Furuno GPS

[Dean Stephens]

Yup, I know - I am the Master of Procrastination and nothing happens at speed with me hence I am still checking around for a new GPS.

The Furuno GP33 looks like a reasonable buy and I was hoping someone on the forum was using one and could comment. If not the 33, then how about the Furuno gp32 although I think the latter is getting passed its sell buy date.

Look forward to hearing what you think.

 

[miles]

The two Furuno models mentioned are normal GPS's and NOT chart plotters. They retail for about R5-6000.

For roughly the same money you can get a Garmin 400 series CHART PLOTTER!!!

If you however don't need the chart plotter functionality and ONLY need a GPS, have a look at the handheld garmin gp72 or even an etrex, both of them will be under R2000 WITH mounting bracket and external power cable. Easy to use and pretty sturdy units.

 

[benniejordaan]

For that money look at the Lowrance Elite series. I have customers wanting to change HDS units in for Elite units. They are brilliant plotters!

 

[Dean Stephens]

miles wrote:

...have a look at the handheld garmin gp72 or even an etrex, ..

Miles,

Thanks for the reply. I have had a look at the reviews on the internet and this unit seems like it would do what I need. Seem though that the unit has been replaced by the GP 78. I will call on the local Garmin guys tomorrow to have a look see. Thank you. 

 

[Dean Stephens]

benniejordaan wrote:

For that money look at the Lowrance Elite series. I have customers wanting to change HDS units in for Elite units. They are brilliant plotters!

Bennie.

Thanks for the reply. A chartplotter is really great but a bit more than I need as we work only on gps co-ords. I have also been looking at the Elite on the Lowrance website (it's listed in their price list but not in their product catalogue) but as I have had two bad experiences with Lowrance SA I am just a little reluctant to go the Lowrance route again. If I should settle on the Elite I am guessing that the suggested price of R5-6K would not include the maps or the transducer?

Thanks again for your input.

 

[miles]

I would most DEFINITELY recommend that you get a chart plotter, if the money's available.

A normal gps works very well, but the chart plotter is VASTLY superior when it comes to safety at sea.

With a normal GPS, one has to make up routes to and from your fishing spots, so as to avoid any navigational dangers, like rocks, reefs or shallow area's. With a plotter, there is no need for a route to be made, as you can see exactly where you are in relation to your destination.

So, whats the difference then?? Well, assume its night time or raining or heavy misty/foggy conditions, where vizibility is severely compromised. You are returning from your fishing spot, running for home, on your GPS's track/route that you have pre-programmed. Now, should anything block that route, ie. a large ship blasting its fog horn and you don't have a radar, or another boat reports hazardous floating debris right on your route, how will you be able to SAFELY navigate back to port?

Another scenario. You launch from your usual harbour/port/beach and go fishing. The sea picks up and you're forced to return to a DIFFERENT harbour or port. Chances are very good that you will not have a safe route marked on your GPS. Even if you have engine failure and need to limp to safer inshore waters, a plotter showing you ALL the reefs and naviagtional dangers will be invaluable.

I always urge everyone to invest in a chart plotter!! Not only is it a safety feature, but it also is a excellent fishing tool. It shows your the contour lines, shallow reefs and much more info. Its like having a huge paper navigational chart, with all that information, open right in front of you all the time.

 

[Fishton]

I have NEVER heard of anybody replacing an HDS with an Elite.

 

[Dean Stephens]

@bennie,

Thought I would follow your advice and look at the Elite Series but I see that it's not even mentioned in the Lowrance catalogue. Does that mean that the Elite is already dated ?

Again, thanks for your input - choosing the right product is trickier than I thought.

 

[Fishton]

Dean,

The Elite was actually launched after the High Definition Series (HDS). Here is the link ...

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Mark-Elite-Series/

It is a fantastic 'middle of the range' unit. The plotter however has a very slow refresh rate when zooming and takes some 'getting used to' if you've owned a HDS.

 

[hamco]

Dean, my summary of all treads on this forum about fishfinders and GPS/Chartplotters:

1. GARMIN GPS/map/chartplotters

1. FURUNO fishfinders

my 5c

 

[Dean Stephens]

Thank you for all the advice.

Although I have said many times that, because I have found some of their staff to be arrogant and unhelpful I will never buy a Lowrance product again, I have finally broken down and bought an Elite 5 GPS from Lowrance. It's not that I am getting soft it's that the simple truth is that there is not much to compare in the price range and what eventually made up my mind was that the new unit fits back into the hole vacated by the old unit so no additional mounting drama. I will use the GPS to locate waypoints (which is my real need) for the present and will add the (expensive) charts later on if I find a need for them. When I say "bought", I would have bought if there was stock - so by "bought" what I mean is that I have committed to a unit on "Back order" that should be available early next week.

Must say that I do like the Furuno GP33 a lot but it does not have Maps even as an extra and the problem I have with the GP33 is that I  would have had to make big changes to flush mount it back into the console.

Hope I don't regret this - too late now....