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Post by fritz on Dec 22, 2020 15:54:56 GMT
My 2020 NC 795 came with a Garmin Echomap chart plotter that had already been discontinued on the day of delivery (the fine print of the contract said that was life). Besides being obsolete, the pre-loaded maps are just about useless. I end up using my phone with the Navionics app more often than not.
My ideal world would be an iPad with all the necessary data flowing into it. I can get pretty close, but not all the way. My Vesper AIS overlays nicely onto the Navionics app. I am looking to add doppler radar and get some decent maps in the coming year.
Do I stay with Garmin or make the switch?
Currently under consideration:
GPSMAP® 1243xsv GMR Fantom™ 18 AutoPilot - future
I appreciate any advice you can provide.
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Post by ForGrinsToo on Dec 22, 2020 20:17:32 GMT
I'm really pleased with iNavX running on two iPads. I'm using a Brookhouse iMux-ST to collect data from AIS, GPS, and SeaTalk, and display wherever I wish on board. iPad has a "waterproof" cover that has only been tested in heavy rain. I have not succeeded yet in controlling the RM autopilot from the iPad, but we rarely go faster than 6 kts so I can stand under the dodger and step to the helm as needed. You can download updated NOAA charts weekly, if you wish, at no cost. But there's no way to import radar. If Navionics does (I can't confirm, yet), I would think about it, even if it is owned by Garmin now.
What I don't like about Garmin is the cost of charts, and their policy of abandoning older products (I realize they have some legitimate liability concerns). But it didn't take them long to do serious damage to Active Captain, which used to be virtually free. Garmin has evolved into an unconcerned corporate behemoth in my opinion.
Geoff
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