Help deciding on upgrading GPS / Sonar

[Serenity]

I am trying too decide on upgrading my old Eagle Status GPS/Sonar to something newer. I am completely confussed. Too much information out there. I am hauling my 26x to San Carlos Mexico where I it will stay and sail. Can anyone give me some advice on which manufacturer options and maps I should look at. Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance. I don't want to spend any more that I need to but want to buy what I need.
Any help would be appreciated.

[March]

I was in the same boat, so to speak, some years ago: decided to go Garmin 188, on account of their reputation (they make stuff for airplanes, too) . Over the years, I upgraded to color, then to a bigger screen, and so forth. Reliability--C+. The sonar of the first unit I had broke down after 4 years. Garmin sent a chip to update the OS, but in the meanwhile I got a color version 188c that used more juice and wasn't all that better. The pre-loaded maps were laughable, so I got the expansion chip for the Apostle Islands that worked pretty well for years. When we left for the Bahamas 5 years ago, it turned out that I had to buy other chips as well for the detailed maps: got the CD with all the maps, and the hardware to transfer them on the GPS, but Garmin STILL required me to pay for unlocking each map separately! That sucked. I somehow managed to get the maps on separate chips and again, that worked just fine. Then I realized I had lost the original Apostle Island chip and was ready to buy again a new one--only the product was no longer available, being outmoded and the Garmin guys couldn't or wouldn't help (luckily I found the original chip among my "stuff") Got a newer Garmin GPS with preloaded maps and that seems to work just fine--so now I have two on the pedestal. I could also input the Garmin data into the Raymarine autopilot and am pretty happy with the rig.

To make a long story short: Garmin is OK, but their support is spotty at best. The "plug" for the 188 older unit does not fit the newer ones (it's smaller and a simple adaptor would be a no-brainer, but the Garmin people don't sell it--that's why they changed the plug in the first place: to make you buy MORE of their products. ) Can't compare it with Lowrance cuz I never used it, but it seems to me that the Garmin industry has some "shady spots" that would make me think twice if I were to start from scratch. If I switched to a different GPS now, would have to rewire the whole thing and that's not something to look forward to, but I am still considering it.

Just wanted to share this and hope it would help

[Serenity]

Thanks for reply. I am looking at the Humminbird Helix series 7 or 5 and am trying to decide about Si (side scan) and Di (down scan) models if I need that. Looking for model unit with Nav+ card so the maps won't cost so much. The models I am considering are ..... Helix 5 Si/GPS or Helix 5 Di/GPS or Helix 5 Sonar/GPS but can not find one with Nav+ card.

[yukonbob]

Take a second look at Garmin. I agree with the above as I had the same experience with map purchases but a lot has changed. With most any brand you pick the base models are just that. Spend a little more and you'll find you get proper pre-loaded charts. I had two chips at $450 each for the west cost from Washington to Yakutat now you can pick up the entire US Can coast for $250 and that now comes standard with mid to higher end models. I would imagine same goes for Raymarine, Standard Horizon, Furuno etc. I have nothing but good things to say about my Garmin and never had any issues.

[sailboatmike]

I too am disappointed in Garmin, I have a perfectly good 5 inch plotter sounder that is useless because they dont do the cards anymore and there is no upgrade option on the card. To buy another unit you have to go the higher end models because the lower end dont have NMEA 0183 plugs so cant plug into my wheel pilot and instrument network.

My Garmin unit was only 7 years old and I was laughed at when I wanted a new card, all planned to rip you off for more dollars even though your current unit is still working well

Seriously take a look at the Lowrance, most come with Navionics gold card and all that I have seen have 0183 plugs.

Our Lowrance is just great, when we got caught out in the dark (due to a broken throttle cable clip in the motor) and could only get idle it took us 3 hours to cover the last few miles, the Lowrance showed us the channel markers within meters, not bad as due to shoals number one is in the middle of the bay, it was very comforting to say marker should be 200 meters off the port bow and shine a torch and there is was, took all the stress out and we enjoyed our very slow putt putt home

[warfin]

I use Navionics with a Dual GPS rx through my Ipad on an off-the-shelf mounting bracket.

[Cougar]

And I use Navionics on a Google Nexus 7 tablet in a waterproof case, connected through wifi to a Vexilar Sonar unit. You can't get a 7" chart plotter for the price.

[sailboatmike]

It all comes down to the simple question, you can buy a depth sounder for $100 odd, you can buy a car GPS unit for less than $100, so why are we asked to pay %700 for a boat chart plotter/ Depth Sounder.

A definite case of BOAT (Bung on Another Thousand) from the manufacturers

Unlike technology in other areas, technology never gets cheap for a boat, the couple of companies that control the marine market love to sell you old technology for HUGE prices, I put it down to lack of competition

[dlandersson]

I've got the Humminbird 767 series and I've looked at upgrading. Was on the boat from a PO. Worked fine every year. Pretty happy

I am trying too decide on upgrading my old Eagle Status GPS/Sonar to something newer. I am completely confussed. Too much information out there. I am hauling my 26x to San Carlos Mexico where I it will stay and sail. Can anyone give me some advice on which manufacturer options and maps I should look at. Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance. I don't want to spend any more that I need to but want to buy what I need.
Any help would be appreciated.