Looking for opinions on GPS
 

Narrowed it down to a Standard Horizon CP180i (or 190i) with a new C-Map chip or a Garmin 521 with an SD card from Bizer with their map on it.

I'm familiar with the look/feel of the SH unit (good friend has an older 155), I like the look/feel of the Garmin a little better, but have no experience using one with the SD card from Bizer.

Looking for anyone who might have feedback on the Garmin, or should I stick with what I know.

Thanks!

Standard Horizon all the way. I have the 180I now and have owned the 175C and 155C in the past. Easy to use, great display.

I am a fan of the Standard Horizon but if it is feasible, head in to the boat show. I am sure there will be many vendors with both models on display and who would be happy to let you toy with them and advise you on the many nuances of each.

Also, I posted this before, if you can go to the boat show get a price from the West Marine booth. I bought mine there at 60% off.

Good luck, love to know what you decide and why,
HCG

was there
 

Actually worked at the show last weekend and again this weekend. Couldn't find the 180/190 or the Garmin on display anywhere, but didn't have time to do a full sweep through the West Marine booth. It was missing from the Voyager Marine booth, where I expected it to be... I'll do a better run through this weekend, but what I would really want to see, the Bizer map on a Garmin unit, I doubt I'll get to.

Probably will end up with the SH, I know I can buy it online for $380, I can't find the Garmin in the same ballpark.

I did see a unit from Si-Tex that was nice, but not much of a dealer network around here.

I purchased a Garmin 536 last year with the Bizer map and I am really happly with that setup. I have never used the Standard Horizon GPS so I can not comment on it.

I have also tried using the Garmin map for Winni and I find the Bizer map for the GPS to be much better.

I can tell you that the GPS saved me lots of times from getting into a rocky area or being on the wrong side of a marker.

Last year was my first year on Winnipesaukee and I would still not go far from my camp without a GPS. Not so much as I dont know where I am as that I like having the GPS map right in front of me showing me where the next marker is and where the navigation lanes are.

One more thought, I still carry a paper chart just in case the GPS goes on the blink.

Whatever you do, make sure it has soft keys. That's the one thing I wish mine had. The next model up had them. There's a few menu items that I use all the time and I wish I had soft keys I could program.

Gps
 

I have the CP180i I luv It

:D

Standard
 

Went with the SH CP180i. Found a good deal on it at the boat show actually, with a little more searching, plus I can continue to use my C-map chip that I already have, so it was the lowest dollar option. Also, the mounting options I played with look almost ideal compared to the Garmin (which is somewhat larger and would me more awkward to mount.

Thanks for the advice all.

Want to install it at the Center Harbor docks, like the last one?

:)
 

Or in my slip in Meredith, either way, I will be most appreciative for the assistance for a certified tinkerer such as yourself!

Sounds like a plan. I'll be sure to have my DMM, connectors, and one of my drills on-board.

Garmin or Standard Horizon?
 

My CP-150 is out of commission after 7 years because the hardwired CMOS battery went dead and I'm not willing to spend $200 for a factory repair. No great loss. The keys and joystick were hard to use with any precision. The C-Chip from Bizer works great, but I'm leaning towards replacing the Standard Horizon with a Garmin with Bizer's add-on.

Not trying to hijack, but does anyone have experience with the Hummingbird 788CI? The boat we have on order comes with it factory installed in the dash. We did the upgrade from the 385CI as part of the package for the larger screen, but I do not have any experience with them.

not trying to hijack either, but what did you order for new boat? maybe a new thread for this...
HCG

Many of us need to live vicariously through all of you new boat buyers...

Things you will never read from me..."The boat we/I ordered..."

2011 Premier Sunsation LTD RF 225 with a 1' deck extension. PTX36 package and a 250 Pro XS. Another tri-toon. Can't wait!

Fast Toon
 

Great... I get to get overtaken by another pontoon boat on the lake (Dan (I shoot308) passed me in his 'toon one day)!! Those things move with the right power.

His flies. the 22' shp with the 250HO is the fastest setup Manitou makes. The Premier PTX36 has larger tubes and will be better in rough water but it scrubs speed, I will probably run 54ish.

Just an fyi... My Manitou is a 24'. Top speed achieved on GPS is 55 MPH with a 19 pitch prop. I normally run a 17 pitch because I carry a few passengers that puts me right about 50 MPH at W.O.T.

Codemans Premier is a top of the line tritoon that my wife and I have been drooling over. They are top quality with all the bells and whistles. With the 250 outboard he's got hanging off the back, he is sure to have some serious fun with it!

Dan

How do pontoon boats work at those speeds? Are they on plane of some sort?

They handle unbelievably well, better than any other boat I have driven. The high performance toons have lifting strakes welded on the sides which gets them up and on plane in no time at all. They also handle water chop and waves extremely well. I have a 23' Eastern also and I will take my tritoon any day over it regarding handling and it's ability to handle big chop and waves. I feel much more secure in the toon than I do the Eastern. They are great boats!

Dan

I thought for some reason you had a 22'. My mistake. I ran 49 on gps with my 24' with the 225 opti.