Navionics or Hot Maps?


2

233 Double E

New member
This came to me from another group I participate in....there were not many responses, so I'm hoping one of you open water and Great Lakes pros can assist...

"My question has more to do with best charts and what gps will use them. Garmin uses hot maps. Raymarine and lowrance use Navionics. So far, I think Navionics charts are more detailed, as to depth, mile markers, and marina/gas etc. After I decide on a brand, then choosing a size that will work best with my helm area will be easier. Price is a last factor."

So just based on charts, what is your thinking on the best for you?

Thanks!!!
 
My current formula has Raymarine and I use it on LOTO.

However, my last Formula was used exclusively on Lake Michigan for 3 years and had a Garmin. I used it all over the south shore (Chicago to Michigan City) and took one trip to Green Bay for a week, and back.

I always found the map to be surprisingly accurate, certainly to any degree I might be willing to trust.

I hope that helps!
 
I have Garmin 3010 and Furuno Navnet on my boat. I prefer to use the Garmin for gps needs. I love the ease of operation and chart data is sufficient. Sometimes I feel that Furuno has more detail for marinas. Depths and markers are pretty equal. My main reason for having the Furuno is for radar which is far superior to all.
 
I have the lowrance LCX-28C HD Sonar/GPS Chartplotter Combo on mine.I am on the Chesapeake bay, charts and data are great and its easy to use.Last boat i had the same gps on it.
 
Seas,

I have had both Garmin and Raymarine. I currently have the Ray Marine E80. I had the Garmin 3010 with Radar and weather on my 31PC. Ivan, who is a member here has that boat now with that setup.

The main thing i like about garmin over the ray chart plotter is that the Garmin puts down a more accurate trail of breadcrumbs compared to the Raymarine.

exmaple: Garmin. you can set it up to drop a crumb almost every second. The Ray marine will drop a crumb every second also, but when it shows on the display it takes the last few crumbs and averages them to display a line. If you where to make a circle with you boat, the track from the garmin would almot be a circle. the ray unit would show the shape of a stop sign. averaging points and showing a straight line.

I boat up a river with lots of stumps. at low tide if the line is off just a little i can be in trouble.

The other thing better about garmin is when you follow a route, the route is higlighted better. Ray just shows the same size line as the track you ran. Garmin makes the line much wider and highlights it so its easier to see.

As for Rada, back in 2006 i thought Ray had the better radar over the garmin but i have not seen the new garmin radar.

If anyone knows how to highlight the tracks better or make a circle on the Ray let me know cause i still dont think its an option.

to answer your question, i like the garmin map data better.
 
I have to agree -- I also found the GArmin easier to use than the Raymarine.
There are things I know the Raymarine can do, but I cannot figure out how to do it with 2 hands nor the user manual.

Garmin was much more intuitive and user friendly.
 
I live on lake superior and have raymarine gps/radar charts are good and detailed one chip covers most of the lakes. Dad has northstar similar charts and he is old school and has been happy with chart detial over the years. Good luck if you can get to a boat show sometimes you can get some good package deals got mine from boaters world at miami show. Saved some good money
 
I have the Ray E120 with Navionics Platinum Plus. I love the bird's eye view and ocean floor contour with this setup. I do agree that the Raymarine does need a little fiddling to find what you are looking for, but it does seem to have everything one needs.

Gabby Girl, - What is involved to add Sirius Weather to your system ? I have the Raymarine E120, and Sirius radio already.
 
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