GPS, CHARTER, PLOTTER

[GBUSA]

I have continued using a loran on Erie. I fish the central basin. In simple terms, explain charter and plotter with GPS. What I want is to be able to mark a couple waypoints and set up a troll between the two. I have read some on the topic and am confused as to what software is compatable with the brand units. I want a very accurate map of Erie central basin. Thus far it seems that Navionics is the best and LakeMaster if they get to chart Erie. It seems that Garmin is not compatable with anythiing but Garmin/BlueChart.

So, if you fish exclusively on Erie, what is it that you want to spend your money on and with what software? If I get one I want a mountable unit for the boat. Lowrance, Garmin etc have units from $300-1000. You make the call???

GB&GBUSA,
Jerry

[FreeByrd]

Jerry,
Most of the companies make decent mapping units these days. As you have discovered from your research, the key to a "very accurate" map is the extra "chip" or software you buy specific to the area you fish. The good news for you is that since Lake Erie is a "Navigable" body of water there are many good choices for you. Most of the units contain a very basic background map bult in but need the additional software to be of real value.

In the most simple terms, you don't need to worry about manually inputting waypoints / keeping a log of waypoints anymore if you dont' want to. Simply move the curser to the spot you want to either go to or put a waypoint on the map and hit a button or two and that is it. Same for marking a spot as you hook up on a fish or mark some structure that you want to save. Hit a button or two and it is saved visually for you.

I currently use the Raymarine L760 RC mapping GPS chartplotter which uses the CMAP NT charts. I previously used the Garmin 2010 which used the Garmin Proprietary Bluchart. Both of these units are essentially like looking at an official NOAA chart, including bottom contours, spot soundings and navigation aids. I believe the Lowrance units use Navionics and have been on friends' boats that had them and they are good too. The key is finding a system that will allow you to buy ONE chip that covers the entire area you fish (all the companies mentioned above offer this option I believe). My Bluechart and CMap NT chip both covered all of Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St Clair, Niagara River and Western Lake Ontario.

The two units I have used extensively have allowed you to select several levels of information to view - meaning you can have it very detailed or limited details - may be an issue if you are fishing an area that has lots of navigation info you don't preticularly care about and just want to mark icons for your fish / trolling pattern all the details can be very cluttered - too much info on the screen at one time. I would advise you to get the biggest screen size you have room for and that is in your budget.

All the companies are offering color units now that are indeed nice. If your boat has a hardtop and cover from direct sunlight you won't have a problem viewing any of the units. If mounted in direct sunlight you want to get one of the newer screens that are more visible in direct sunlight. The color in my opinion is "nice to have", but not a necesity on a mapping GPS. I do believe there is more value in a color sonar so given the choice between the two and a limited budget I'd spend the addtional money on a color sonar.

You didn't mention a sonar, so I assume you want a standalone unit which is great if you have room for it, but you should consider if you want the option to add sonar to it in the future and or if you are interested in a "networked" system - for example I have two Raymarine 7 inch displays one is primary sonar and the other primary GPS/Map. These back each other up and are also tied into my autopilot. These are things that I would also put in the "nice to have" but not a necessity category. You may want to match up to whatever sonar barnd you have now - for familiarity and looks sake.

My biggest recommendation is to get a unit you can buya preprogrammed chip for. Some units require you to buy a CD that you use on your computer and somehow download to the GPS. This is a just a personal preference - I spend too much time on the computer as it is. When it comes to fishing I want to be able to put the chip in the unit, turn the unit on and go fishing. I'd also recommend goign somewhere where you can see multiple units and "play" with them for a while to see how user friendly they are. The software and keystrokes are different for each unit and some will be "easy" for you to use and some will be harder - different for each person.

Raymarine has introduced a new series of units geared more towards the great lakes anglers that are designed to compete with the popular untis from Lowrance and Garmin. The standalone chartplotter is the RC435 (uses Navionics Gold mapping) and is in the "A" Series.

www.raymarine.com/raymarine/ProductDetail.asp?site=1&section=2&page=774&product_id=1717

If a combo unit interests you at all, then the "C" series is something to consider.

Good Luck,
Steve

[Tim FRick]

Was turned on to the 188C Garmin with lake erie blue chart by some folks here and never looked back. Great unit and great maps. I believe I paid about $1300 for it. Should be cheaper now. Also this is a color unit that is dgps/sonar combo. Very customizable and allot of features. As you can see can't say enough about it. I see now that humingbird has come out with something similar but cheaper. That was the only bad thing was the price. But in my opinion it's worth it.
Good Luck and do your homework on all the units!!
Tim FRick

[Uncle Paul]

Keeping it simple,You want a mapping G.P.S. it will do all that you want and more.The unit will have a base map that looks like a child's drawing of a lake ,but if you add a chip or download a map it will take that info and turn the crude map into one that looks like a F.H.S. or N.O.A.A. chart.Then when you want to fish as Steve says you move the curser,Hit enter and off you go,thats the plotting part of it.Make sure you get one with Waas the accuracy is amazing.Also most units can convert your LORAN waypoints to G.P.S. waypoints.You will like how easy they are to use compared to the Loran units. Paul

[GBUSA]

The time you all took and the info is very much appreciated. I am at this point a little overwhelmed as expected. I believe it is like when I bought the first paper graph from Lowrance in the 70'S. I think there is a site at www.gpsinformation.net that will give me some info. What I want is this.

Accurate and Detailed maping of the lake. I want to fish and believe in keeping it simple. So I do not want to spend my water-time playing with technology. Yet I demand precision and accuracy. I don't want contours that are a football field away from where I am and want to go. I want to be able to troll a line along a contour with accuracy and go to a waypoint with accuracy. After 30 years I am not concerned with docks, directions other than a given compass heading. Simply, most-accurate contours of Erie and go fish from A to waypoint B or move to a chosen spot.

So, based upon the above, what is it that I should consider-GPS,chart and plot with waas + sonar---and what will a sonar do that the others will not and which chip or downloae is the most accurate.
GB&GBUSA,

[bob oh]

Sonar is a fish finder and you do not have to have it with your GPS unless you want it. I hve the Garmin Blue Chart chip for Lake Erie and find it very useful and accurate (remember accuracy cannot be dead-on, but it is close). I have not seen the Raymarine units Steve has but he says the maps are very good and I believe him. Like Steve said, you're lucky you are fishing Erie cause many of the maps are very good. You should find the unit that has the features you want and get the best map avaiable for Erie and you're good to go. Garmin units are very user friendly; don't know about the others, you will have to check them out. Go to Boat/US or West Marine and have them show you how different units work.

rod bender bob

[ETT]

It would seem that the BoatUS tech reports or West Marine Advisors would be of great benefit to you. They are both well written and easy to understand. They'll help you become an educated consumer.

[GBUSA]

Did not know that Boatrus.com had a tech section, but I just got a good explanation of the whole mess. Now it is decision time. Most important is the quality and accuracy of the map.
GB&GBUSA,
Jerry

[FreeByrd]

Jerry,
Sind you are talking about Lake Erie I'm fairly confident that ANY of the mapping products and units will be accurate as they basically come from the official NOAA charts. The areas that are tough in terms of mapping are the smaller lakes that may not have extensive NOAA mapping. At this point - for what you described - I'm confident that ANY of the units / brands discussed above will work well for you, so I stick by my earlier suggestion of going somwehere like a West Marine / Boat US and "playing" with the units to see which one seems the most user friendly to YOU.
Steve