WAAS, C-Map NT, Navionics? Need Help

[Meat]

I am looking to purchase (upgrade) to a chartplotter. I have looked at various information on different units and have some questions.

1. What are the advantages/disadvantages of C-Map NT and Navionics?
2. Has anybody seen or used the Navionics "Hot Spots Maps?"
3. Has anybody used the WAAS chartplotters?
4. Which units or maps have the most detail? i.e. depth contours...etc
5. What is the difference with the C-Map chips and the CD ROM based units like Lowrance has?

Any help is great.

[SeaCat]

I have not seen the new Navonics hot spot maps, but in the past C-Map has blown all of the other mapping technologies away -- more accuracy and more details like contours, channels, ports, bouys... Three years ago I purchased a Magellan 6000 with the southern Lk Michigan cart and last summer I added the western Lk Erie NT cartrige. It is great!.... for the waters I fish most of the time.

The downside? Very limited selection of C-Map carts for smaller lakes and expensive at a minimum of $99 for a small cart -- my two were $200 per cart but cover big areas. The new Hot Spots list of lakes is impressive as is the list on the Lowrance CD list.

After the SA was turned off last year, I was able to repeat waypoints to within 10-20'. The new WAAS acuracy sounds great but (again, in the waters I fish - Great Lakes), I don't need it if I can do 10-20'. Trying to find a hump in the middle of an inland lake, I probably would like WAAS alot.

My 2 cents for what it's worth!

Ryan

[Scott D]

I am also researching the various gps units and features now. Raytheon has a web site at www.autohelm.com which explains a lot of the features.