Garmin GPS Map 441 or 540

T

Tortuga

New member
I'm considering acquiring a new GPS Chartplotter and am trying to decide between the Garmin GPS Map 441 and 540. The 441 is the 4" screen with the capability for the weather overlay (which I'll never use) and the 540 is the 5" screen with no capacity for wx overlay (and I assume is being replaced by the 541).

I currently use the Garmin Colorado hand held chartplotter (which I like a lot) and a laptop w/ Maptech's charting program which is great except for the challenge of having to set up the laptop each trip and having it be somewhat in the way.

For those who have the Garmin 440 or 441, or the 540, 541, or 545, how do you like them? Is it worth spending the extra $$ for the larger screen (5" instead of 4")?

Thanks!

Matt
 
I have 545s with US G2 maps and HomePort software purchased in Sept,09 I like the feature set for the price point but a larger screen would be better when going faster than 20-22 knots. The maps are very detailed and it's an Admiral approved item (AAI)
It is easy to use, too and can toggle the display mode to suit my needs and sounder is accurate and it can be furthur finetuned to offset the sounder location. I have not explored all of the options and settings but it suits our needs until I decide on a larger screen system
 
We have a 440S (depth sounder / fishfinder as well as chartplotter) on Crabby Lou, the CD16, used it for the first time on Sunday. The screen is bright and easily readable, bigger would of course be better but it really is adequate. The pre-loaded charts have good detail as you would expect. I can give it a limited recommendation only because I don't have enough experience with it yet.
 
I selected the 545 for the larger screen and screen resolution, too
I bought from BOE and it was $800 with map. I am happy with it to date
 
I bought the 541. Prior to that, I had a 192C. I admit I liked the 192C better. Seemed easier to use, fewer keystrokes for some things. And the detail just seemed to be better. The 541 just feels more like a cartoon than a detailed map.
 
I would go with the larger 5" screen. I have the 541 and looked at the 545--didn't think that the higher resolution and few othe features added much for my use. I do agree, that the older units seem easier to use. Part is getting used to the newer units however.
 
I got the 545s last April from the GPS Store. "I would not leave home without it." First Mate Laura loves it. Even I find it very easy to use.
 
Purchased the 545 from Boaters World through the Internet refurbished for $611 is still in the box so only can hope it meets expectations and if it does I know the price was right. I think in this case size does matter especially with the additional screen pixel count. Didn't buy the 545s because I didn't want to split the screen for sonar. Like the sonar to be a stand alone unit. Also have a Garmin 276C and Colorado 400C which used in conjunction with the Garmin 545 makes for being able to view screens at different zoom levels. Along with the back up this also provides a screen to keep on track while using the other unit for any information or map search.

Still also have the Nobletec on a laptop, but if the 545 meets expectations and with all the information I've been able to review, I think it will, then the laptop will be rarely if ever used again and its going to be wonderful to have it out of the way. Should have the for sure answer to this not long into the cruise this summer on PWS, Alaska.
 
Would anyone care to comment on Garmin GPSMAP 740? I don't think they are on sale yet but it looks interesting,
Jon
 
Well, maybe I am just cheap. The 440S was around $400, I think, when WM matched an internet ad. I cannot see paying $800 to get a 1" larger screen.

You don't have to split the screen unless you want to see the fishfinder and chartplotter simultaneously. You can put the depth along with a lot of other information on the databar. This is the way I have it set up, with depth, speed over ground, heading and position on the databar, with most of the screen devoted to the chart.

I also think the old Garmin interface (having had a 188C, a 76 and a 176C or whatever it was that I got from Jody Kidd) was better than the new interface. I used to know where everything was, now it is almost as bad as Raymarine!

I am also very happy with the Lowrance Expedition, which I am pretty sure I got on close-out for $199, with an SD card made with MapCreate that I got from Warren. Paid another $30 for the RAM mount. I run it with the 12 volt adapter, which was included in the box. Surprisingly good. I will move it back and forth between Crabby Lou and Daydream as my backup for the Garmin 440S and the Raymarine C-80 respectively.
 
I dont think you are cheap. You work hard as anyone I know and it is your money or maybe under the Admiral's review O:)

I upgraded the 545 base map to G2 and the screen has higher resolution along the larger screen size plus add-in the dual frequency depth transducer kit. Homeport was extra and bought this month
When an electric gizmo is purchased is important to know. Mine was purchased in Sept 09 with no rebate or sale. It was the lowest price I found online excluding the gazillons of stuff on ebay, Craigs List, JAXED, local paper. They wanted more for the 546S and time was short and needed it for an Oct FL trip and I ordered another unit and it was backgrounded so switched to BOE and they had everything in-stock and ready to ship the same day except just depth only transducer. too bad to sad
If I knew more at the time I would have bought the Garmin 4208 full system from ebay b/c he seller upgraded to Furuno system
b/c he had the coin for an entire package and giving away the 4208 with maps and accessories

This is my first Garmin marine unit. I replaced an old Sitex unit without the GPS/Chartplotter system. It was missing at time of sale b/c the seller sold it before I mad offer on it. I thought the former unit was bizarre to use. ex to calibrate the depth finder you need a spot 100' deep. Not that common in SW FL without going out in the Gulf abit. Lots of button cycling to drill down into the menus and settings
 
Thanks for the great feedback -- I agree, the 5" is probably well worth the extra $150 -- the 740 looks great, but my boat fund is too thin for that :? .

Question, the 540 will take an AIS overlay -- does that mean that if I connected the SH Matrix AIS to the Garmin 540 that it would display the AIS or does that require a dedicated AIS receiver?

Matt
 
I upgraded the maps b/c didnt like base map
How detailed of a map do you need?
I thought the Humminbird unit disccussed earlier was a deal and a larger screen but needed to add-in a map chip and a transducer. I could not a find a deal on an used chip and the ones had older maps so went with a Garmin
m1cw
 
How much, roughly, did folks pay for the chip for the 541 or similar? And what are they called now. The one I bought for the 192C didn't fit in the 541 I bought.
 
Glad to see that some like the 545S...After the third factory replacement went south on me, I'm finished with that model. All happened in the period of about a year. Even Wefings gave up and negotiated a newer model replacement. I hope it works...it's a bad feeling to look up and see the screen black. You loose two capabilities at once.
 
In the meantime I use a handheld...still have no way of knowing how much water I have under the boat but...Marc at Wefings negotiated a newer model for me...546S...I have my fingers crossed :)
 
I have a 545S that I use as backup on one boat and primary on the other. Neither one uses all the features but it has worked fine for nearly 3 years. Would be interesting to hear if anyone else had multiple failure problems on this model.
Hope the 546 works out better for you.

Merv
 
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