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Test and Review
By Capt. Steven Lamp
 Garmin 188C Color GPS, Track Plotter, Sounder, fish
finder, bottom machine.
05/10/04 updated 04/20/05
They Still have not fixed it..
Garmin really put together a great
machine here. To bad they ave not finished it. I have been using the 188C
professionally for about 2 years now with no issues except one that I will
get to at the bottom of this review.
Pro's
GPS Accuracy- Stellar, for a non DGPS
unit this machine functions more accurately than any other I have used. Te
chart Chip that I use is for the Florida Keys and I must say that at 45 mph
in the dark it has never let me down. Speed and time measurements are in
true GPS fashion on the Garmin 188C.
Reception - Great, even on cloudy
days. I flush mounted my turtle shell right next to my unit on my console
top. Every now and again I will have a client put and arm over it and lose
my reception.
Features- This machine is as feature
rich as the 2006 and 2010 for half the money. Bottom machine, chart plotter,
road map view, compass, waypoints ect...... You will also find that your
tides for the area you are fishing are available in the menu section. all
you have to do is pick your day and your location from a list on the Garmin
188c and there you have your tides for the day. This is also a feature of
the 2010 and 2006. I especially like the trip logging that this machine
does. The Garmin 188 c really helps me keep track of my bottom line in how
far I am going in a day to keep my fuel at a minimum.
The Garmin 188c is the best of the bottom machines that I have seen with
these units. I am very impressed with the sounder as it is very clear and
crisp with an electronic white line and split capable 4 ways screen.
All in all you will find the Garmin 188c to be as feature rich as any all in
wonder GPS unit.
Con's
I would
recommend the Garmin 188c product to no one. Or recommend
anyone use the Garmin 188c or the Garmin 2006 or the Garmin 2010. Everything
about them is great HOWEVER. The coating on the screens fall apart
immediately after the shipping film is taken off and Garmin is not willing
to admit they have a problem and will not fix the screens after one year out
of warrantee without a 125.00 fee.
What happens is the screens have a
coating on them to help with visibility in the sunlight. Wipe the screen
with ANYTHING and you will be taking off the coating leaving yourself in the
dark ages with color electronics. Garmin says do not clean with anything
except fresh water and paper towel. Well guess what, when my plastic
shipping film finally came off my last unit the coating was gone in 2 weeks
of use. I used nothing to clean the screen except bottled water, no wiping
no nothing. Garmin has an issue here that needs to be address. They have
said it has been fixed when I bought my last unit. Obviously I am not happy.
Keep in mind I have bought three more units after the first one did this
because I was told the problems were solved.
I currently own 1 Garmin 2006 1 Garmin
2010, 2 Garmin 188c's to outfit my fleet of charter boats. ALL but one of
them has got a screen issue that is the one that does not still has the
plastic sticker over the screen to protect it..
These units are not cheap. Seems to me
Garmin could get their act together and fix them to help us boaters who are
loyal to their products to keep purchasing. Its not like Garmin has no
competition in this business. They have certainly lost my buisness until
this gets solved or they fix the units I have without me being without.
Capt Steven Lamp
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