable from Garmin does have a connector for the transducer. Called Garmin, explained, they told me I need another cable. Purchased it from Garmin, I installed it, the sonar is still not functional. Called Garmin and this time they told me that the 430 does not have the sonar harware. That I need to either return the 430 or to buy the GSD21 ($300). The store I bought the 430 keeps saying that I have no reason to return it as it does work with a transducer.


Now the maps. Looking on the Garmin site there are 4 types of maps:
Bluechart CD one region + extra regions @ extra cost
Bluechart on SD
Bluechart g2 on SD
bluechart g2 vision on SD

Bluechart CD is like an electronic paper chart while the g2 vision is a fancy version with addition pictures an 3D features at 2.5 times the price.

I have made the error assuming that Garmin GPSMAP430 supports all the
Bluechart formats and ordered the CD version with one extra unlock key. Tried to load in on the unit and the unit does not recognise the format. Garmin told me that 430 ONLY supports the g2 vision @ 2.5x the cost of the regular one.

Just to give you an idea, to cover lake Ontario, the Ottawa river, the Georgian bay it costa 1100$ a steal! The same area from Navionics for Lawrance is ~250$.

If you know a way to use another chart other than Bluechart g2 vision on GPSMAP 430 please tell me. Otherwise, don't buy Garmin unless you are willing to pay for the extra fancy features.

Calin

[Paul S]

I just picked up the 440s (coast with sounder) works great. Unreal actually. Fast..has every map of all areas of the coast..even worked perfectly with my old sounder from my 168.

AFAIK, the non-s versions will not work with a sounder. That I know..after getting the 440s. You have to get the s model..at least that is how it works with the 440s

from Garmins website:

The 430 comes preloaded with detailed maps for U.S. inland lakes, including 5300 lakes with shoreline, depth contours, navaids and more. Over 300 of these lakes are enhanced with extra Inland Lakes Vision features

You should not need to buy any chart. You CAN buy the g2 charts..but you do not have to.

The bluechart cd works doesnt work with the 4x series..only if you want to use your pc to view their charts..and upload them to gps' that do not have built in charts (like my old 168). When I called, they said it would not work with my 440s (CD)

The g2 are extras, that are nice..but not needed.

BlueChart g2 Vision offers the high detail charting of BlueChart g2 plus high-resolution satellite imagery, above and below the water 3D perspective, auto guidance technology, aerial photographs for real world reference and coastal roads with points of interest.

So your upset because they do not give you all the optional 3d and satellite and ariel chips?

From what I understand the 440s is the same as the 430s other than it has coastal data instead of the 430s inland lakes

I agree..there is a lot to digest..took me a while to understand it. But so far, after 2 trips..got to say they can have my 440s after they pry it out of my cold dead hands!!!! IT ROCKS!

Sorry you had some inital bad information.. I did to..but figured it out before I bought it (was going to get the 440 and add sonar..then was told you couldnt..like your situation)

[Calin]

from Garmins website:

The 430 comes preloaded with detailed maps for U.S. inland lakes, including 5300 lakes with shoreline, depth contours, navaids and more. Over 300 of these lakes are enhanced with extra Inland Lakes Vision features

You should not need to buy any chart. You CAN buy the g2 charts..but you do not have to.

Calin: None of the lakes on 430 are in my area. I live in Canada. Only the US portion of the great lakes is covered and there is no depth contour (only the lake borderline). Garmin was not able to describe what is covered on the 430. I went by faith and lost

So your upset because they do not give you all the optional 3d and satellite and ariel chips?

Calin: You misunderstood me here. I do not care about the 3D, satellite view, ... I am upset that my area is not covered by default and that I have to buy expensive SD cards that have feature (3D satellite views, ...) I do not need. If I can find a way to use the regular Bluechart maps I will.

Sorry you had some inital bad information.. I did to..but figured it out before I bought it (was going to get the 440 and add sonar..then was told you couldnt..like your situation)

Calin: I wished I would have talked to your salesman. Mine is still under confusion. Gramin support was as well when I talked to them.

[kziadie]

Calin,

Sorry to hear of your experience. I have been using Garmin products for over 10 years (I currently have a 498 sounder... recently discontinued) and have to agree with Paul in that I have always been extremely happy with them. Having said that their model selection can be confusing and you do need to research carefully. None of their current models use the bluechart platform anymore... they sell those maps to support older models. The newer charts have more than just photos, they also have a lot of information included like tide tables and listings for marinas, gas docks, restaurants etc.

