Garmin 556 Versus Raymarine A65

ciaranp · 21 January 2010, 23:25

I'm purchasing a Garmin 556 chartplotter and my friend who is also in the market for a new one is Looking at buying the Raymarine A65 chartplotter.

There isn't much difference between the 2.

screen resoluction and quality seems to be the same.(480 x 640)

only difference is the raymarine doesn't have an inbuilt antenna and it has a bigger screen.

He said he is getting the Navionics gold card as part of the package.
Are these navionics gold charts as detailed as the preloaded ones in the Garmin.

I seem to prefer the garmin and he prefers the raymarine.

Which is the better purchase as regards, screen quality,size, charts etc.
any opinions?

NautiSeacrets · 22 January 2010, 08:42

I'l chip in.

Although a lot of talk about Raymarine being in a spot of financial bother, and the possibility of being taken over by Garmin. I've always gone with Raymarine, the Navionics gold is an excellent cartography, quick redraw times etc too.

No direct experience of the Garmin, apart from an old 76 GPS. I hear the touch screen Garmin is a good peice of kit.

Not sure how relevant a touch screen would be on a RIB though.

Probably doesn't help at all, re-reading ! - my RIB will have Raymarine though.

Channel Ribs · 22 January 2010, 08:47

The first thing to note is that the A65 is discontinued, or as Raymarine call it a "retired product".

The A series are quite a bit bulkier than the Garmin equivalent, even taking into account the slightly larger screen. Relevant on a RIB I think.

The Navionics chart data is more detailed than the but then if you are buying charts the Garmin G2 Vision is more detailed and feature rich than the Navionics.

9D280 · 22 January 2010, 09:35

Are a lot of these things not down to personal preference with regard to the way you interface with them? I can never find anything on Google first hit (apart form Ribnet

), but in the old days of Altavista, I got what I was looking for first time every time. I guess the guys that wrote the Altavista software's brains were on the same wavelength as me.

Cost and customer support are all important, but I work on the asumption "if it suits you, it's probably right".

Cookee · 22 January 2010, 10:01

I have always found Garmin products more intuitive to operate and therefore easier - it's down to personal preference at the end of the day.

ciaranp · 22 January 2010, 10:02

Its the charts are the main thing here. Don't think size is an issue with him.

So as Malthouse says the Raymarine Navionics Gold Charts are more detialed than the preloaded Garmin.

This Raymarine was over 1000euro a few months back in Ireland and now its 650euro including the Navionics Gold.

Channel Ribs · 22 January 2010, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

This Raymarine was over 1000euro a few months back in Ireland and now its 650euro including the Navionics Gold.

The 556 with G2 Vision charts is around 615.00 GBP. (About 700 Euros)

ciaranp · 22 January 2010, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

The 556 with G2 Vision charts is around 615.00 GBP. (About 700 Euros)

alot more in ireland.!!!

the 556 just with preloaded is 750euro in places.

Top banana · 22 January 2010, 23:00

theres a garmin 550s for sale in the bits and pieces section, just over 400.00
and a g2 vision uk ireland sd card on ebay buy now 89.00, retail 260.00

ciaranp · 24 January 2010, 22:49

anyone else on this?

Sonar · 25 January 2010, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

The first thing to note is that the A65 is discontinued, or as Raymarine call it a "retired product".

The A series are quite a bit bulkier than the Garmin equivalent, even taking into account the slightly larger screen. Relevant on a RIB I think.

The Navionics chart data is more detailed than the but then if you are buying charts the Garmin G2 Vision is more detailed and feature rich than the Navionics.

I have both and totally agree with your post..

ciaranp · 25 January 2010, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonar

I have both and totally agree with your post..

so the navionics gold charts on the raymarine are the same or more detailed than the garmin preloaded?

as regards time to react when you zoom in etc which is best or are they the same?

Channel Ribs · 25 January 2010, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranp

so the navionics gold charts on the raymarine are the same or more detailed than the garmin preloaded?

as regards time to react when you zoom in etc which is best or are they the same?

Navionics are better than the pre-loaded basemap, but the G2 Vision is better again than the Navionics.

The refresh rates are pretty good on both, but the newly released Garmin has the edge over the obsolete Raymarine.

JABS · 25 January 2010, 21:12

I had Lowrance on my first rib.

I thought I would go way upmarket and oput Raymarine on the second (current) rib.

What a nightmare. The lowrance system had a backbone and everything sat on that.

Support was fantastic. Problems were solved willingly.

On the Raymarine system, call me unlucky, everything needs a sepeate interface. The Radio takes 183, the soundertakes another and the GPS another.

Add to this the service which is very poor

The software for setting up routes at home which costs hundreds of pounds

The lack of response to questions sent to Raymarine by email

and guess what,

I would never again buy it!