Garmin Active Captain Opinions Wanted

[radiocontester]

Now looking to upgrade Navigation electronics and was dead set on the Raymarine Axiom series. With the new Garmin 86xx series I'm now conteplating this brand (it would also interface nicely with my Fusion gear). One of the unique features of Garmin is Active Captain. Curious to know how many Garmin users on the forum leverage this feature, i.e. provide safer routes than those recommended by the plotter?

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[toofast]

I don't have an answer for you although I'm saying I'm done with Raymarine.

I'm told my 9 year old $13,000 system is obsolete and a minor repair can't be done

never again Raymarine

So I'll do watching this thread to see what you find out

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[boatweiser]

I have new Raymarine on my Formula and I have Garmin on my Edgewater CC. The Garmin is more intuitive and user friendly. In general, they both get the job done and I don't see a huge difference. However I would choose Garmin just based on ease of use.

 

[radiocontester]

I have new Raymarine on my Formula and I have Garmin on my Edgewater CC. The Garmin is more intuitive and user friendly. In general, they both get the job done and I don't see a huge difference. However I would choose Garmin just based on ease of use.

Thanks man.....have you ever used the Active Captain feature on your Edgewater? Note: When looking for my first boat 5 years ago my wife and I looked seriously at an Edgewater 170CC. Soon after we purchased a 28' Four Winns V278 and this year a 37PC. The Edgewater 170 was as sweet little machine.

 

[Blown284]

I switched to gamin on my formula after I bought it and love it. I have the Garmin 12” touch screen and the 18hd radar. I also use active captain and it works for updates and also it’s nice to have the option to create routes on your phone, tablet and other devices.


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[radiocontester]

I switched to gamin on my formula after I bought it and love it. I have the Garmin 12” touch screen and the 18hd radar. I also use active captain and it works for updates and also it’s nice to have the option to create routes on your phone, tablet and other devices.


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Thanks for the feedback. The more I research Garmin the more I like it. The Active Captain functionality is very cool and the new 8612xsv looks like a fantastic product which I will most likely pair with the Fantom 18" Pulse Compression radar. Love this stuff.....

 

[Blown284]

Thanks for the feedback. The more I research Garmin the more I like it. The Active Captain functionality is very cool and the new 8612xsv looks like a fantastic product which I will most likely pair with the Fantom 18" Pulse Compression radar. Love this stuff.....

I have the 7612xsv and love it. I also love having the ability to update the firmware, charts from my phone or other device if I need/want to. I use Garmin HD charts and love the ability to use the "Auto" route feature. While far from perfect, these companies are gaining a lot of momentum and it's fascinating to be part of it.

 

[radiocontester]

I have the 7612xsv and love it. I also love having the ability to update the firmware, charts from my phone or other device if I need/want to. I use Garmin HD charts and love the ability to use the "Auto" route feature. While far from perfect, these companies are gaining a lot of momentum and it's fascinating to be part of it.

Two thumbs up.....thanks.....sounds like a great setup.

 

[Blown284]

Here's what my setup looks like:

 

[Blown284]

Here's what my setup looks like:

Here's what it looks like when I purchased the boat a few years ago:

 

[gwazoo27]

I am a Garmin fan for life

 

[409]

Love Garmin. I have a 7616xsv, fantom 4 radar, adding AP and side scan sonar. Active Captain is as good as you want to use it. All your charts are available on your smart device. Plotting and setting waypoints at home. Automatically syncs w the plotter when you get there. Auto guidance is cool too.
I’m adding FLIR thermal camera ( owned by RayMarine) compatible w Garmin but has more features w RayMarine. User reviews of marinas are available when you open a marina icon on chart plotter.
Love my system. Can’t put a price on your safety.

 

[radiocontester]

Thanks guys for the pics, you have very nice setups. 409: You are 100%....you can't put a price on safety. I'm sold on Garmin.....now waiting for the 8612xsv to hit the market. Would love to hear real-world experiences of how Active Captain was leveraged ('saved-my-butt' type situations).

 

[Blown284]

Thanks guys for the pics, you have very nice setups. 409: You are 100%....you can't put a price on safety. I'm sold on Garmin.....now waiting for the 8612xsv to hit the market. Would love to hear real-world experiences of how Active Captain was leveraged ('saved-my-butt' type situations).

Really isn't an "ActiveCaptain" story but the Garmin 18HD saved me when a big storm rolled into our creek with nowhere to go and no time to go anywhere --- the radar picked it up and showed the outline of the storm (had sensitivity high on radar) which enabled me to figure out exactly where in the cove I was going to anchor and approximately how much time I had to get all anchored and settled in. It also showed me that, due to the way the storm was approaching, I couldn't outrun it... was too big and too broad.

