Chartplotter Recommendations?

[neckmoe]

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Folks,

Would appreciate some advice? I'm looking to upgrade my GPS unit. I have a 2010 model Furuno 585 fishfinder that I am happy with but would like to get into a newer chartplotter that would provide a few more bells and whistles than my old 172 series Garmin. I would rather not spend a arm and a leg but would be willing to spend around a 1000bucks. Can someone comment on the difference between the Navionics Maps vs the BlueCharts by Garmin? I hear Raymarine has some nice hardware and I'm not tied to Garmin but they seem to be quite popular.

Thanks

[guthooked]

I have used the Navionics maps on a Lowrance and like them a lot. The Lowrance unit I own has been OK but the Navionics chip is very detailed and seems to be very accurate. I have also used the Garmin 441 on a friends boat and I like the unit for it's simplicity and ease of use but the preloaded maps for coastal areas are not as detailed as the Navionics.

[SS-342]

Don't know if this will help or not but............we just bought a Garmin 740s Chartplotter. We've fished a few years with a handheld and this new GPS is so much better. Only used it twice and am learning how but so far it seems to be easy. We put in at Keaton Saturday morning and the fog was heavy the first few channel markers but no problem finding our way with the chartplotter. We did idle out until it cleared. We are excited and it is much, much better that the handheld.

I think you will be happy with any better unit.

We didn't really want the sounder but not enough room on the console made us decide to go with the sounder replacing ours with the chartplotter/sounder.