I am not aware of a way to "fool" a Garmin unit into using a non-supported format. The units that they sell that come preloaded with the appropriate detail maps for your cruising area (coastal or inland) represent a great deal over buying the charts separately. Unfortunately for you, I have never seen a bundle that includes Canadian waters but maybe they make something for the export market. You might want to explore that possibility, and if it exists try to sell your existing equipment. Otherwise, you might want to call Garmin support while you are in the store where you bought it, and have them set them straight.

Kelly

[Paul S]

I live in Canada.

.

Ah didnt realize that!

All my communication was with garmin. They were right on the money with my questions..

No one (west, defender, etc) didnt even have a unit to look at ..never mind ask questions about!

I can see how things got messed up.. can't believe they didnt tell you the Canadian area wasnt covered.

The only way to update the 4xx is via SD card.. I was finally able to upload my old 168 data into the 440s..as the instructions were lacking on how to do it. But I don't think you can add charts to them..upgrade the internal ones though from what I understand

[Calin]

The only way to update the 4xx is via SD card.. I was finally able to upload my old 168 data into the 440s..as the instructions were lacking on how to do it. But I don't think you can add charts to them..upgrade the internal ones though from what I understand

thank you Paul. I have successfully connected the 430 through a serial port 9600 bauds to the PC. That was the only way I could download waypoints and routes from Mapsource to the device. SD card didn't work for me as Mapsource would not recognize the SD card connected into an USB SD card reader. Charts still can't be downloaded through serial as the "device does not support maps".

I hope somebody will come with an algorithm to convert Bluecharts SD into Bluecharts G2 vision SD with regular charts.

[Paul S]

I couldnt use the SD card either..til I called Garmin..

Garmin said the sd card has to be installed in the gps 4xx FIRST, then removed from the gps, then installed in the card reader. That should work to move waypoints and routes.

If you haven't tried that..give it a shot


Paul

[50/50]

I got a 430S recently too. Excellent piece of equipment and fits the pedastool of the 26X perfectly.

The only problem I have is that when i go over about 8 knts I loose the sonar. I have tried lowering the transducer (mounted on the transom) but no difference.

Any suggestions?

[kziadie]

That problem is usually caused by transom mount transducers that are mounted too close to the centerline of the boat where it can be affected by the water turbulence caused by the prop. With the shape of the Mac hull there is no perfect solution other than using a thru-hull transducer so it is a compromise as the further from the centerline you go from the transom the harder it is to get the transducer low enough to get in the water.

On my M, I have the transducer installed on the port side about 18" from the engine and it works OK... however I have a Honda 50. Those with a bigfoot engine, i.e. with a prop larger than 12", I would suspect would have more of a challenge.

Kelly

[Paul S]

I installed my transducer on the inside of the hull..shooting through it. I glued a piece of pvc pipe into the hull. put a dot of 5200 on the transducer and glued it inside. Flood the pipe with water and it has been fine. Never loses track of the bottom.

Heck it even works on the trailer without water!! For real!

[Calin]

I installed my transducer on the inside of the hull..shooting through it. I glued a piece of pvc pipe into the hull. put a dot of 5200 on the transducer and glued it inside. Flood the pipe with water and it has been fine. Never loses track of the bottom.

Heck it even works on the trailer without water!! For real!

That is a nice idea to fill the pipe with water! For the glue part, I would glue it with epoxy because I feel 5200 is too elastic and might attenuate the high frequencies of the sonar. But if it works, great!

[Paul S]

I installed my transducer on the inside of the hull..shooting through it. I glued a piece of pvc pipe into the hull. put a dot of 5200 on the transducer and glued it inside. Flood the pipe with water and it has been fine. Never loses track of the bottom.

Heck it even works on the trailer without water!! For real!

That is a nice idea to fill the pipe with water! For the glue part, I would glue it with epoxy because I feel 5200 is too elastic and might attenuate the high frequencies of the sonar. But if it works, great!

I used the smallest drop of 5200 (about the size of a pea). They said to use epoxy.. but I didnt have any..and I wanted it installed.. so I used the 5200. It is not embedded in the stuff, jus tacked down