 

[eric_b]

I have been using Active Captain for about 5 years, long before Garmin purchased it. The updates to the ports information is phenomenal and hopefully Garmin continues to make it available to non Garmin owners. That being said, when I bought my 37/40 PC it had an older Simrad unit that was not functional. I looked at all of the current models and there were features of each that I liked (Furuno, Garmin, Raymarine and Simrad/B&G/Lowrance). I wound up choosing the Raymarine ES 12" model as it met my needs. The unit was remanufactured, so I saved some $$$ on top of it. The software is upgradeable to LightHouse 3, which is important as that is the software that the AXIOM units use. I will add Raymarine's Doppler Radar sometime in the next couple of years.

No manufacturer is perfect and most suffer from obsolecense issues, including Garmin. The only manufacturer that supports their models for more than 5 years is Furuno. That being said, my boat is 17 years old and I cannot see buying the latest/greatest when one generation old will do at substantial savings.

 

[radiocontester]

I have been using Active Captain for about 5 years, long before Garmin purchased it. The updates to the ports information is phenomenal and hopefully Garmin continues to make it available to non Garmin owners. That being said, when I bought my 37/40 PC it had an older Simrad unit that was not functional. I looked at all of the current models and there were features of each that I liked (Furuno, Garmin, Raymarine and Simrad/B&G/Lowrance). I wound up choosing the Raymarine ES 12" model as it met my needs. The unit was remanufactured, so I saved some $$$ on top of it. The software is upgradeable to LightHouse 3, which is important as that is the software that the AXIOM units use. I will add Raymarine's Doppler Radar sometime in the next couple of years.

No manufacturer is perfect and most suffer from obsolecense issues, including Garmin. The only manufacturer that supports their models for more than 5 years is Furuno. That being said, my boat is 17 years old and I cannot see buying the latest/greatest when one generation old will do at substantial savings.

Great stuff Eric....sounds like you are happy with Active Captain and your Raymarine gear. Your point about saving $$ on previous gen gear is spot on.....in my case I really wanted a 2008 or newer 37PC but decided to spend a few less bucks on the boat purchase knowing I would be doing a number of expensive upgrades. I'd rather have a 2006 model year with all brand new electronics than a 2008 with original equipment. Also, both of my 496's were rebuilt with new long blocks in 2015 so I think I made the right decision.

 

[eric_b]

Here is a pic after I installed it last summer.

 

[radiocontester]

View attachment 9156

Here is a pic after I installed it last summer.

Sweet.

 

[TurboJoe]

We exhibit at the work boat show in New Orleans every year. This year I went into all the competing company's booths to see how their stuff works. The engineers there are on the industrial/commercial side so you get a much more knowledgeable group of people than your small regional boat show. At least it felt that way to me.

I tried to go to raymarin (ratheon / flir) booth first, and I sat there for 5-8 minutes with out any of the 12 people working the booth acknowledging me. The garmin group was exceptionally helpful, and their auto route is amazingly easy to use. Furunu, and simrad both were very helpful also.

I tried two more times to get someone at raymarine to acknowledge me, even with eye contact like please come assist me, not a single person came over. So I have zero love for them after that. I'm there fully dressed up with exhibitor badging, you would think they'd want to talk.

I'm set on garmin, but the one complicated thing is I may have a really good connection to sim rad components at far below retail through insiders so its a tough choice.

 

[radiocontester]

We exhibit at the work boat show in New Orleans every year. This year I went into all the competing company's booths to see how their stuff works. The engineers there are on the industrial/commercial side so you get a much more knowledgeable group of people than your small regional boat show. At least it felt that way to me.

I tried to go to raymarin (ratheon / flir) booth first, and I sat there for 5-8 minutes with out any of the 12 people working the booth acknowledging me. The garmin group was exceptionally helpful, and their auto route is amazingly easy to use. Furunu, and simrad both were very helpful also.

I tried two more times to get someone at raymarine to acknowledge me, even with eye contact like please come assist me, not a single person came over. So I have zero love for them after that. I'm there fully dressed up with exhibitor badging, you would think they'd want to talk.

I'm set on garmin, but the one complicated thing is I may have a really good connection to sim rad components at far below retail through insiders so its a tough choice.

Great stuff TJ. While I wasn't trying to spark a Garmin vs. Raymarine debate it's interesting to read differing opinions. Your experience at the booth can make or break one's perception of a brand, regardless of whether or not it might be the better choice.