I'm looking to purchace either an Garmin 182c w/bluechart or the Raymarine 435 w/navionics gold , both would have external antenna.
I don't know which one has the best processer (rewrite rate), Navionics vs.bluechart.
any advice would help, I've done some research and plan on purchasing within the month.
thanks,


Jr Link & LINK:cool:

Link,

Not sure about rewrite between the 2 but if it helps I have the Bluechart software that should have 1 more download. BTW I had the Garmin 168 on my last boat and the bluecharts is really nice!!

If its any help, I have the ray 425 (same one as 435, but its B&W). refresh rate is too quick to notice. super accurate positioning.
easy to use, waypoints, routes and navigation to waypoints and along routes is super smooth and accurate....
had it to two seasons now. Navionics chips are excellent, and they offer an yearly udate for like 25 bucks.

Don't know what else I can say, my buddy saw mine and bought the same one last year.

If you have specific questions , maybe I can answer.

Good luck.

Have you considered two separate units? You can get a Garmin 240 blue at west marine for 150.00. They are usually 350. The whole fish finder industry is going to change from analog to digital in the next year or so. You will start seeing more deals like this on fish finders as vendors are looking to get rid of the analogs. I use a hand held ploter that I bought from garmin that works fine. I direct wired it to my boat, but if I have a problem it has a battery back up (2 double aa's) so I can still get home.

I see your problem.

I have been pondering the Garmin 178C or the Lowrance 335C

The Garmin I am looking at is the same unit as you are looking at but I need the depth finder as well. I do not have a lot of space so I am going all in one.

I found the bigest difference was the add on software.

Blue Chart looks to be by far more detailed.

Most units (and I looked at a lot) are similar.

All is good! Hell lick your finger and hold it up to the wind,, that works in the movies.

I would be hesitant to buy the GPS/Depthsounder combo unit again, I had the 168 sounder and it stopped reading bottom so Garmin instructed to send it back and wouldnt you know the 2 weekends it was gone was when I really needed the GPS most due to being caught in the fog!! I have seen posts on different websites where guys are often complaining about the depth sounder not working. But if you dont have the room I guess there isnt much else you can do except start a new payment booklet out on a new ride:D Anyway can ya believe it's snowing:mad:

Good point on the seperate units.
Just like the TV/VCR combo's bad move

I still have not purchased one, only because I can not make up my mind, and everyone sells them differently so you can not compare apples to apples

And it is a new boat so I am stuck with it for a little bit.

I was ready to uncover the boat and load the electronics and go fishing for ANYTHING!

There is still 4 more days untill the weekend,, the weather can change. afterall it is New England

and the snow is not sticking

Originally posted by quick decision
Have you considered two separate units?


never said i was buying a combo unit.. allrdy have a fish finder

I just bought the Garmin 172c. Great "specs", bluechart capable, and reasonably priced! I have a 168 combo (great unit), but wanted a seperate unit. Go Garmin.

No matter what you do go buy a hand-held back up. These are worth every penny and some of them have nearly every feature the big in-dash units do. I have been using the magellan marine handheld (which I bought for a backup) but use it to complement the in raymaine dash (combo unit). I may buy another monitor eventually to keep them separate but it worked out fine last season as is.

I'm almost leaning towards the ray 435, bigger screen better guarantee blue chart / navionics almost the same ohggggggg i'm torn,almost the same $$$$ navionics has more chartography later link:cool: :smash: :smash: :confused:

look deeper at the 435 Ray - I hear that navionics gold chart is awesome.

Check out - http://store.yahoo.net/anchorexpress/index.html
anchor express out of Mass. good prices on electronics.

I really like my 182C, but I haven't compared it with the 435.

While purchasing a backup handheld, I was thinking about my ray 425 chartplotter. The backlight was going out intermittent at the end of the season so I sent it to Ray for repairs (warranty). Got it back quick with a note that upgrade of software fixed the minor problem and the unit bench tested OK..

So back to the handheld....
Recently I found out from Lowrance that saved waypoints and routes do not save on the MM card that comes loaded with the maps etc..They store on the units own RAM.

So I e-mailed Raymarine and asked what would have happend to all the saved data that was appatently on the machine not the navionics card. They replied "It most likely has been erased during the software upgrade."

So I have lost all my fishing spot waypoints, routes etc. I'll know for sure when I uncover the boat and plug the CP in.
Probably (with my luck) its all gone and I will have lots of reprogramming to do this spring.:af: :af:

Jezzz.

I upgraded my software and found out the the points disappeard too (but I had them on the user card and my PC)

If they upgraded the OS, all static memory is wiped out and they start from scratch.:(


During the seasaon, once a week or so I save all the screen stuff to the user cmap card (ray) and less often (once a month) for the SD card on the handheld. Handheld data usually not important really, I just like experimenting with it.

I take the chip home now and then and load all my waypoints, routes, ect on my computer at home. Also I do planning at home, save to the user chip, and bring that to the boat...So the user card is what I call my "sneaker-net". I have multiple copies of stuff but the latest and greatest is always in the boat.

It is a lot easier to enter in "bulk" data on the PC, transefer it to the machine then to enter the data on the machine itself.






good luck van..
:(

I don't have the software or connection to my PC, but it seems I cannot save data (waypoints) on the card anyway.

Are you talking about the NAV card?
Does a Navionics card fit in any available card readers?

I don't know about the Navionics but *most* manuf's of these allow you to purchase a "user card" and you can save data to it. Your machine might have 2 slots (one for map and one for user..or two maps...ect) , if not you my have to remove the map card and install the user card.

Time to dive into the manual, and visit the web sites...there has got to be a way to get the saved data out of that box....even the handhelds can do that.

Hey Van,

I am sure you can ger a reader for whatever card you have...what kind is it? A SD MMC, what? (look at the card)

Maybe that would work, I do not have a 2nd slot.
I'll look into the manual. But the card is only made by navionics (I believe). DOn't know if I can buy a blank..
BUt the CP does has that (NEMA???) wiring option.
Maybe that will hook into a laptop USB...DUNNO ??????????????
Gotta do some readin!!!!!

Just looked at the navioinics site.

Their charts come on compact flash (CF).

MMC (multi media) this is what my new lowrnace handheld will have (should have been shipped by now).

and the NAVCARD, which is their own brand. I don't think I can get a blank or a reader in the basic computer stores.

This link shows the cards and their compatability in equipment manufacturers.

http://www.navionics.com/classic_compatible.asp

I,m going with the Garmin 182c it seems more user friendly and the rewrite rate is fast can't outrun the screen . got a great deal on it, thank you for all your input guy's , later link:cool:

Good choice, I've own 2 of them and installed 2 others. I like the dual displays of stand-alone units when running tight channels and in limited visabilty. The Blue chart software is good also to review charts also but its good to get the chip.

we are getting the chip also

Originally posted by missing link
we are getting the chip also

Instead of buying the prewritten chip, you might want to consider spending just a couple more $$ to get the CD, card reader and 16mb chip. Allows you to use your computer to manage waypoints, routes, etc. Program updates can be downloaded this way, saving you from having to buy a separate pc connection/power cord.

good thought I'll concider it:rolleyes: :confused: :) later link

ML I do not know what price you found the 182c at but I have seen it on line for as low as 800.00 and if you are a member of Boat US they will match any on line price they can pull up that is current. If you wish I can give you a few good sites and if you are not a member I would be glad to help you out there to.

Originally posted by GBOUTDOORS
ML I do not know what price you found the 182c at but I have seen it on line for as low as 800.00 and if you are a member of Boat US they will match any on line price they can pull up that is current. If you wish I can give you a few good sites and if you are not a member I would be glad to help you out there to.


Yes we new that :) we found it for $834 and the chip for $130.. did you find any prices better than that, if so you could pm me the addys :)

Thanks,
LINK :cool:

they matched the price we wanted ... and we got it today ( 182c)