GPS/Chartplotter Questions

[Torquin]

I am in the market for GPS/chartplotter/depth finder. My goals are visibility in sunlight, color display, depth info, GPS, very detailed maps, ability to mark the good fishing spots so I can find them again, and not to break the bank. I don't know that side transducer is necessary. I am not married to any brand, but I would like to have a unit that is expandable, with chip or whatever. My road GPS is a Garmin and I'm pretty happy with it.
I don't know that much about this, so I'm asking here. The choices are so many it makes my head hurt.
From people I have talked to so far:
Local sporting good store, Greentop Sporting Goods: Get Lowrance 525. The Hummingbird GPS isn't very good.
Knowledgable fisherman at work: "Lowrance is kind of "bottom of the line". The local store recommended it because they get a better margin on that brand. Research the maps first, then get a unit based on the maps you want to use. I found C-map NT to be the best. It has detail down to fence posts in lakes."

I will be fishing mostly inland in central Virginia, rivers/lakes, but a jaunt to brackish water is not out of the realm of possibility. I won't be going into the bay or further as my boat is a 16' flat bottom Alumacraft with 25hp OB. I am told this type of boat does not do well in swells so I will stay away from that.
I would like to hear from anyone with something contructive to say, good or bad, about any brand or feature, or map info.

Thanks,
Chris

[PREDATOR27]

The lowrance 525 has a very bright sunlight viewable screen. For the price, my 2 cents, it can't be beat. The unit does everything I need it to do out 85 miles off shore. The unit shows my boat sitting in it's slip on the chart. When I receive a dsl call from my friend 4 slips down it shows his boat in his slip. Pretty accurate charts.

[Torquin]

Predator, do you have additional charts loaded, from Lowrance or other?
How detailed are your charts?
My concern is I want to see the structure under water, or rather know where it is so I can go there, then do the "fine tuning" with the depth finder once I get to the place where the "hole" is supposed to be (catfishing).

Thanks,
Chris

[PREDATOR27]

Yes, I purchased the nav. chart for my area. It shows my slip, all buoys, bottom contours, bottom depth, tidal activity, currents and wrecks.

[Torquin]

You make the Lowrance sound pretty good. I am leaning that way.

Thanks,
Chris

[johnholtonde]

I've been looking for a combo highway/marine gps. I've only seen lowrance's xogtc. Anybody use that or another? Thanks

[PREDATOR27]

Let me just mention the lowrance does not give me satelite overviews, pictures of harbours or other feature of a higher priced Garmin unit. Those features were not important to me.

[CapitanAmerica]

This is what Lowrance can give you, from ther lowest priced LMS unit to there highest priced LCX. They all can use Navionics Platinum data cards.
All can be used with radar, have excellent sonar, and have bright, clear, high resolution screens.
The Navionics aerial photo shots don't appear to be of very high resolution, but you can put you own JPG pictures on a data card and they will be very clear when displayed on the unit screen

[Torquin]

CapitanAmerica, thanks for posting this info. Another fellow, who tells me has has both a Lowrance and a Garmin, tells me that he likes the Garmin better because it's more user-friendly to use. I have also read where the Lowrance is more "menu-driven" than the Garmin and the author said that the Garmin was simpler to use.
Any thoughts on your end?

Thanks,
Chris

[CapitanAmerica]

To me "menu driven" means easy to operate. Having been in the Data processing
field sense the early 70's, I can really appreciate what these sonar/chartplotters have developed into.
Don't think you would have any problem learning Lowrance or Garmin. Certainly does
not take a PHD to figure this stuff out. If all else fails we can always read the manuel.
Same with any of the other makes.
I do have a few friends who have bought these things and just refuse to learn how
to use them properly, and then blame any problems on the unit itself. I have become
"the guy" were I boat to keep all of there electronics working.
I like Lowrance and there is certainly nothing "low end" about them. Check the radar screen shots I put on another post. I have used most everything out there and the only one I would never buy again is RayMarine. But that's another story.

good luck on whatever yo decide.