Decisions, decisions...

R

Rain

New member
I am trying to determine the pros and cons of a Garmin GPSMAP7610xsv vs the 1040xs. I see the resolution is better with the 7610, it has two ports where the 1040 has 1, and it is video input/output capable while the 1040 is not. The price is $600 different.

Any opinions regarding one over the other?
 
I installed a 7610 this summer and love it.

Easy to use and intuitive. Look for a deal with a discounted Vision charts, worth the extra $ if just for the auto-guidance. Plug in your start point, end point, and minimum depth, and the most direct route is calculated automatically in one step. Great feature for the San Juans.

Also, since Wifi is built in you can mirror and control the plotter screen on an iPad or iPhone. Just put the iPad in the back window and mirror the fish finder when fishing or watch the shrimp/crab pots come up.

Size is perfect for the space on a 22.

Andy
 
What is your main use? More fishing than cruising?
Do you have a budget or price point? will you being adding radar and other items. Will this be the primary device or have a secondary unit for navigation or fishing?
 
That decides it! Thanks so much for the input.

C-Brats are awesome!

Close to the same on the cruising vs fishing. Probably a little more cruising. I have never been into fishing, but I am retired and live on an island. I need to get my priorities right!
 
BrentB, regarding price, I want to focus on safety and value. I don't want to pay $10,000 for a GPS, but $2000 or $3000, yeah, with rationale.

Radar - yes
Secondary device - undecided
 
The transducer is included (with downscale, modified CHIRP, and standard), with the 1040. I believe no transducer for the 7610 is included--the transducers to utilize the full features of the 7610, can be on the expensive side, for side, down, dual CHIRP, and standard modes. That could bring the difference up to well over $1000--closer to $2000 with some transducers, but then you do have more sonar capability. The 7610 does have both 12 and 8 pin transducer connections, so you can run two transducers, and select--can run dual Freq CHIRP, down and side scan without an adaptor. The 1040 requires the "black box" for side scan (down scan is included)

I prefer the buttons when at speed or in rough water---but that may be a personal quirk (I have both touch and button Garmin screens on the current c Dory 22.) (1040 and 740S)

Touch leaves finger prints, which have to be cleaned off regularly. If you want video input--then the 7610 is the only choice between the two (or get a separate LCD screen for $300).

If you have a second station, there is an advantage to the daisy chained NMEA 2000 (two inputs). The 7610 does have both 8 and 12 pin depth sounder transducer connections.

To me it boiled down to touch vs button. I didn't have video input (nice but you can buy a LCD 7" Video screen for $300, The big difference is the transducers and side scan. If you want side scan, and the full 1000 watts, vs 600 watts, then get the 7610. Both excellent units.
 
I, also, have been looking at the Garmin GPSMAP7610xsv, with radar and possibly AIS.
I currently run Furuno chart, sonar, radar that I bought in 2002- time to upgrade.
 
IMO touchscreens are not good in situations where things are moving. In my job some of the units have control buttons and some have touchscreens. The buttons work much better in rough situations.

Additionally, buttons provide some give when operated. This cushion your finger a bit. A touchscreen is often hard. When using a touchscreen all day I find that my finger tips hurt a bit.

There is the issue of finger prints. If you clean the screen regularly you will eventually wear into the touch surface. If you often get oily/greasy/fishy hands you will either clean your hands more or clean the screen more.

P.S. Laptops with a touchscreen make no sense to me.
 
Our Garmin 740 is touchscreen, 4212 beside it is not, 78 is not, cellphones are. Truck AV interface is touchscreen, car is not. One home PC is touchscreen, the other is not. Tablets are, laptop is not. ALL our screens have our fingerprints all over them all the time. Is this normal?
Cheers!
John
 
My WatchMate Vision AIS has it's own monitor, about 6", and it is a touch screen. I have it mounted so that it is rock solid, and I can use the mount for steadying my hand when I am "touching" the screen. Most of the time it is not an issue, but there are times that I need screen adjustments, and there's a little rock and roll going on :lol: :lol:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I have had both a 4208 Garmin with buttons and now we have a 7212 Garmin with a touch screen. It's really about what you get used to. I would stay with the standard sonar and transducer unless you are a out of control fisherman. I would also put in a plug for the Garmin autopilot with the remote control. The auto pilot option is a feature I would not be without. Especially for lower speeds while you are just cruising. Radar is pretty easy to add later on if you want to hold off on that. I would spring for the better unit which I think is part of the Legacy series and will most likely be supported longer. It seems that touch screens work well for IPADs and cell phones. I would not let the fingerprint thing be a problem. For another 600 dollars I would avoid the lower cost unit which is probably built for a price point. My thinking why else would they have both units so close in a price range?
D.D.
 
Once you add the transducer the price difference between the 76XX series, and the series such as the 1040sxs. is considerable.

Yes, there are always "price points"--but the 76XX is also geared more for the shared information thru NMEA 2000, with two NMEA 2000 ports. It just has a lot more features, which may be useful, as for as Dave says"A hard core fisherman".

I definitely find the buttons easier to use in rough weather--but again--this is very personal.

I considered the 7610 when I bought the 1040 xs, but would never use some of the features. Nice to have choices!

I do notice the fingerprints more on the chart plotters (both the touch and button, since I seem to get prints on the button screen also), than I do on computer, tablet, or phone screens. It is probably due to the fixed nature of the MFD and the glare on it--not distracting, but I am more likely to clean it more often. I also have screen protectors on the phones, and I pads, but not on the MFD.

It boils down to personal preference. Bottom line, go to boat show or good store and try them all out. Also read on the various forums, including the electronic section of "The Hull Truth".
 
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