I'm looking for a color GPS/Fishfinder for bay/ocean use. For a
variety of reasons (local availability, price point, etc.) I've
narrowed it down to the Garmin 188C & Lowrance LCX-18C. The two seem
to be pretty comparable in features, resolution, etc. So now it comes
down to the stuff you don't see in the spec sheets.

Does anyone have any experience with one or both of these, anyone have
opinions on the comapnies, relative quality, service, all that good
stuff? In particular, how do Navianics and BlueChart fare against
each other?

Any help is appreciated.

Just to confuse you, Ive been a Garmin user for a long time, but was VERY
impressed with the Navman.

"I Boater" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking for a color GPS/Fishfinder for bay/ocean use. For a
variety of reasons (local availability, price point, etc.) I've
narrowed it down to the Garmin 188C & Lowrance LCX-18C. The two seem
to be pretty comparable in features, resolution, etc. So now it comes
down to the stuff you don't see in the spec sheets.

Does anyone have any experience with one or both of these, anyone have
opinions on the comapnies, relative quality, service, all that good
stuff? In particular, how do Navianics and BlueChart fare against
each other?

Any help is appreciated.

Hi:

If you are seriously considering the Garmin 188, then you might want to wait
a bit for the 178C that will be coming out in May, 2004.

http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap178c/

It was supposed to be out in March, but for some reason we now have to wait
until May.

From what I can see, it is a much better unit than the 188C in that it has
256 colors instead of 16, and is cheaper to boot.

Good luck,

Jim Pook
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.jimsfishing.com



"I Boater" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking for a color GPS/Fishfinder for bay/ocean use. For a
variety of reasons (local availability, price point, etc.) I've
narrowed it down to the Garmin 188C & Lowrance LCX-18C. The two seem
to be pretty comparable in features, resolution, etc. So now it comes
down to the stuff you don't see in the spec sheets.

Does anyone have any experience with one or both of these, anyone have
opinions on the comapnies, relative quality, service, all that good
stuff? In particular, how do Navianics and BlueChart fare against
each other?

Any help is appreciated.