chart plotter 531 Orion

[Orion]

have just received x-mass present yesterday from fedex and west marine.nice package under 1ooo.oo dallars including shipping.rainy day so good chance to play,blue chip installed,good to go.mounting positions are unlimited,from pedestel to side to a swing-type from the top of the bimimy.also be able to bring in cabin on certain ocations.Anybodies ideas are wellcome Greg.

[mastreb]

I suggest returning it and getting the 521. The 531 does not have a NMEA2000 interface, which is necessary for all sorts of advanced functionality including adding weather and wind sensors, tank level sensors, engine monitoring, etc.

It's the same price as the 521, which does not include the inland-lakes basemap (it trades that data for the NMEA2000 port) but since you have the bluechip you've got all that data and more on the chip.

Matt

EDIT: Orion, just read this and realized I kind of sound like an officious ass--wasn't my intent, I was just in a hurry when I wrote this.

[shanker]

Matt, what are your thought on a Garmin 535?

[mastreb]

Matt, what are your thought on a Garmin 535?

Same problem: No NMEA2000 port. Get the 526 (No charts built-in)+Blucharts G2, or if you >only< need U.S. Inland Lakes charts, consider the 536.

About NMEA 2000 vs. NMEA 0183
==========================
NMEA 0183 (confusingly often called just "NMEA" is a cable and protocol allowing chartplotters and autopilots to receive data from instruments. Unfortunately it's "single talker, multi-listener" which means that you typically have to choose just a few instruments to send data and are often limited to two or three devices. It's low speed and not bandwidth efficient, and two decades old.

NMEA 2000 (sometimes called N2K) is a full networking protocol based on automotive controller-area-networks (CAN) and can interface up to 64 senders and listeners together, with all devices able to do both. This means for example that the same Flux gate compass can send nav data to your chartplotter and your autopilot, your autopilot and chartplotter can receive apparent wind data from your anemometer, compute true wind from that data and GPS, and then retransmit true wind to your autopilot (yes, they do this), your engine can send fuel consumption to your chart-plotter to display a fuel gauge, and your tank level sensors can send ballast-tank level to your chartplotter with a beeping alert so you know right away if you forgot to open your ballast tank valve, all over the same single bus of connected cables. It's quite fantastic, works well, and you'll really miss it if you don't have it and you like electronic hacking on your boat. It's a new protocol with most devices really only appearing in the last three years but most of the kinks are worked out and nearly all chartplotters are compatible with nearly all senders. Trust me, for a few bucks, you definitely want it on your chartplotter.

About Charts:
==========
Garmin sells three "versions" of all of it's chartplotters:
-- "no charts" or "basemap" version (usually $100 less than others)
-- "U.S. Inland Lakes", for people who use their boats on lakes
-- "U.S. Coastal Waters", for people who use their boats on the oceans

They also sell two map chips:
-- "BlueCharts G2" includes 2D U.S. inland Lakes + U.S. Coastal Waters for $160
-- "BlueCharts G2 Vision" includes above + 3D areal views of harbors, 3D hypsography for fishing, etc.

The "best" way to buy in my opinion is to get the basemap version of the chartplotter + BlueCharts G2 (not vision). The 3D stuff is mostly worthless (I have it, and never use it) but having the full set of U.S. Charts is priceless. If you get a chartplotter with built-in charts and then buy a chip, you're wasting about $100 on duplicate data.

I went with the Garmin 421s, which is their cheapest chartplotter that does N2K. You get 100% of the functionality but only a really tiny screen. It's good enough for gauges, but I'll eventually upgrade to a 7xx series touch-screen and move the 421 into the cabin (yep, N2K allows you to have multiple chartplotters on the same bus, and they can trade waypoint info around the network).

Matt

[c130king]

No flame intended...

My thinking is that NMEA capability is not that big a deal unless you really plan to have many other "extras" that that can utilize the capability. I don't monitor my engine or my fuel through my chartplotter. I don't have a wind sensor linked into my chartplotter. I think the NMEA thing is a little overblown unless you intend to use that capability.

But if you are not looking to spend all those extra bucks on NMEA things this boat is very safe, efficient, and easy to use without that capability.

I would suggest the Garmins with the built-in maps. I have had two and think Garmins are great. I currently have the 546s with the big benefit of the 546 being a "high def" screen of 480x640 rather than the usual 240x360 (big difference in the display quality)...and it was on sale and only $75 more than the regular def and it included the sounder so I thought it was worth it. And the Garmins had a $100 rebate plan going on for almost everything...which they do occassionally.

Not knocking NMEA but if you don't have the engine with NMEA output and don't plan to add extra electronics with NMEA then just consider the options.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

[mastreb]

Differing opinions don't constitute flames IMHO. The purpose of a discussion board like this is to collect all the different opinions on a topic in one place and allow the reader to sort through them as he or she pleases.

Of course, that's just my opinion

[shanker]

Great analysis/breakdown of the pro's and con's that I greatly appreciate. With zero experience with these 'toys' I value your opinions.

Thanks guys,

Shanker.

[Orion]

thanks for the input.giving me lots to think about.Greg

[shanker]

I see the Garmin 541 is on sale with a $200 rebate at sailnet!! How does it stack up?

Shanker

[c130king]

Shanker,

That is a good unit. Very similar to my 546. The $200 rebate is offered from many vendors right now...it is a Garmin thing. But from what I can tell you have to order a new GPS...AND...a g2 Card and they run over $250.

I am a big fan of Garmin and love my 546 but I don't need the g2 Cards. I can live with the built in charts. And find other things I would rather spend that money on.

Jim

[mastreb]

I see the Garmin 541 is on sale with a $200 rebate at sailnet!! How does it stack up?

Shanker

Garmin + N2K Port = Matt Approved! BlueChart G2 card which you will need is $150 at West Marine, BlueChart G2 Vision (not needed) is $300.