COMBINATION UNITS - GPS/PLOTTER/SOUNDER

[BillySalmonhole]

HEY RTIMERS,

I'M RESEARCHING ELECTRONICS FOR THE BOAT THAT I AM OUTFITTING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH OR AN OPINION ON THE COMBINATION UNITS THAT MANUFACTURERS LIKE FURUNO AND SI-TEX ARE PUTTING OUT.

THEY ARE ONE UNIT THAT HAVE A GPS/PLOTTER/OR SOUNDER BUILT IN. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS IN BUYING ONE OF THESE UNITS VERSUS THREE INDIVIDUAL UNITS AS WELL AS SPACE SAVINGS FOR SMALLER BOATS.

I'M NOT REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SPACE; HOWEVER, I'M WONDERING WHETHER PERFORMANCE LACKS OR USER FRIENDLINESS. ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS,
BILLY

[BobPink]

Billy,
I've had a Garmin combination (chartplotter/sounder)unit for the past three seasons. I spent one whole season sending the damn thing back and forth to Garmin trying to figure out what was wrong w/it. They did finally stand tall and replace the entire unit but it taught me a very important lesson.
In the past (prior to the installtion of that unit) if I lost the function of one of my three key navigation components (compass, sounder and loran), I'd still have the other two to rely on. When the Garmin crapped out, I'd lose the sounder and my position reference. I only then realized how much I used to use my sounder to confirm my position at night or during times of low vis. I can clearly remember cursing in the fog with only my compass to go by.
The Garmin is working fine again, but there's a separate simple sounder riding alongside it on the console......
Bob

[BillySalmonhole]

THANKS BOB

BILLY

[GMix]

Billy - I just looked at combination units and decided to buy the plotter and the sounder separately. I was looking at the Lowrance 160. The main reason for my decision was the size of the display. It just wasn't large enough to display the map and the sounder on the same screen. I believe the Lowrance is smaller than most other units but it's still something to consider. - George

[FlyByNite]

I bought a garmin 185 last year for a small boat. I bought it from West Marine (BIG MISTAKE). They sold me a defective chart chip and the wrong transducer. It took a few months to resolve the issues. Once it was working, it was fine. It has more features than I can ever use, or figure out.
My advice, buy something from a dealer who really knows the product.

[jagarland]

I also bought a Garmin 185 last year. It works fine, I guess. I am a little unsure because it is so damn complicated or maybe I am so damn dense. Could be both.
At any rate at its simpliest level it works fine.

Jack

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