On Mar 31, 10:36 pm, "NE Sailboat" wrote:
Wilbur ,,, the Andy Rooney of boating ..

I looked at the Lowrance H2O.. I can get one fairly cheap..

What about the software? I couldn't seem to figure out the software.

Is this like Garmin ,, buy the unit and then buy the chart software ..
Garmin calls it Blue Chart of something.

Does the Lowrance come with the charting installed?

Tell me about the chart software..


- Show quoted text -

Are you thomas who emailed me asking about the Lowrance too? If not
I'll summarize my answer that I emailed back - Lowrance has their own
software called MapCreate, the unit takes snap-in MMC memory cards
that can then communicate with the software thru an MMC card-reader
that in turn has USB. You can see details of this on their website.

But what I like about my iFinder is that I was able to accomplish my
charting needs without hooking up to a computer at all, it's simpler
and cheaper in my case. I get very detailed, useful charts on a
NauticPath USA memory card that just snaps into the unit and that's
it, it's loaded, I liked not having to deal with the much more
expensive Garmin cd-roms and then with software and computer
hookups. For me it's just quicker, simpler and definitely less
expensive. Less room for eventual failure like losing the cd, the
software or your computer stopping working, the connector port on the
gps not working, etc. So I was all set up with a bright color screen
and detailed, infrmative, useful maps (for my purposes anyway) for
under $300 and no muss no fuss. Now I have been told by fellow
usenetters, more serious mariners than myself I'm sure, that the
Garmin is a more serious professional tool and the BlueChart Cd's have
more real and accurate charts. But again with the higher cost of the
higher-end Garmin color handhelds like say a GPSMap76C and the
Bluechart cd's and licenses, it's a question of "bang for the buck."
The charts have given me alll the info I need on the water, detailed
accurate shorelines, points of interest like restaurants, marinas,
fuel, etc., and full details on navaids at the press of a button; also
different companies make different MMC's all of which can snap in and
out.

Also I found the zoom and pan buttons MUCH easier to use on the
iFinder than on my Garmin etrex legend, although I don't like the
menus on the Lowrance, they're a bit cumbersome and I haven't found a
way to set up shortcuts to the screens I use a lot.
Otherwise I like it a lot.

richforman