Quick review Cheapest and best GPS alternative

Creekwood said:
Well, I dont’ run in the ocean, but we do get fog at times and I do run in early AM and at night periodically and I have radar. So until they can overlay radar on my iPAD, i will use the raymarine.

The new raymarine’s have the ability to link your navionics and other data on mobile devices using WIFI I think. It is really cool and truly integrates the two devices. But would mean a complete replacement of my current fully functional, if somewhat dated mfd, sonar unit, fluxgate compass and radome. So will have to wait.
Click to expand...
If you ever do replace I am a local buyer for some if your dated gear as mine is better described as ancient lol, ,It still works mind you and that combined with budgetary concerns has kept me out of the market from buying a combined chatplotter fishfinder this year. . I did get a free tablet from Roger's this year and will put navionics pro on it for preplanning and backup. Here's a shot of my current backups
 

Attachments

  • 20191004_062834.jpg
    20191004_062834.jpg
    174.9 KB · Views: 379
Last edited:
Handsome Transom said:
If you ever do replace I am a local buyer for some if your dated gear as mine is better described as ancient lol, ,It still works mind you and that combined with budgetary concerns has kept me out of the market from buying a combined chatplotter fishfinder this year. . I did get a free tablet from Roger's this year and will put navionics pro on it for preplanning and backup. Here's a shot of my current backups
Click to expand...

Those are some oldies! I have an old Garmin handheld as well that I leave on the boat. Not sure why to be honest. I never use it. I did use it on my first boat that only had a fishfinder and paper charts.
 
Navionics is a fantastic app. My friend bought a new 45 Sabre, $mil dollar boat, with touch screen Garmins and still uses Navionics for primary navigation. You can't beat the auto-route function and crowd source depth updates.
 
1) a127 Raymarine w/Navionics
2) I-Pad w/Navionics
3) Moto G7 w/Navionics

All 3 running at the same time with identical charts showing...
 
I think most of the major MFG's these days have pretty slick screen "mirroring" integrated in their hardware. I've enjoyed that function with my Garmin's but I wouldn't say it's a major item I'd look for in determining which brand to go with. Being able to create routes with your iPad/iPhone and then load them onto your chartplotters is infinitely more awesome than the mirroring, in my opinion :)
 
The Bill Collector said:
1) a127 Raymarine w/Navionics
2) I-Pad w/Navionics
3) Moto G7 w/Navionics

All 3 running at the same time with identical charts showing...
Click to expand...

Although they have the mirroring feature I do not use it... I want all three to be independent of the other in case of a malfunction in one of them I have the others for backup.
 
7 and 9 inch chartplotters are all very affordable these days from most all manufacturers. $500 to $1000 to me is a worthy investment for such a critical piece of equipment.
 
Craig said:
7 and 9 inch chartplotters are all very affordable these days from most all manufacturers. $500 to $1000 to me is a worthy investment for such a critical piece of equipment.
Click to expand...

It's like a gateway drug, really. Getcha into a single 7" plotter and before you know it you've got 3 plotters at the helm, a NMEA network, integrated stereo, radar displaying on a tablet mounted in the head, engine monitoring gateways, HDMI so you can watch Netflix at the helm...yeahhhh....

Be careful with those 7" plotters...the upgrade disease is no joke.
 
This is all very interesting. First question is what would I need to buy as far as the ipad or droid is concerned. Do is need built in Gps/WI-FI/celluar? Then just download the navionics for a 1 time price and I have a chartlploter? My boating is mainly inshore/rivers/bays. Wish someone could advise me on what equipment I would need for this setup at a reasonable price. I do have a Garmin 546s that I use but my eyes are getting tired looking a that small screen. Like the idea of planning at home before a trip. Thanks for any advise. Would you Recommend ipad or droid.
 
I still use Coastal Explorer software on a laptop with a puck style GPS. Pain in the arse. I just recently acquired a first gen Hook 7. Pretty cool. Much easier.

I am really appreciating this conversation. I will be entering this market soon.
 
menos22 said:
This is all very interesting. First question is what would I need to buy as far as the ipad or droid is concerned. Do is need built in Gps/WI-FI/celluar? Then just download the navionics for a 1 time price and I have a chartlploter? My boating is mainly inshore/rivers/bays. Wish someone could advise me on what equipment I would need for this setup at a reasonable price. I do have a Garmin 546s that I use but my eyes are getting tired looking a that small screen. Like the idea of planning at home before a trip. Thanks for any advise. Would you Recommend ipad or droid.
Click to expand...

Well as mentioned above a 7" plotter can be had for the cost of a new iPad these days. But...that won't be the biggest display and could still be hard to read.

So yeah, you could buy a used iPad. I'd think you would not want to go any older than an iPad Air at this point just to make sure it'll run the current apps. I'd then suggest you buy a bluetooth GPS receiver that'll connect to the iPad (I used the Garmin GLO, $99 on Amazon). Then pick your app of choice. Navionics, Garmin, etc.

I'd also recommend a good waterproof case for your iPad. I used a "Lifeproof" case, also on Amazon. A great investment. It's also quite kidproof for whatever that's worth :)

The last complication - if you were to buy a new Garmin charplotter you'd get their latest software (BlueChart) on the plotter but also a free license for one other device (your iPad). So if you're considering spending $100+ on software alone carefully consider the plotter, maybe in addition to a used iPad, since it will offset the cost of the standalone chart software.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,472
Members
61,034
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top