GARMIN ELECTRONICS - THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK PLEASE

[LuckyLady]

With a new season coming up for us. I have a few guys looking to install the new Garmin 4212's , Radar, plotter weather and some will be using 2 Garmin screens and 1 Garmin 4212 and a Furuno VX2.

I am not trying to start a bashing post but many people who know me know that I will not sell you crap I do not believe in and I am on the fence with Garmin

After reading this thread I think that it is the 2nd time that I have heard this comment of having issues with temps

GSD22 & B60

And after searching I found what struck my memory

Electronics Help


We install or have the factory glass in 1KW ducers on all setups with an occasional B60-20 or B164

In years past with the Wellcrafts & Monterey's we have installed 100k worth of Garmin Equipment mainly smaller plotters and f/f combos such as 3010's 2010's 188c & 172c which they no longer make. They were great combo's for the smaller boats and worked really well with no problems what so ever

Please give me some feed back on what you know I just want my guys to have the best of the best without any problems!

[RIKTRONIC]

hey mary. i would not be too concerned with garmins new products. so far, i have had some great feed back!! we just sent an ocean yacht to puerto rico with 2, 5212's, all these guys do is billfish, read deep water and track bait. they really like the products.
garmin is using the gsd22, it is now a digital sounder, a much nicer pic.
as far as radar, use the larger dome and the open array. on your smaller installs, dont even mess with the smaller dome.

trust me, i am not biased on the garmin stuff at all, but i have been impressed with the new lineup. not to mention that its pricing is a little better than its competitors.

[JD5652]

I have the Garmin 3010 with GSD20 and XM weather. I've used it for 3 years and have nothing but good things to say. Seriously thinking about upgrading to the 5212 display.

[Abell Marine]

I have a 3010 at my helm and a 3006 on the tower. They have the XM weather, etc.. Sounder works good. I don't have the radar networked, so can't comment on that. I like the units and haven't had any problems with them except I at times I wonder about the water temps. My next boat will have a secondary, independent water temp gauge to be sure.

At one point the screen on the 3006 started to fog and I sent it back to Garmin. They replaced the entire unit, tranferred all data(waypoints, etc..) and had it back in a matter of days at no charge.

One thing I like is that they are pretty user friendly. I even learned how to use them.

Hope that helps.

[Mad Fin]

Mary,

Despite my issue of losing the temperature sensor, as I indicated in the thread you alluded to, I'm very happy with the Garmin 3210. I've got the GSD 22 sounder and the XM Weather package and I think the system performance is concise, intuitive and very user friendly. Garmin has made leaps and bounds in marine electronics and is gaining more and more respect with each product release.

The issue that I'm having with my temperature reading is either with the sensor in the transducer or a failed connection. Either way, I'll work on it in the Spring.

[yachtjim]

All the new Garmin stuff is nothing short of outstanding. Brightest screens on the market, and best user interface among other things. Now with the TR-1 in their line-up and all the new N2K gauges they should be great in 2008.

[luis02]

My Garmin 4212 is cool, but he refresh is on the slow side. Other than it's great, although if I had to do all over again, I'd go with two NavNet 2s, instead of one 4212 and one NN2.

[Erens Addiction Too]

Mary,
I run a Garmin 3210 with GSD22 and glassed in 1KW thru-hull transducer. I also have the XM weather feature and really enjoy it. I've never had any problems with my Garmin and like the operation. I see no reason to change in the near future.

[jawz12]

there's absolutley no quality issues with the garmin units....i've installed numerous garmin plotters,i've installed a few of the new sounder module options as well...i've gotten no complaints...these units are very easy to use and the best part is they're water proof !!!

[Wolakrab]

I have had Garmin chartplotters on every boat I have owned--6 in the last 11 years. The only issue I ever had was water spotting on the screen coating of 2 units. I have a 4208 with a GMR18 that I am putting in my Black Watch. These units are easy to network with other Garmin products, and almost as easy to interface with your other electronics via NMEA. IMO, when it comes to GPS receivers, there is Garmin first and then everyone else.