Garmin Map Detail ?

trebleplink · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:54 am Post subject: Garmin Map Detail ?

Hi Folks,

C-Scape (2007 16 cruiser) has been mine now for several months, and I've been very pleased with her performance. But dealing with paper charts is a real pia in a boat this size. I'm considering a more capable GPS / sonar that will give me enough navigation detail to avoid sonar depth surprises.

My area is primarily Kentucky and Tennessee - including Kentucky & Barkley lake, TN & Cumberland rivers. On a secondary basis, we vacation near Apalachicola, FL. and data for the bay would be nice.

I'm considering something like a Garmin 431, but I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what the basemap, or optional maps will depict.

1. Do they clearly show channel locations for lakes and rivers? Usable depth contours? How hard is it to create a channel route ? What about rivers smaller than those?

I wish Garmin would be more clear on exactly what inland map detail you get for your money.

Chris

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:07 pm Post subject:

We have a Garmin 440S for Crabby Lou, our CD16 Angler. It has built-in chart data, which shows navigation aids, rocks and obstacles, water depth by both color and spot soundings, and a lot of other information. It also has a connection for a depth sounder, which we installed, so it is a pretty good little unit for our purposes. It also has an internal antenna (as well as a connector for an external antenna). You will probably need a special chip for lakes, nor sure about rivers, somebody else will have to answer that one.

trebleplink · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:25 am Post subject:

So nobody has a Garmin using the inland maps?

Hunkydory · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:56 am Post subject:

I have the Garmin 545, 276C, Colorado 400 and use to have a EMap it is now resting at the bottom of a cove in SE Alaska. Use the Inland Lakes card and their detail runs from excellent to rather scetchy depending mainly on remoteness of lake. The Canadian version is rather worthless in the far north region. Think in the area you are considerating it would work well or at least as good or better than the competition. Have never looked at river detail and Garmins are with boat in Yellowstone and I'm home so can't check out now.

Jay

C-Breeze · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:56 pm Post subject:

Chris,

I have the Garmin 545s with the US Inland Lakes Vision (see description below) and kept my 22 cruiser in Grand Rivers for a few years so have experience with the inland charts on both Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. They do a fine job with depths (contour lines, soundings and color), bouys (although they tend to drift around as a result of getting hit by the coal barges), channels markings in red (outside edges as well as center line), obstacles, as well as other useful information along the shore (boat ramps, etc). I have a transducer wired to it as well.

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US Inland Lakes Vision: Available for purchase for individual US regions in downloadable or microSD/SD format. Detailed lake coverage is provided for regions of the US along with Vision technology for compatible devices. Vision technology includes high-resolution satellite imagery and 3-D surroundings, both above and below the waterline. This map also offers mariner's-eye and fish-eye perspectives on the most popular lakes and it is recommended for Vision compatible marine devices1. Also recommended for non-vision compatible devices where a region only and not full US coverage is desired2.

1 Current devices that will support vision technology include: GPSMAP 420/420s, 421/421s, 430/430s, 431/431s, 440/440s, 440sx, 440x, 441/441s, 520/520s, 521/521s, 525/525s, 526/526s, 530/530s, 531/531s, 535/535s, 536/536s, 540/ 540s, 541/541s, 545/545s, 546/546s, 620, 640, 720/720s, 740/740s, 4008, 4010, 4012, 4208, 4210, 4212, 5008, 5012, 5015, 5208, 5212, 5215, 6008, 6012, 6208, 6212, 7012, 7015, 7212, 7215

2 When paired with a non-vision technology supported device, US Inland Lakes Vision will supply the same level of detail as the US Inland Lakes mapping. Vision technology features will not be available.

trebleplink · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks folks -

So - just to make sure I'm clear ...

The 431s appears to have inland basemap, and sonar. Do I need the optional "vision" data card to get good inland depth and channel detail ?

Chris

C-Breeze · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject:

Chris,

From what you have described as your needs, you do not need the Vision map card. The included Inland Lake maps should give you what you need.

Tom

trebleplink · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks Tom.

dave · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:23 pm Post subject:

trebleplink · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:17 am Post subject:

Thanks to all who related their experience. I've ordered a 431s

Chris