Bertram33 User Forum

Anyone have suggestions for plotter/sounder package with 12" touch screen?

A lot of folks like the Simrad package these days, but I don't have any direct experience. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

I put a Garmin in last year with a new auto pilot and I am happy with it. There are 3 other boats on my dock with the same combo unit and they also are happy. If you don't mind spending more money the Raymarine units are sweet.

Thanks for the response. Garmin 8212MFD is among considerations.

I've always used Furuno and their latest radar is something else. Unfortunately I don't have the latest radar but I've played with a friends and it was great. I'm not sure if they make a 12". I do like their sounder.

We put in the Garmin 7612s and they seem to do more than I can figure out. Scott 1981 46B Dealer's Choice Edisto Beach, SC

I have heard from some charter guys that touch screen nav instruments are problematic.. apparently they do not do well if you have gloves on or the ecreen is wet from rain, and in heavy seas it is difficult to maintain accuracy of your jittery finger. I haven't faced this myself but over the winter I sold my 10 year old Garmin 2310 chartplotter and bought a new Garmin pushbutton 1040SX chartplotter/fish finder/down view sonar unit. I haven't installed the unit yet but when I was on the hard last fall I did install the new transducer.

I bought a garmin touch screen in last year and it is touchy. Sure it's great at the dock but under way it flat out sucks.

I tried to warn everyone here about touch screens while underway a couple years ago. Great at the dock as Brian says or in flat seas but while you're bouncing all over the place it's difficult to hit the right spot on the screen. Buttons are so much easier to steady your hand on the side of the unit and feel the button.

Doug was on the boat with me last year and was able to devolve a Doug style -:) to use the thing better than I could from the helm. It is frustrating for the captain when you want to zoom in and out quickly in tight situations. Mine is a 17 inch screen that I split with radar and chart plotter in the fog. Next year I'm going to add another display dedicated to radar with push buttons and a dial.

I decided last year not to go with touch screen glad I did. This year I want to add another screen to use as a dedicated fish finder. Any recommendations for a high end transducer.

Thanks to all for the insights here, (as usual). Definitely a worth while consideration as I admittedly experience issues with my Surface from on the sofa in my living room while recalling how I miss my BlackBerry as tap out erroneous replies on my iPhone 7...... Thanks

Buttons are the way to go!

Tony. When we did new electronics we used an airmar 600 what chirp transducer. It was exspesive but that I'm very happy with.

Thanks Brian