Combo choice for RIB

[ScottyDog]

I have seen the latest offerings at the boat show and it seems a few companies have merged - just wondering if anyone has valid reasons to choose a particular system for a 6m open RIB ? I will be using Garmin on RIBs in a boat club so think this is first choice but happy to take advice if there are benefits with Raymarine/Simrad/B&G/Lowrance...I liked my old Navmnan Trackfish as it had animated lights on the chart and was portrait in format (which seems to be relevant if heading up the screen)...everything else seems to have lost this function and are landscape...20 years of progress...

[Peter_C]

I'd pick the best bang for the buck, but I like getting "deals".

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by ScottyDog

I have seen the latest offerings at the boat show and it seems a few companies have merged - just wondering if anyone has valid reasons to choose a particular system for a 6m open RIB ? I will be using Garmin on RIBs in a boat club so think this is first choice but happy to take advice if there are benefits with Raymarine/Simrad/B&G/Lowrance...I liked my old Navmnan Trackfish as it had animated lights on the chart and was portrait in format (which seems to be relevant if heading up the screen)...everything else seems to have lost this function and are landscape...20 years of progress...

At any one price point, they are all much of a muchness. I’ve had Lowrance/Raymarine/Lowrance. I prefer Lowrance, but the offerings from Garmin/Raymarine/Navico will all offer very similar functionality at a given price point. It’s all down to personal preference. I used to avoid Garmin due to the “Fisher Price” Garmin charts. Now Garmin own Navionics, things have changed & I’d consider Garmin the next time, they have very good after sales.

[willk]

Originally Posted by ScottyDog

...everything else seems to have lost this function and are landscape...20 years of progress...

Not such a big deal when comparing a 9" landscape screen to a 5" portrait!

You're right though to say that everything has changed in 20 years - a few times over I'd say. Your other post in the Sale section suggests that you're in the market for a VHF as well. In no particular order I'd be thinking about:

1. The network type - NMEA2000 is pretty standard and allows seamless additions
2. VHF with added AIS is now an affordable step up - nice to add the heavy traffic to your plotter
3. I sense that you are very plotter oriented v fishfinder - check which deals come with useless vanilla charts and which tie you into annual subs. Get the charting you want. You'll get satellite photos, marina pics and tidal data with some.
4. Sonar - all new now - the range of features is amazing for the money. A simple sidescan sounder with charting could be around £600 in the 7" size range.

I'd agree with Pikey that it's all very good now. £1000 for the very best gear for a 6m RIB, half that if you wanna be squeeky.

EDIT: A lot of the companies have now created a big spilt around networking - some very cheap standalone units that can't be networked, keeping the price low. Great value if you aren't linking sh1t up.

[smallribber]

Garmin all the way for me