Garmin 2006c

If you’re not using your Garmin chart plotter, how do you get your deep?
Chart get updated regularly, having an old chart plotter that was not updated might have a few important info missing, subscription base app should not have that issue since most are updated frequently. I do have the Garmin (Navionics) app on my phone that I use some but I still prefer to use my chart plotter as my main screen. I did got a Navionics chart update last year, that came with a one year subscription, it expired a couple weeks ago so I did my last update for the near future.
Big screen are nice but not necessary, I had a bigger screen (10 in.) in my 22 cruiser then I do now on my TomCat. They all have the same info on them.

Don For most boaters that travel it’s important to have at least one chart plotter. It gives you information on depth and GPS location. It also gives you access to NEMA 2000. I use mine for radar, AIS ,autopilot, MMSi and engine information. I also have an iPad for backup with navionics. The GPS I have is the Garmin 943xsv. 9 inch screen is good enough for me. Just replaced my old 2011 unit last year. Should be good for about 14 years now.

Well that is encouraging. I will be playin around with a tablet tonight trying to hook it up. My tablet has the M1 chip in it and it should handle this fine. I don’t have the subscription I do have Aqua Map question is is that enough or do I need a second system for redundancy. We will not be on the loop this year, but will probably be in New England and southern intercoastal.

Hi Don,
In your case it’s perfectly reasonable to take some time (i.e. cruising years) to decide what you really need, what you really want, and to then decide on some compromise between the two. We’ve met many experienced, smart long distance cruisers and Loopers who navigate with just a big tablet and AquaMap. You also need a depth finder (a digital $79 unit is fine), and a ship VHF (25W) and HH (5w). Add a lot for cruising AK waters.

Once you download AquaMap or Navionics etc maps for your regions of planned travel, the tablet does not need or use a cell signal (just the downloaded map data and the tablet GPS chip). The maps will take up a bit of storage on the tablet, but not much. These tablet apps are so cheap (compared to Big Five display media) that it’s reasonable to use more than one app if you like for ‘redundancy.’

AI says your Garmin 2006C has a ‘built in world baseline’ map, so if that’s not popping up it’s a goner. No surprise.

If you decide you want radar, CHIRP/SONAR, video feeds, FLIR images or other moving images other than cartography, it will require buying the top of the line MFD series from whichever Big Five maker you choose. You can’t connect a Garmin display and a Raymarine radar etc. Each Big Five maker uses a proprietary protocol and ethernet plug. Tom has the Garmin GPSMAP series ($1,200) because it’s required to see his Garmin radar image. The same display size Garmin ECHOMAP is only $600, but won’t do radar etc as above. If you’ll never need radar and that other stuff, the GPSMAP series would be a waste of money for you.

The OTHER marine comm system between MFDs and sensors is the N2K backbone, a five-pin round plug than can transmit any information that is a digit….temp, depth, RPM, GPH, MPG, AIS data (CRUCIAL!), Time to Next Turn, etc. Garmin’s N2K backbone is $69. The system was engineered to be compatible with any other N2K sensor maker, but in practice not so much, so don’t even try to connect a Garmin MFD to a Garmin ducer with a $49 Raymarine N2k cable just to save $20 just because it should be compatible.

We are giving up radar after 15 years (SONAR/CHIRP images we still have but could do without). I gave our Garmin HDX24 radar to a dockmate for free. It interferes with removing the rooftop AC shroud to clean the coils, we are going up to do the Triangle Loop again and need an under 8 ft air draft, and we never really found radar nearly as useful as send/receive AIS as a practical matter in all our cruising. For us, radar mainly painted targets that were over three miles away and of no concern. MANY other experienced cruisers disagree with us on this option. YMMV as always.

We would choose send/rec AIS any day over radar for long range cruising or Looping (which means you might could choose a cheaper Garmin ECOMAP rather than any Garmin GPSMAP MFD). Many other experienced cruisers disagree with us on this. Unlike them, we can and do simply head for the nearest beach with knee deep water, drop the anchor, wade ashore, and know FOR A FACT that no 70 ft Viking or 1,000 foot barge string is going to hit and sink us there. We don’t think many CD22s in your neck of the woods need or want radar or that other fancy imaging.

I hope something here is helpful. PS we will be heading up to the C&D next month to complete our Loop and then cruise the Triangle Loop into Canada again. See us on NEBO Gold.
Safe Travels, and don’t rush your choices!
John

I have to disagree with John a little bit here, on the need to have a bottom picture and Radar. I have used Radar at home, in the Pensacola area--both for running at night and in fog. One may not be near a safe sandy bank to pull the boat upon when that fog rolls in, or the sun sets. I have used Radar in the PNW, in the entire coast of California and Oregon. and on several of the rivers of heartland USA. Just make sure if you have a roof air conditioner, that you can service it with the radar in place. I have been using radar on my boats since 1982, when it had become affordible, and small enough to be used on our "small boats". Even at sea during the night, I run the radar. It can pick up certain debris or other floating material. Once, a number of miles off New England, we got nearly 100 radar "hits"--and then picked up a larger vessel. A radio conversation revealed the the lobster fishman had small radar reflectors on top of every crab and lobster "pot" he owned--that made it easier for him to find these buoys at night! Plenty of reason to avoid getting a lobster pot line caught in your running gear. We also have the electronics set up so Marie (my wife) can watch the radar and / or charted course on the I pad, and let the helmsman concenterate on the visual, as well as ASI, and depth/bottom type. One likes to know bottom type and structure as well as just digital depth.

If I was outfitting a new to me boat, and wanted electronics, I would certainly have at least one 7" chart plotter/sonar/radar MFD (Multi Function Display). Normally I would run with one screen having radar on one half of the screen and sonar bottom down scan on the other half. We have been using an I Pad with Aqua Maps or Navionics for at least the last 10 years. In practice I have also had a 9" display, a 7" dedicated to radar, or charts plus one older unit with the AIS signals on it, and often we have a large picture chart and a zoomed in chart picture for the immediate detail. I have not had an AIS transmitter so far, but would have AIS if boating in conjested waters.

I’m biggish. When I’m at the helm I have to duck somewhat to see out the starboard window. I have all kinds of stuff hangers ng from ceiling and blocking my peripheral vision to port. The current Outdated GPS Map is in front of the wheel, that’s okay for Kim. Then the Radar hangs in The middle of the center windshield next to the radio, obstructing my view forward. Then to port of that is a tv system that is now defunct. I’ll be removing it. And to the left of that is an overhead auxiliary speaker for the radio. So the entire headliner is cluttered in with visual distractions and I have to bend over to see. I have not needed or used the radar yet, except to play. We simply haven’t traveled enough to feel the need. Nor will we travel at night anymore( I used to love that in friendly waters). Slowly but surely I’m determined to address these visual issues. We’ve decided that for this season we will continue to use our mapless Garmin as a depthfinder and slide into more of our AquaMap features. We didn’t realize how many features are offered including AIS.

Do any of you fear getting moisture on the connections of your Apple or Android devices when using them with AquaMap? My current tablet mount is in front of the of the left side of the wheel with the GPS to the right of it. The opening windshield in the center isn't too far away. Should I take any extra measures to waterproof the connection on the tablet.

I have used I phone and I pad basically since they were available, on the C Dory in that same area, and had no problems. IF we have heavy spray the window is closed.