Garmin 750S

[knoxygen]

Navman fishfinder threw in the towel. Thinking of upgrading to a Garmin 750s Chartplotter / Fishfinder. Anybody got any advice?

[whiteman]

I spent a day on a boat with the HDS7 but went for the Garmin based upon price/performance.

The good bits:
- They come loaded with Australian charts in fantastic detail - much better than anything else I've seen
- Really easy to get data on and off using Home Ports (once you work out the file structure)
- Touch screen is very good, even at speed (actually, better than fiddling with knobs). And the ability to move waypoints using your finger is an awesome feature.
- I can see the bottom over 10 knots (YAY!!!). This is the main reason I dumped the Furuno. It's not perfect but it is a MAJOR improvement which still has room to get better if I try some adjustments.
- It is compact on the dash


The not so good bits:
- The fishfinder is nowhere near as good as the Furuno it replaced - but it is adequate and supports bottom lock. If you've never had a Furuno you will probably think it's great.
- Combo units compromise the available real estate even though this is a real 7" screen (unlike the Lowrance HDS7 which is just over 6").
- My unit has a very reflective screen so if it is not aimed straight at me it is almost impossible to read. Other users may have a solution to this (I've only had mine a few weeks)

[knoxygen]

Thanks Whiteman,been tossing up between Lowrance and Garmin. I got a price on a Garmin 750S off Trymax for $1810 delivered to my door so I think I might go for that.

[whiteman]

I paid $1,790 for mine at Markwell Marine in Cairns. They matched the phone quote from Trymax. I should have added in the pluses that the touch screen keypad for naming things is SOOOOOOO much better than other units like the Lowrance.

[MY ALIBI]

mate awsome unit i say , i got the combo unit and still use my furuno 620 for sounding againts garmin ...
i use the garmin to waypiont structure it unreal.... fathers day spiecial i piad 1650 in rockhampton terries marine centre...
hope you enjoy it ..

whiteman.... as for the glare i found it bright to.i mounted mine on dash at a slight angle it helps

[Noelm]

I have had mine for a while now and can't say I have noticed the glare on the screen issue, biggest plus for the unit is ease of use, even without the user manual (that we never read first)it is so easy to use. Supposedly, if you upgrade to the 1KW transducer, the sounder is awesome, a friend of mine has done this and he reckons it is equal to his old Furuno he had, but I have not seen it myself.

[Sevric]

Good points are that the unit is very user friendly and the on screen touch buttons are large for those with hindered eyesight or for making adjustments while underway. The only issue of note for me has been water on the screen in my open boat. A wet screen and wet fingers combined does create an issue with the buttons activating. I simply keep a towel beside the unit for this occasion. I only use mine in shallow water so can not comment on the deep water capability however the overall performance has been flawless for me.