Garmin Echomap Plus chartplotter and sonar combos

Garmin has released a new Echomap Plus series, its next generation of chartplotters and sonar combination units designed for just about all anglers and boaters.

Building on the success of its predecessor series, Echomap Chirp , the new Echomap Plus is said to feature powerful sonar capabilities, preloaded charts and mapping, and built-in WiFi  for access to the new Garmin ActiveCaptain marine app for the a more connected boating experience.

Adam Howarth, General Manager Garmin Australasia, says Garmin has taken the proven design of its all-in-one combo units given them exciting new functionality to meet the demands of today’s anglers, including keyed-assist touchscreens and improved connectivity capabilities.

"Whether you’ re chasing snapper in Port Phillip Bay or the Marlborough Sounds, down rigging for kings in Sydney Harbour or chasing barra in Queensland, the Echomap Plus series has you covered," he says.

Available in a range of display sizes to accommodate a broad range of boats and budget, the Plus series features a bright, sunlight-readable 4in, 6in, 7in and 9in display. The 6in units are new to the Echomap series and are larger with more pixels that claim to be easier to read than previous 5in models.

The Echomap Plus series also offers the convenience of a new keyed-assist touchscreen on the 7in and 9in units, which gives users quick access to the most-used features.

IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY WITH WIFI
Staying connected on and off the water is easier than before with the Echomap Plus series thanks to its built-in WiFi. Anglers can take advantage of the free all-in-one Garmin ActiveCaptain mobile app that creates a simple yet powerful connection between a compatible mobile device and an Echomap Plus.

You can use the ActiveCaptain app to access, update and purchase maps and charts from the OneChart storefront on a mobile device anytime, and reference the ActiveCaptain community for marina and o her points of interest details, access to Quickdraw Community data and more.

ActiveCaptain also provides smart notifications directly to the plotter/combo, over-the-air software updates, off-vessel planning capabilities, and so much more.

These new connectivity features make it possible for anglers to purchase the latest map and study it to plan their next trip before stepping foot on the boat.

Once the Echomap Plus is powered on, the maps and charts will be instantly available, and the user can rest assured that the software will always be up to date with the latest feature improvements from Garmin before heading out for the day .

IN-BUILT CHIRP
For clear scanning of fish and structure, the Echomap Plus offers built-in Chirp traditional sonar and Chirp Clear Vü and Side Vü scanning sonar.

Instead of just sending one single frequency, Chirp sends a continuous sweep of frequencies and interprets them individually upon their return, creating crisper fish arches with better target separation.

For anglers who want to see objects and structure below the boat, Clear Vü provides a nearly photographic view with excellent resolution and target separation in both freshwater and saltwater.

The Echompa Plus “sv” models also add Side Vü scanning for operators who want to see what’s located on both sides of the boat.

All 7in and 9in Plus units provide support for all Garmin Panoptix all-seeing sonar transducers , so anglers can see real-time sonar imagery at video-like speed.

Panoptix shows an image of fish swimming and moving toward or away from the boat — even while stationary — in real time and up to 100 feet away.

A free software update planned for early 2018 will also enable the 7in and 9in Echomap Plus units to share user and sonar data between devices.

The new Echomap Chirp range is preloaded with Australia and New Zealand BlueChart g2 HD cartography.

The new ECHOMAP Plus series is available now, with recommended retail prices ranging from AUD $499-$1599. For more information, see garmin.com/newmarine.

More at Garmin.