GPS/Plotter decision

[PADDLES]

i am looking at buying a gps/plotter for my new boat. budget is in the $1k to $1.5k bracket so am looking at the raymarine a50 which comes in at $1199 plus $259 for a navionics map card versus the garmin gpsmap 551 which comes in at $1129 and has got bluechart australian maps preloaded. to me it is looking like the garmin is going to be the one to buy, but have any of you gentlemen had any bad experiences with either of these devices that will sway my decision? are there any other plotters that i should have a serious look at but have missed in this price bracket with similar features?

[Blackened]

G'day

I have both... in a way

A Garmin GPSMAP550 and a Raymarine ds500x sounder.

You cannot go wrong with either brand for quality, and the garmin maps are great.

Go for the best deal, although i'd prefer a Raymarine sounder over a garmin... but that's just me.

Dave

[PADDLES]

thanks dave, whitworths had a good deal on a runout raymarine with a 6 inch screen for $999 but i was too slow. garmin it is, based on the dollars.

update - went down to whitworths and they had the a50 model raymarine with preloaded maps and a bonus raymarine handheld vhf for $1199, bought it. yachty mate has bought the handheld off me and now i can put those bucks towards a new fixed vhf, gotta be happy with that i reckon.