Touchscreen vs buttons
Submitted by whaler235 on Mon, 2016-01-18 12:47
Hi there
planing on getting a new plotter/sounder combo just want to know people's experiences on touchscreens, Iv got a centre console that Is a pretty dry boat for a center console but if water does get on the screen, will it effect the use of it or are touch screens made for dry cabins and pilot house boats. Also I want to get a 12 inch combo but not sure on brands, Iv had the NSE 12 simrad for a while but it had the old tech on it, I'm looking for something with detailed charts and clear fish and ground finding cababilities? Any suggestions.
cheers
z00m
Posts: 1086
Date Joined: 10/05/14
Touch screens
I use raymarine touch screens and find them pretty easy to use in all conditions. My boat is a dual console so a little drier than the centre console but I am a fairly fair weather fisherman so not much water over the screens. If you want the best charts and the best sounding it is pretty hard to achieve in the combos. My raymarine combo is pretty good but I would say it is a good plotter with a decent sounder. Not the best at either. The rewind function would be awesome on the raymarine to go back and mark ground. At the moment if I'm not quick enough I have to go around for another try.
That being said you can option some fairly awesome sounder modules on the larger displays now but you are talking a LOT more money.
I bought all of my gear on the used market but if I had good money to buy new electronics then I would get a 9inch Raymarine combo (purely for redundancy) and a Furuno 587 for the sounder.
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
I have a simrad nss9 evo 2
I have a simrad nss9 evo 2 and would never go back to a non touch screen. So much easier to use and does everything i need. I have mine on a centre console and even if a bit of water hits it no worries. Lawrance and simrad good gear, not sure on the rest never used.
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
The secret to a good touch
The secret to a good touch screen is the location.....I have two, one is located right where my arm rests on the side of the boat and it is dead easy to use the touchscreen in any conditions.....the other I have to reach across and I cant brace my arm or hand against anything and it is hard to use....
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Furuno
Had a squizzy at the latest Furuno touch screen unit at Taylor Marine last week, pretty impressed, has a small joystick in case you want to do things manually
Mattyb84
Posts: 388
Date Joined: 28/12/12
Iv got the hds9 touch and it
Iv got the hds9 touch and it gets wet from time to time doesn't affect it to much. I'll never go back to buttons
Pgfc member
Willlo
Posts: 1490
Date Joined: 07/10/11
with the touch screens do
with the touch screens do you find that they get smeared by dirty fingers, i get pissed of when a deckie looks with their fingers and smudges up my 585 screen?
Call Sign - BZ785
Haynes Hunter Prowler CC
Mattyb84
Posts: 388
Date Joined: 28/12/12
Doesn't bother me mate but
Doesn't bother me mate but ppl get cranky when I start touching there screens though
Pgfc member
Paj man
Posts: 359
Date Joined: 16/09/12
Touch
I've got a Raymarine touch screen in my center console. Rarely gets wet but if it does I just use my shirt or a towel to dry it off and no worries.
I have more problems if I'm bait fishing and touching the screen, solution has been to switch to jigging haha
aka Nick
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
touch screens
if you have fat podgy fingers like me you will stear clear of them , I cant operate wifyes smart phone as my finger will splash over about 3 different icons on the phone ,I put my trust in my old testra tuff phone
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Nostrils
Do you have big nostrils to go with the fat fingers Pete?
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
nah mate
I rubbery nostrils as my nose has been Brocken that many times I have lost count haha
Peko
Posts: 185
Date Joined: 01/10/14
I have a Lowrance HDS Gen 3
I have a Lowrance HDS Gen 3 chartplotter and concur with the comment from John F as I struggle at times trying to use the touch screen while the boat is travelling. As for smudged screens, they clean easy enough.
Sulo
Posts: 256
Date Joined: 13/08/11
Touch screen, would not go
Touch screen, would not go back to buttons. Buttons are just as hard to hit on the move as icons so no issue. Dirty screen a non issue as well, my button unit screens were probably always dirtier than my touch screen ever is.
Gray
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 10/02/11
Yeah +1 for touch screenGot a
Yeah +1 for touch screen
Got a Lowrance HDS 7m