Garmin 172 or navman 5110???

[simonpp82]

Ok people, i've been doing some sniffing around on the net for an affordable GPS and i've come down to these two... Garmin 172 or navman 5110. Both are b/w which is fine with me as i cant really justify the extra cost for colour. What im after though is your advice on the performance of these two units as I have had next to no experience with gps plotters before. US website cascade marine has them both for under US$300 which is a lot cheaper than i could find anywhere around here. Also i would like to know your opinions on the c-map(navman) and bluechart(garmin) navionics cards. Thanks! - simon.

[longtail]

Hi Simon , i have a navman 5110 and i am very happy with it so far , no problems with it and easy to use.

i have'nt used a garmin so can't give you any comparisan.

hope this helps


Jason.

[dynamicspot]

can get a 5380 navman for a good price just paid 669 dollars for on


Greg

[Moffy]

have a garmin 172C myself and it is the ducks nuts

if you can afford colour, i'd seriously consider it - the amount of detail that you can pick up reading the screen in colour as opposed to mono - where you have to look at all the lines on the plotter screen to work out what is what is unreal - with the colour - its all there easy to see at a glance. you won't look back with a colour plotter (i used to think what was the point until i actually used a colour plotter at sea)

if your budget doesn't stretch that far - can't see how you'd go wrong with the garmin - i love mine - don't know anything about the navman though.

[revs57]

Go the garmin...I've got a 172C...freakin brilliant...had navman before... I find the garmin much easier to use

good luck

Rhys

[finding_time]

Got to agree with Rhys

The 172 is a great unit! i have used a navman a while a good unit know where near as user friendly as the Garmin. There are a aweful lot of 172's out there now and im yet to hear of a complaint!!!


Ian

[simonpp82]

Thanks for the input guys, sounds like the garmin is coming up trumps so far... What are the differences with the bluechart and cmap cards though??

[revs57]

I find the Blue chart info very accurate. I read a review of both the C Map and the Blue chart before my purchase....I understand then that the blue chart had some accuarcies in info over the C map. That may have changed now.

Garmin also has the benefit of Computer software package. I'm yet to get it but understand you can plan your trip on the 'puter and down load it into the unit and visa versa with backing up waypoints/marks

I haven't used it yet but i think Reefmaster has used it so maybe a PM in his direction could help

Cheers

Rhys

[finding_time]

Ive got the software aswell and it great not only for planning trips and looking for new areas but also for storing and editing your way points.

ian

[dynamicspot]

just got a navman 5380 looks the goods will have to test it had a look at a 172 c the navman looked better



greg

[perko]

Ian, have you got the bluechart map on your pc programme or just the one base map supplied with the software.

[finding_time]

Perko

I've got the PC based charts for the eastern side of Australia

[simonpp82]

Thats another thing i was going to ask. What's the world basemap like? Any kind of detail?

[davo]

I have the Map 172 C and have begun to have colour screen problems. In fact this the second I've had mine back.

On thing in favour of the Garmin is that even if you have an overseas purchased unit then for $55 they will service it in Australia. Garmin in the states gave me the run around and said I'd have to send it to Taiwan

I'm thinking if mine keeps gving problems I may actually see if they will give me a gray scale unit.

My only problem with Navman is the expensive PC software where as the Garmin will not only connect to just about any free software but with Mapsource I can transfer Garmin waypoints to the Humminbird software and download them onto the little Matrix12 I have up the front of the boat

[vermin]

I have the Map 172 C and have begun to have colour screen problems. In fact this the second I've had mine back.

Hi Davo, what are the problems you are having with the screen?