chartplotter recommendations sought

W

westward

New member
Greetings.

Our Garmin 740S was recently stolen off our stored boat, with cables, mount, and transducer left in place. Unfortunately this model is discontinued and its cables aren't compatible with the new Garmin units. I'm thinking about replacement of the whole system with a 741xs. Does anyone have feedback on this unit? What transducer is recommended? I read about the new "chirp" sonar technology; what is it and how much value does it add for fishing? I could re-use my existing Airmar transducer by purchasing a $70.00 adapter box but presumably would not have Chirp technology: am I better off putting the $$ into an updated transducer?
I'm really only looking at Garmin cause I loved the 740 so much and I like Garmin's general user-friendliness. I do need the ability to add radar but may not be able to afford right away, and I like the "plug-and-play" expandability. Thanks in advance for your feedback! Mike
PS: I should add that I would be interested in purchasing a gently used 740S if anyone wishes to upgrade their own setup.
 
I would go with the 741xs. There are significant differences between the 740s and 741xs, including the 10 hz update on the GPS (It is fast enough to allow Radar overlay, without a Gyro or GPS compass. It has the Russian GLONASS system as well as the GPS. Has the Down Scan, plus side scan capability, CHIRP, and of course accepts the newer radars.

I have the 1041xs along side a 740s---and so compare the features The 741xs is about $700. For the newer sounders you will need the newer transducers.
 
I installed a 741xs and the 18xHd radar on C-Dancer last year. The units are good. I do like the radar overlay without the need for a gyro rate compass. I like the touchscreen and user friendliness. I think I like the Navionics chart on my Lowrance a little better than the Garmin bluechart charts.

As for Chirp, I guess I haven't figured it all out yet because i dont see any real improvement or advantage compared to traditional sonar. I have the TM23 transducer. Like I said, it's probably me.

The 741xs is a good unit. It seems like Westmarine must have bought a huge stock of them because they're still selling them and they keep reducing the price. I would jump on it Mike.

Peter
 
I went thru three 741xs units from Garmin before getting one with no bugs.
After that, sweet.

I also think Navionics software is a notch above Garmins. Go figure.

Both companies have marine charting apps for an iPad you can try out to
see which you like best.

Aye.
 
We went from the 740 to the 741 and it was a nice upgrade. If you use the basic GT20-TM transducer, you still be basic downview chirp support plus two frequency options of traditional sonar.

Moving up in price a bit to the GT23M-TM or GT22HW-TM adds wider chirp frequency support for only 50 to 100 more dollars.

We don't really fish very seriously so the basic model is fine for our needs right now but I will replace it if we ever change our boating in that direction.

The xHD RADAR is also a worthwhile improvement of the standard HD when the time comes for you to add RADAR. They also have a newer model but I have not used one yet.

Greg
 
Thanks for the replies. Another issue this discussion raises: is a 7" screen large enough to effectively monitor the radar overlay mode on a moving boat? My eyes aren't what they used to be and I need readers for most computer screen viewing. I have a $300 bid in on the 740S mentioned above on Ebay, which will be the most economical outcome if I get it, but I'm not inclined to offer any more for a discontinued model. If I'm outbid I'm thinking a Garmin 741 or perhaps stepping up to an 8 or 9 inch screen. Unfortunately the stepping up seems to add user interface features/complications which I won't fully use, and which will actually detract from my enjoyment of the unit. Any recs or feedback for a slightly larger Garmin unit? Thanks, Mike
 
As I noted I have the 10" screen. The problem with all of the current multi function displays is that they all are "wide angle"--I guess purposefully made so you can run split screen--like depth finder on one side and chart or radar on the other. In my case, I use radar next to chart on the 10" display.

I have used radar for about 40 years--and am used to a 7" screen --but that 7" is oriented up and down, not horizontally. The 10" in half, is almost the same size as a 7" oriented horizontally. The 9" which is a touch screen, is going to have a lot more real estate for the "forward" look part of the radar--which I consider more critical than a wide expanse of the sides. When you go to the 76XX series, they are more expensive--and as you say--have some extra features, you probably won't use. The 1040xs has the same features as the 7" The odd number screens in this series seem to be touch, the even are buttons and knobs. The 940 xs is about the same price as the 1040xs, but with more features...

Now for the problem. If you are going to add radar...the Garmin HD and HDs 18 and 24 will work with the 720 and the 1040sx, and 840sx, but not with the 9" sx.
These will apparently only work with the new Garmin Fantom Radar...

Here is the list of radars which work with the Fantom radar:
1022, 1022xsv, 1042xsv, 1222, 1222xsv, 1242xsv, 722, 722xs, 7407, 7407xsv, 7408, 7408xsv, 7410, 7410xsv, 7412, 7412xsv, 7416, 7416xsv, 742, 742xs, 7607, 7607xsv, 7608, 7608xsv, 7610, 7610xsv, 7612, 7612xsv, 7616, 7616xsv, 8208 MFD, 8212 MFD, 8215 MFD, 8417 MFD, 8422 MFD, 8424 MFD, 8500 Black Box, 8530 Black Box, 8617 MFD, 8622 MFD, 922, 922xs, 942, 942xs

The list which works with the HD/HDx:
1020xs, 1040xs, 4008, 4010, 4012, 4208, 421, 4210, 4212, 421s, 441, 441s, 5008, 5012, 5015, 5208, 521, 5212, 5215, 521s, 526, 526s, 527xs, 531, 531s, 536, 536s, 541, 541s, 546, 546s, 547xs, 6008, 6012, 6208, 6212, 7012, 7015, 720, 720s, 7212, 7215, 721xs, 740, 740s, 741xs, 8008 MFD, 012 MFD, 8015 MFD, 820xs, 8212 MFD, 8215 MFD, 40xs, 8500 Black Box, 8530 Black Box

The Fantom has a number of features, including motion trails, better short range discrimination between targets and finding birds. But it may not be as good for the HDx (and I do recommend that over the plain HD) for Distances more than 4 to 6 miles, and weather. For plain navigation, the HDx is more than adequate.

There is relatively little experience with the digital Garmin Fantom in the dome (18 and 24 inch series). There is a lot of experience in the Novice/Simrad: G4 and G3, and it is the consensus that the Simrad is a better digital unit than the Fantom--at least at this point. However any of the digitals, tend to not be as good at distances and for weather as the Magnatron radars. The digitals use far less power, no warm up period, and virtually no risk of radiation (even on the standard recreational radars, the medical risk is overblown however.

Sorry to have confused things a bit with the radar--but this is what happens with marine electronics and their rapid revolution...
 
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