Which chartplotter ?

[George]

I need some advice if anyone has these on board.

I have got my choice down to 3

Northstar 550i £250
Northstar 538i £200
Navman 5380 £200

First 2 are internal ariel not sure if that would make a diffrence on my boat, but these are the best prices I could find and all are new from companies. Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice on these. all seeem to be good prices and all seem to be good specs the last 2 are 3.8" screens and the first 5" but would this be a great diffrence.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.....


Cheers.....

George.......

[boblydon]

Screen size makes a huge difference George.......all plotters give you the same info, they just present it differently, obviously the more expensive the unit the more bells and whistles, also it will have and a larger screen...they all find the wrecks etc....personally i would allways advise an externall gps antenna if funds allow it

[mark]

Guarantee if you got one with the smaller screen you'll spend the next 2 year wishing you'd spent the extra 50 quid on the bigger one!

In my opinion a mono plotter with a big screen is better than a colour plotter with a small one

internal or external, had both and the new gear is much more sensitive than the older stuff, last boat had a mono navman (same as northstar) with internal aerial and it worked ok. there's a colour cobra plotter in pansy's wheelhouse with an internal its never missed a beat

[George]

Garmin 172

Well after all that searching and wittleing down to 3 I came across the garmin 172 ext ariel mono for £99 ex display as new ( not of ebay) couldnt really pass that up. looks to do the same job but not colour, sure I can live with that for the saving.

Thanks for the input lads................