Thanks a lot Russ. That was fairly comprehensive.... I'm really only
interested in the chat plotter. I really don't need the fish or depth
finder. And that link I thew up there was only for reference. I know
there's other places to look s well.

I'd thought of a small hand held, but then again, I really don't know
if that would really suit the need.

This has been enlightening. I wish they sold a program that you could
down load charts to an automotive Garmin. That would be cool!
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Here's my thoughts, Tim. Since you don't need the fishfinder/sounder
function (I didn't either), I'd recommend the GPSMAP 431. It's the unit I
have on my boat, and I couldn't be more happy with it. If you could find a
GPSMAP 430 (discontinued), that would work just as well. I don't think the
laptop scenario would be appropriate for a boat your size. There's probably
not enough room to mount a laptop at your helm without obstructing your
view. A laptop wouldn't take kindly to the pounding that a small powerboat
can deliver. Also, I've never owned a laptop that was easy to read in
direct sunlight. On a larger boat like Wayne's with a pilot house, it could
be a good solution, but not for a smaller power boat like what we have
(mine's a 28 footer). I wouldn't recommend a hand-held unit for just the
opposite reason. You'd need to purchase a mount to keep the thing from
bouncing all over the place, and even mounted, the screen would be too small
to be of value while running down the lake at 30+ mph and trying to keep
your eyes on traffic. The 400 series units from Garmin split the difference
between a too-large and cumbersome laptop and a too-small handheld unit.
The 430/431 comes already loaded with inland waters charts and charts can be
upgraded and updated via SD cards. The 400 series comes with an internal
antenna so installation is super simple. Let me know if you have any
specific questions regarding the 430/431.

Russ