Garmin 550 / 550s

Jono Garton · 10 January 2009, 22:10

Anyone had any dealings with the garmin 550 or 550s?

Any good?

Jono

Mbryant · 10 January 2009, 22:19

Just got the 550s seems really nice, easy to use compared with others that ive used but haven't really had a chance to set up a passage or done anything substantial with it. Big fan or the clear, crisp display aswell!

Jono Garton · 10 January 2009, 23:06

sounds good!

Be intrested to see if anyone gets any misting up?

Jono

alystra · 11 January 2009, 01:36

I got a 550 last season. It transformed my cruises among the nooks and crannies around here. I am really pleased with it - though can't compare it with any others as it's the first plotter I've had. Much better than messin with laminated pieces of chart.

The boat's afloat all season and so far no misting problems at all. Very clear, easy to understand, most menues intuitive. Mind you, I've not really used it to 'navigate' with as I can usually see where I'm going, but as a pilotage tool round here it's great.

One big irritation, which may be true of other plotters is the apparently very clear, but in fact obtuse NMEA connection instructions. Finally had to get an expert to get the connections to my Ray54E VHF right, and that made me very fed up as I'm quite capable of following instructions and joining up wires and had succeeded with my old Garmin 126 GPS.

Channel Ribs · 11 January 2009, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Anyone had any dealings with the garmin 550 or 550s?

Any good?

Jono

Be careful as there are yet more price increases on the way!

Some dealers will be offering much better prices than others.

They are a great unit though, excellent value for money. If you don't want the sounder option built in then also look at the Horizon CP range.

We are currently investigating a fault in a 550 for another RIBnetter, it does look though like the fault was a freak circumstance and not a design issue.

Pete7 · 11 January 2009, 11:29

Jono we have the 555s on the yacht. Great little unit and now linked with AIS more than happy with it. Menu simple and clear, just does what it says on the box and comes with charts as standard. Marine Superstore were the cheapest I found at the time, probably because they are shifting large numbers.

Pete

eilean mor · 11 January 2009, 12:06

hi Jono,

yep its what I'm using, and I'm very pleased with it, I researched a few of them and came back to this unit for what I wanted, and the students find it easy to work with - so its doing what I wanted it to,

no misting, but it doesnt stay on for more than a week at a time.

Jono Garton · 11 January 2009, 20:57

Sold! Ive just ordered a few.

Bye bye Navman

Jono

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2009, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Sold! Ive just ordered a few.

May I ask what price you got?

Jono Garton · 12 January 2009, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

May I ask what price you got?

Think they were £350+vat ish

Jono

Davidgriffiths · 13 January 2009, 09:26

Jono

I ve got a 550 and there's a bit of a major design fault if you don't flush mount them or leave them exposed to the elements when in use. The external GPS input, if not used (as theres a built in atenna) let's water directly into the unit and then fries it! Simple fix with a waterproof cap, but Garmin don't supply one. I ve used a blanked off piece of fuel hose as a temporary fix.

Jono Garton · 13 January 2009, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidgriffiths

Jono

I ve got a 550 and there's a bit of a major design fault if you don't flush mount them or leave them exposed to the elements when in use. The external GPS input, if not used (as theres a built in atenna) let's water directly into the unit and then fries it! Simple fix with a waterproof cap, but Garmin don't supply one. I ve used a blanked off piece of fuel hose as a temporary fix.

Ta I'm flush mounting!

Jono

Channel Ribs · 13 January 2009, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidgriffiths

Jono

I ve got a 550 and there's a bit of a major design fault if you don't flush mount them or leave them exposed to the elements when in use. The external GPS input, if not used (as theres a built in atenna) let's water directly into the unit and then fries it! Simple fix with a waterproof cap, but Garmin don't supply one. I ve used a blanked off piece of fuel hose as a temporary fix.

Very many thanks for this info! We have encountered it but Garmin have been very tight lipped about whether it is a design issue or a one off.

None the less, they are an excellent unit.

Leapy · 14 January 2009, 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidgriffiths

Jono

I ve got a 550 and there's a bit of a major design fault if you don't flush mount them or leave them exposed to the elements when in use. The external GPS input, if not used (as theres a built in atenna) let's water directly into the unit and then fries it! Simple fix with a waterproof cap, but Garmin don't supply one. I ve used a blanked off piece of fuel hose as a temporary fix.

Mine's flush mounted but I think I'll seal it anyway...Whilst being doused with sea water might cause an immediate failure I'm sure exposure to sea air over a longer time won't exactly have a beneficial effect either

alystra · 15 January 2009, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davidgriffiths

Jono

I ve got a 550 and there's a bit of a major design fault if you don't flush mount them or leave them exposed to the elements when in use. The external GPS input, if not used (as theres a built in atenna) let's water directly into the unit and then fries it! Simple fix with a waterproof cap, but Garmin don't supply one. I ve used a blanked off piece of fuel hose as a temporary fix.

Wow. Glad you posted that. I'll not be using an external aerial and mine's bracket mounted so I think I'll bung the thing up with silicone sealer. The main data cables make me wonder a bit too, especially on my old GPS126.

giddyup · 19 January 2009, 20:27

Anyone know of a better deal on the 550s than Redcar electronics at £478 inc transducer? I too am in the hunt for one of these.

Jon Brooks · 19 January 2009, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono Garton

Think they were £350+vat ish

Jono

Expensive then!!!

giddyup · 19 January 2009, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

Expensive then!!!

£350ish+ Vat=£402ish then add transducer adds up to £450ish - but where from and how much is £ish? (the £478 inc VAT) So come on you sellers beat that.

Channel Ribs · 19 January 2009, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by giddyup

£350ish+ Vat=£402ish then add transducer adds up to £450ish - but where from and how much is £ish? (the £478 inc VAT) So come on you sellers beat that.

Either Redcar have some old stock at the 2008 price and they are happy to sell it off, or they have not updated their web site since the latest of many price increases came through.

I suggest you go for it.

markb · 19 January 2009, 22:19

Hi Guys
Got a quote at the boat show for a 550s + transducer £444 inc VAT
seamarknunn 01394 451001
hope this helps