Recommendations on a GPS Chartplotter

Hi Cal Group! looking for recommendations based on user experience before I purchase a GPS/Chartplotter. I sail on the Great Lakes. Thanks.

Good reports in terms of feature/functionality on the standard horizon 380i. Reliable and reasonably priced. One thing to consider is every manufacturer uses different charts and has a different chart pricing structure. Those are the hidden costs. C-Maps are good and reasonably priced. Other models are available from Standard Horizon, but the 380i is the starting point in terms of screen size, not feature set. Setup a GPS bus using standard 16 strand wire to a terminal strip and the plotter will feed up to three devices: VHF, autopilot etc. You can use a remote antenna but its not necessary on the Great Lakes, as reception is excellent. Good little unit. Chris H

Apologies. got the model no wrong. Its the CP180i with reference here; http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP63816380.htm

FWIW, I went through this exercise about three years ago. I ended up with a GarminGPSMAP 276C, and a BlueChart pre-programmed data card. I mount it on the binnacle support using a Ram Mount. I wired it up for 12V operation. The GPS has been rock solid, and its size works well for our small Cal 2-27 cockpit. At anchor, it's easy to remove and stow below. YMMV, Michael From: chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, February 25, 2010 11:17:44 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Recommendations on a GPS Chartplotter Good reports in terms of feature/functionali ty on the standard horizon 380i. Reliable and reasonably priced. One thing to consider is every manufacturer uses different charts and has a different chart pricing structure. Those are the hidden costs. C-Maps are good and reasonably priced. Other models are available from Standard Horizon, but the 380i is the starting point in terms of screen size, not feature set. Setup a GPS bus using standard 16 strand wire to a terminal strip and the plotter will feed up to three devices: VHF, autopilot etc. You can use a remote antenna but its not necessary on the Great Lakes, as reception is excellent. Good little unit. Chris H

I have recently purchased a Standard Horizon CP180i after quite a bit of investigating, ruminating, and cogitating. My criteria was that I wanted something small that would also act as a Radar display. I absolutely didn't want one of those JumboTrons in the cockpit. The 180 is the smallest on the market that fits the bill. I added a tacktick fluxgate compass for radar/chartplot overlay. Very compact and reasonably inexpensive by comparison. The real question is: What is your criteria? What is important to you? Regards, Wayne Gillikin From: chris123 <ch… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, February 25, 2010 11:17:44 AM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Recommendations on a GPS Chartplotter Good reports in terms of feature/functionali ty on the standard horizon 380i. Reliable and reasonably priced. One thing to consider is every manufacturer uses different charts and has a different chart pricing structure. Those are the hidden costs. C-Maps are good and reasonably priced. Other models are available from Standard Horizon, but the 380i is the starting point in terms of screen size, not feature set. Setup a GPS bus using standard 16 strand wire to a terminal strip and the plotter will feed up to three devices: VHF, autopilot etc. You can use a remote antenna but its not necessary on the Great Lakes, as reception is excellent. Good little unit. Chris H