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Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Review
Should I upgrade to a – Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 64cv?
We take a detailed look at the specs, look at a couple of reviews from some who already have, and compare the Plus to the UHD and Ultra.
The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 64cv – Is an easy-to-use, easy-to-setup 6″ color chartplotter/sonar combo with a keyed-assist touchscreen.
It has very clear CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü scanning sonar.
Instantly create custom fishing maps on-screen with 1’ contours with built-in Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours mapping.
It comes preloaded with BlueChart g3 charts with integrated Navionics data for coastal U.S. plus built-in Wi-Fi® to pair with the free ActiveCaptain app.
Easily share sonar, waypoints, and routes with other ECHOMAP™ or STRIKER™ units.
Garmin ECHOMAP Plus Series
ECHOMAP Plus Series – Comes in 4 screen sizes and features more powerful sonar capabilities, preloaded Garmin g3 charts and mapping, and built-in Wi-Fi® for access to the Garmin Active Captain marine app.
Excellent Clarity and Sunlight readability
This is one of the first things you notice with the ECHOMAP Plus 64cv. The screen is bright and has an excellent viewing angle even in direct sun.
KeyPad Control – The 6″ screen uses a keypad to access all the Chartplotter functions.
Built-in 5Hz GPS receiver – The 5hz GPS receiver acquires satellites within about 30 seconds on start-up and shows exact location pretty quick.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | TouchPad Control
KeyPad navigation menu – Setting up the ECHOMAP Plus 64cv for how you fish or cruise is Garmin simple and adding custom screens and settings is pretty straightforward.
You can add items and rearrange items on the home screen and even change to the background image.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Clearvu Sonar
Custom Pages – Creating custom combinations is easy. Setup a custom screen for fishing with sonar split-screen with traditional on one side and clearvu on the other.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Bluechart g3
Creating a New Combination Pages – You choose between 7 different screen combinations and customize each pane individually.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Screen Combinations
Built-in sonar capabilities – The ECHOMAP Plus 64cv Includes a 500W CHIRP traditional sonar and ClearVü scanning sonar.
TRADITIONAL CHIRP SONAR – Instead of sending just 1 single frequency at a time, CHIRP sonar sends a continuous sweep of frequencies ranging from low to high.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Traditional Chirp Sonar
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Traditional Chirp Sonar Target Separation
The CHIRP sonar sweeps a continuous range of frequencies, from low to high, in a single transmission. The returns from each frequency in that transmission are then interpreted and showed on the screen.
Since this continuous sweep of frequencies provides CHIRP with a much wider range of information, CHIRP sonar can create a very clear, high-resolution image.
As you can see above, you get far greater target separation and more defined arches than you would with standard 50/200 kHz sonar. The maximum working depth is about 2,300 ft @ 77kHz, freshwater, and 1,100 ft @ 77kHz, saltwater.
Max depth very is dependent on water bottom type and other water conditions.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Sonar Recording
Recording the Sonar Display – Very cool feature that allows you to record the sonar screen for playback on Garmin HomePort™ and review at a later time. I find it pretty valuable to be able to look over the recording from the day and mark any spots that I what to check out in more detail.
As I play it back, I can stop and drop a GPS mark on something interesting and upload it to the GPS to take a look at the next time I’m on the water.
Start Recording – Insert a memory card into the card slot. From a sonar view, select MENU > Record Sonar. Garmin says 15 minutes of sonar recording uses approximately 200 MB of space of the inserted memory card but I recorded several hours and only had a 980Mb file.
An individual recording automatically ends after it reaches 4 GB in size. You can record sonar data until the card reaches capacity.
Note: Before you can playback the sonar recordings, you must download and install the Garmin HomePort™ application and record sonar data onto a memory card.
Sonar History Rewind – As the ECHOMAP Plus 64cv records sonar you can go back and see what you previously went over by just tapping the screen and scrolling back. The amount of sonar history available to scroll back and the view is about from 2-3 screens wide.
The scroll speed will affect how you will have recorded. For example, if the GPS is set to a slower scroll speed in the sonar menu, the window of time the unit can rewind will be greater. If the device is set to its fastest scroll speed, you will see a smaller window of time within the sonar rewind.
If you see something good that you just marked, rewind the history, tap the screen and drop a waypoint on it to save it. The best honey holes are often found when moving from one location to another.
ClearVü SONAR – ClearVü scanning sonar is mainly used to identify structure scanning sonar and gives you a nearly photographic image structure below the boat.
With ClearVü, you see structure, submerged objects, and fish separation more clearly.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Clearvu Sonar
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Clearvu sonar
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Traditional CHIRP vs Clearvu
Instead of a cone-shaped beam like the traditional CHIRP sonar, ClearVü scanning sonar sweeps a narrow beam of very high-frequency (455 or 800kHz) from side to side, producing “slices” that are combined to create very detailed images.
Fish are easily identifiable on Traditional View with CHIRP whereas Structures are well defined using ClearVü.
For fishermen and divers looking for structures like wrecks, reefs, log piles, and other underwater natural and man-made features, ClearVü is a great tool.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | CHIRP ClearVu Sonar
Garmin BlueChart g3 – The ECHOMAP Plus 64cv comes preloaded with the latest BlueChart g3 cartography for very detailed, clear, and concise charts and maps of the coastal U.S.
Upgrading charts to BlueChart® g3 Vision or LakeVü g3 Ultra is easy with the microSD card slot located on the front of the device.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Chart Detail – Auto Guidance
Garmin’s Auto Guidance technology – shows a suggested route to a destination, based on specs that you enter in the device like draft, and vertical height restrictions.
