Garmin Nuvi 550

The Nuvi 550 is a mid-range in-car navigator which also has marine capability, having the same waterproof rating as the other sets on test. It isn’t designed to be hand-held, although it is possible to hold it in one hand and operate the touch screen with other. The touch screen and its menu work well and the maps across the screen.

Although the standard Garmin BlueChart was loaded and set to maximum detail, no soundings where shown, Drying heights and depth contours were, however visible. by ‘clicking’ on a buoy, its name was given but light sequences are not. As on the g2 charts the contoured area is coloured blue between 0 and 4m, so shallow depths are easily noticed. Tidal graphs are available from the tools page.

A route could be constructed and followed the arrow on the compass screen,. I doubt that a boat owner would buy the Nuvi as a dedicated marine chart plotter, but if you already had this for your car it would make an acceptable back-up for your boat.

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