Welcome to Carver Yachts Owners Forum

We are a boating forum for owners of Carver Yachts to enthusiastically discuss all aspects of Carver Boat ownership. Whether you are looking for your first Carver or currently own one, you are sure to feel at home on CarverYachtOwners.com

You are currently viewing our board as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and access our other FREE features. By joining our free community you will have access to searching the forum topics, post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload your own photos and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Discussion of radars, GPS, autopilots, stereos and TV's. Also iPad and other mobile navigation devices.
User avatar

Topic author
AussieYank
Scurvy Dog
Scurvy Dog
Posts: 4
Joined: May 16th, 2015, 3:38 pm
Vessel Info: 1989 Carver Montego 2557

GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby AussieYank » May 17th, 2015, 4:47 pm

I need to get a GPS for my boat...

We barely leave the bay waters in San Diego, every now and then we venture out a couple of miles into the ocean. We're not into fishing (yet!) so thats not important to me, I have no idea which unit to look at buying.

I would like something that connects to my VHF but aside from that I have no clue. I would like to go with something reliable but dont need all the bells and whistles. Something effective and inexpensive.

Any help/advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

User avatar

glazingguru
Scurvy Dog
Scurvy Dog
Posts: 25
Joined: July 30th, 2013, 9:27 pm
Vessel Info: 1995 Carver 355 Aft Cabin
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby glazingguru » May 27th, 2015, 4:21 pm

check out the Raymarine A70D
I put one in my 32 foot Chapparal a few years ago before I sold it and was very pleased with it
User avatar

United States of America
waybomb
CYO Moderator
CYO Moderator
Posts: 2404
Joined: February 5th, 2013, 9:24 pm
Vessel Info: 1995 Boston Whaler Rage15
1987 3697 Carver Mariner
1988 Cougar 46 Kevlar Vee offshore
1969 15' Glasspar / 1967 Johnson Electromatic 85
1996 Boston Whaler Rage 15
Location: Saint Joseph,Mi
Has thanked: 50 times
Been thanked: 396 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby waybomb » May 27th, 2015, 9:15 pm

You will get at least one response for every brand there is. So start with a budget - how much do you want to spend for the hardware? Then go shopping. Me, I'm partial to Furuno, even though my current boat has a Raymarine RADAR. I do have a Furuno GPS, chart plotter, fishfinder all-in-one, though I do not fish (my neighbor does all the work and filets them for me; I cook them and eat). But I do like to see the bottom

Read the manual on your VHF, to see what system it uses for communication. That will narrow down your choices as well.

Once you decide on what you want, do a price check on ebay for a new one same model, then shop local. At least you'll know what the thing is really worth when shopping.
Thanks
Fred
1969 Glaspar Avalon /1969 Johnson Electromatic 85
1987 Carver Mariner
1988 Cougar Kevlar 46' with triple blown 572 ci
1995 Boston Whaler Rage
Past - 1988 2807, 1989 4207 Aft
User avatar

Ondercin
Scurvy Dog
Scurvy Dog
Posts: 20
Joined: April 20th, 2015, 5:48 pm
Vessel Info: 1988 carver 3607 AFT
Penetanguishene
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby Ondercin » June 1st, 2015, 7:45 pm

I just installed the raymarine a97 with chirp and sonar and love it!
I personally just compared garmin and raymarine and felt raymarine was a better option for me..
I agree with Fred, get your budget and figure out the options you really want to make your best educated decision. FYI I paid about 3000 with platinum charts.
1988 carver 3607 AFT
Penetanguishene
User avatar

United States of America
waybomb
CYO Moderator
CYO Moderator
Posts: 2404
Joined: February 5th, 2013, 9:24 pm
Vessel Info: 1995 Boston Whaler Rage15
1987 3697 Carver Mariner
1988 Cougar 46 Kevlar Vee offshore
1969 15' Glasspar / 1967 Johnson Electromatic 85
1996 Boston Whaler Rage 15
Location: Saint Joseph,Mi
Has thanked: 50 times
Been thanked: 396 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby waybomb » June 1st, 2015, 9:20 pm

I always watch ebay for boat stuff. I've been seeing handheld marine GPS units, used, for 100 bucks or so.
Can't get any less expensive than that.

Fog can roll in pretty quickly in SF, correct? I'd be looking at radar with a gps/chart overlay.I've been caught in fog with our first boat. Bought a radar that winter and installed it, and have had one on every cruiser since. I do not ever want to be stuck in fog again, especially when you know you are near a large shipping lane. Pucker factor for sure.
Thanks
Fred
1969 Glaspar Avalon /1969 Johnson Electromatic 85
1987 Carver Mariner
1988 Cougar Kevlar 46' with triple blown 572 ci
1995 Boston Whaler Rage
Past - 1988 2807, 1989 4207 Aft
User avatar

After Taxes
Deck Hand
Deck Hand
Posts: 84
Joined: September 21st, 2014, 9:55 am
Vessel Info: 'After Taxes'
2004 Carver Mariner 360
Lake Simcoe & Georgian Bay,
Ontario, Canada
Location: Lake Simcoe Marina
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby After Taxes » June 2nd, 2015, 5:32 pm

You would be very happy with any GPS that uses Jeppesen marine Chart Maps.

Jeppesen is also great to deal with for annual updated charts on new memory cards.

I've used them in three boats. My Air Canada pilot friend uses Jeppesen in the air.

Good luck in your search.

http://ww1.jeppesen.com/marine/commerci ... gation.jsp
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
2004 Carver Mariner 360
MerCruiser MX 6.2
Lake Simcoe, Ontario

Image
User avatar

Canada
Lyndon670
Admiral
Admiral
Posts: 657
Joined: July 29th, 2013, 11:35 pm
Vessel Info: 2000 Carver 506
Volvo TAMD74EDC
Location: Georgian Bay
Has thanked: 124 times
Been thanked: 138 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby Lyndon670 » June 12th, 2015, 9:32 pm

You may want to consider a tablet with a ram mount. There are many offerings for tablets that are inexpensive.
Lyndon,
2000 Carver 506
FOXY JOE
Volvo 7.4TAMD
Queens Cove Marina
Georgian Bay, Ontario
User avatar

Topic author
AussieYank
Scurvy Dog
Scurvy Dog
Posts: 4
Joined: May 16th, 2015, 3:38 pm
Vessel Info: 1989 Carver Montego 2557

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby AussieYank » June 16th, 2015, 1:32 am

Thanks for the replies, I think I settled on the Lowrance Elite 5... I think I got a pretty smoking deal from Walmart... WestMarine is selling them for over $550, Walmart had it for $460 plus Lowrance has a $100 rebate for it at the moment, so $360 seems like it's work the risk.
User avatar

United States of America
Low Flyer
Scurvy Dog
Scurvy Dog
Posts: 24
Joined: October 15th, 2014, 3:07 pm
Vessel Info: 1998 Carver 355 MY
Mercruiser Bluewater 454's
Location: Allatoona Marina Resort, Lake Allatoona, GA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: GPS Chartplotter Purchase Advise Please

Postby Low Flyer » July 20th, 2015, 7:21 pm

Let us know what you think of Lowrance Elite 5!
I was looking at it also since my Fish Finder doesn't work anymore.
Cheers
"Water Wings II"
1998 355 Aft Cabin

Return to “Electronics & Navigation”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests