Well the Garmin 188C looks to be having serious issues and since I'm now forced to pull all my T-Top wiring to get some gussets welded, could be time to pull a new antenna at the same time.

Ok what's really good and whats really bad out there for combinations color gps/fish finder combo units. I don't want to break the bank, hence the combo unit, curious what people have been using, how user friendly they are, how well the hold up and how easily they read and function.

Thanks

I'm using the Garmin 545S and don't have anything bad to say about it except it doesn't differentiate between fish and hungry fish...

Bob .
I,ve never boat a conbo unit ...I,m not starting now .................... Garmin GPS Furnano Finder

I've been looking at the Furunos, seem awesome, great reviews.
I have a combo unit, eagle, cheap one that came with the boat. The gps is fine, but Im not crazy about the fish finder. I may keep that for the gps and add the furuno fish finder if I get some $$$ this year to spend.

Garmin gps and Raymarine fishfinder, definitely color on both.

I too, have the 188c. And Garmin is no longer servicing them. I only really need the screen replaced, but it worked well this past year. Like Bob, I would prefer to find a combo, if only for space on my console. If I get a new unit, it will have a larger screen, so will need the space the Garmin takes up. The Garmin GPS has been very good, but I am really interested in the new Navionics charts shown here http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/boat-fishing-boating/62723-future-gps-mapping.html

lowrance HDS8 or Garmin 740s

Bob .
I,ve never boat a conbo unit ...I,m not starting now .................... Garmin GPS Furnano Finder




DITTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mine are the balz

Looked at the Garmin 740 and while it's more than I wanted to spend, it definately has what I'm looking for. The only concern I'd have is how the touch screen would hold up after repeated use, has anyone hand any experience with the touch screens over a few seasons?

Space is definately going to dictate a combo, so in comparison to the Garmin 740 are there other similar units out there and where can you actually see one? Seems like that Garmin 740 was the only combo at West Marine with a screen size I'm looking for, suited for old man eyes.

opinions:

TOUCH screen vs. PUSH BUTTON - The Hull Truth (http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/305578-touch-screen-vs-push-button.html)

Garmin no more - The Hull Truth (http://www.thehulltruth.com/marine-electronics-forum/301556-garmin-no-more.html)

not sure I'd be a fan of the touch screen, too much, eel, bunker, striper slime, snot on my hands all the time. One more thing I'd have to clean.

Cant remember the number of my unit off the top of my head. But, it is a Garmin combo. I was dead set against combo's but I have to say they aren't that bad. Reasoning for me was a space issue.
If I had to do it again, without the space issue, I'ld still lean to seperate units just on principle.

IMO get the largest screen you can possibly afford, then get the next size up!

Despite what everyone says, the smaller the boat the LARGER the screen has really has to be. Larger boats don't move around as much and things are easier to operate and read. Larger boats however have more real estate to mount stuff so generally they have large screens. But bigger is better.

Don't be scared by combo units, they work great. Never had a breakdown.

That said, No matter what unit you have you should have a hand held as a back up and an Iphone with the navionics ap as a backup to your backup!

I like garmins but they can't take the weather waaay too many have failed in CC mounts.Raymarines have an excellent rep for being mounted outside and few issues.

I have no idea what your budget is but I am now looking at the newest SIMRAD unit with NSE2. This is a combo unit that includes the autopilot AND has Sidescan sonar included. You can also link in radar, etc. IMO You need to have a combo in a small boat one big screen is much better than 2 small screens.

If everything craps out you can navigate home by your handheld on its own battery.

Anyone have any experience with the Garmin 541 or 540S? Much as I'd love to have the 740, that's a lot of money to shell out, wondering if I wouldn't be OK getting a used 2009 or 2008 equivilent. These old eyes sure would like that 7" screen the 740 offers, I'm on the fence, too bad there isn't a year old equivilent with that size screen. I'm leaning towards Garmin, simply because I had no issues with the 188C until the screen started to give me issues, plus it would be nice not to have to mount and pull wiring for a new transducer.

I dont have any experience with Garmin but love my standard orizon chartplotter. Great features short money.
Furuno sounder and it is fantastic.

Anyone have any experience with the Garmin 541 or 540S? Much as I'd love to have the 740, that's a lot of money to shell out, wondering if I wouldn't be OK getting a used 2009 or 2008 equivilent. These old eyes sure would like that 7" screen the 740 offers, I'm on the fence, too bad there isn't a year old equivilent with that size screen. I'm leaning towards Garmin, simply because I had no issues with the 188C until the screen started to give me issues, plus it would be nice not to have to mount and pull wiring for a new transducer.


YES. I sold my Ray CP and got a Garmin 545 "without sounder". I added the vision card and it is truely awesome. The part i like the most is: you pick a waypoint you saved. Hit GO-TO-NAVIGATE and it plots a course shows you a thick purple line to follow and it keeps you in safe water, goes around hazards etc. You could put an 8 year old behind the helm and say stay on the purple line and it will take you right to the slip. It has all the other features as other CPs too.
Been flawless for the 2 years I've had it. SD card slot so you can backup your tracks waypoints etc.

I went digital Furuno with an airmar tilted thru hull ducer for my FF.
They are hooked up with NMEA so I can display anything I want between the two.

Hope that helps, Good Luck.