Note: Auto Guidance – *With Vision or Ultra chart upgrade.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | BlueChart g3 – Depth Range Shading
Depth Range Shading – is shown in high-resolution for up to 10 depth ranges, so you can see your needed depth at a glance by color.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | BlueChart g3 Shallow Water Shading
Shallow water shading – allows for shading at a user-defined depth to give a clear picture of shallow waters to avoid based on your own draft.
Detailed Contours – 1′ contours that provide a more accurate look of bottom structure for improved fishing charts and enhanced detail in swamps, canals, and port layouts.
Garmin BlueChart g3 | 1′ contours
Quickdraw Contours instantly creates personalized HD maps with 1’ contours and depth labels for any body of water as you fish.
When Quickdraw Contours records data, a colored circle surrounds the vessel icon. This circle represents the approximate area of the map that is scanned by each pass. Quickly see where you have been.
The screen shows maps being created instantly in real-time. Easily add labels, mark timber, brush piles, favorite fishing spots, and anything you want to remember on your map for the next trip.
Improve Your Saltwater Maps & Uncover unknown areas – Many areas have no map detail. With Quickdraw, you can create maps that show you depth contours clearly labeled on the screen. You also can improve your existing maps that show locations of underwater mountains, drop-offs, crevices, or wrecks.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Garmin Quickdraw Contours
The maps are all yours – tailor them to fit your needs. Keep the data for yourself, or share maps with others in the QuickDraw Community on Garmin Connect.
You can view Garmin Quickdraw Contours on a combination screen or as a single view on the map. The amount of saved data depends on the size of your memory card, your sonar source, and the speed of your boat as you record data.
You can record longer when you use a single-beam sonar. It is estimated that you might be able to record about 1,500 hours of data onto a 2 GB memory card.
When you record data on a memory card in your Chartplotter, the new data is added to your existing Garmin Quickdraw Contours map and is saved on the memory card. When you insert a new memory card, the existing data does not transfer onto the new card.
Connected Boating App – The free all-in-one ActiveCaptain app gives your ECHOMAP™ Plus 64cv a powerful connection for upgrading charts, maps and access the Garmin community.
Wherever you are, you can have unlimited access to your cartography, purchase new maps and charts, and access the Garmin Quickdraw™ Contours Community.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Active Captain
Active Captain Features
Garmin SailAssist – Special preloaded sailing features such as lay lines, enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, true wind data fields, and tide/current/time slider.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Garmin SailAssist
For sail racing, there are pre-race guidance, synchronized race timer, virtual starting line, time to burn, and lay line data fields.
Garmin ECHOMAP Plus… UHD or Ultra
Resources:
Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Help & Support
Garmin ECHOMAP Plus Software Updates
Installation/Review on ArimarOwners.com
» The 63cv & 64cv have the same features except for the preloaded charts – 63cv Lakes | 64cv Coastal
Rear Connections Include – 1-Power Connection, 1-NMEA 2000 Connection, 1-8PIN Sonar Connection
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Rear Connections
Quick-Release Mount – The mount features both tilt and swivel capabilities to provide a great viewing angle. Cables plug directly into the mount, for quick installation and removal at the end of the day.
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv | Quick Release Mount
Performance
Charting | Mapping
Fishfinder | Sounder
Model | ECHOMAP Plus 64cv |
Physical dimensions |
8.6" x 5.1" x 2.6" 21.8 x 13.0 x 6.2cm |
Weight | 1.6 lbs. |
Water rating | IPX7 |
Display type | WVGA | Key-Assist Touchsreen |
Display size |
5.4" x 3.1" | 6.2" diagonal |
Display resolution | 480 x 800 pixels |
Display - Brightness | Not Available |
Power consumption | 1.5A | 12V |
GPS Antenna | Internal or external NMEA 0183 |
GPS Receiver | 5 Hz GPS |
Mounting options | Bail or flush |
Model | ECHOMAP Plus 64cv |
On-Board Memory | No |
Accepts data cards | 1 microSD card | 32GB Max |
Waypoints | 5,000 |
Routes | 100 |
Track log | 50,000 points; 50 saved tracks |
Preloaded Maps | BlueChart g3 + Navionics | Coastal U.S. |
Tide Tables | Yes |
Model | ECHOMAP Plus 64cv |
Radar compatible | No |
Sonar compatible |
Traditional CHIRP ClearVü CHIRP Panoptix |
Supports AIS | Yes |
Weather | No |
Supports DSC - GPS Data / VHF | Yes |
Supports FUSION-Link | FUSION-Link |
Black Box sonar support | No |
Planning Software Compatible | No |
App-Control Compatibility | Active Captain |
Remote Input Device - compatible | No |
Alarms |
Navigation Anchor Sonar |
Model | ECHOMAP Plus 64cv |
Transmit Power | 500W Traditional | 500W ClearVü |
Dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar capable | Yes |
Dual-Beam Sonar (77/200 kHz) capable | Yes - 50/200 | 77/200 | 83/200 |
CHIRP sonar technology | CHIRP: 50-250 |
ClearVü | Down | CHIRP ClearVü |
SideVü | Side | NA |
Forward View | NA |
Model | ECHOMAP Plus 64cv |
NMEA 2000 compatible | Yes |
NMEA 0183 input ports | 1 |
NMEA 0183 output ports | 1 |
Marine Network Ports | No |
Video input ports | No |
Video output ports | No |
Wireless connectivity | Yes |
BlueTooth connectivity | Yes |
In The Box |
ECHOMAP Plus 64cv with BlueChart g3 Power/data cable Tilt mount with quick release cradle Flush mount Protective cover Hardware Documentation |