jfdlaw

I don't want to fuel speculation. I'm wondering if anyone actually knows. Why is Garmin giving a $100 rebate on just these two "new" models? Usually rebates are when they are trying to get rid of old stock. Why would they be trying to move the 76 units? Something new on the way? I hate buying stuff that's obsolete 2 weeks later.

I think the Expedition C is the new Lowrance flagship. Compass and alt. like the Garmin CS series. Scouting mode for perimeter. all the bells and whistles. I might have mentioned Explorist in previous post when I meant Expedition. The names are too similar.

Thanks for the input. I really don't need auto routing. I have the TomTom receiver and software for my PalmT3, and although their routing algorithms leave a LOT to be desired it gets me where I want to go. If the Garmin 76x and Lowrance Explorist have similar performance under foliage the deciding factor is the price of marine charts. The $100 unlock fee for Garmin quickly adds up. We spend a few weekends a year roadtripping to different places and usually bring a boat. With Lowrance I can get a Nautipath map of the entire US for $99. With Garmin I have to unlock each region as I go. Last year Chesapeake Bay and Boston. This year Maine and NY Canals. Next year North Channel/Georgian Bay. Plus the home area of Lake Ontario. That's $400 to $600 in unlock fees for Garmin.

I don't want to start a firestorm like the "What a Mistake" thread. But I have to ask: Does anyone have good knowledge about which would be better under foliage? The guy at REI said the Garmin x series unit. The sparse comments I hear on Lowrance indicated they have "better antenna". I'm not sure the REI guy used a Lowrance much. I want to use the unit in the woods and as a backup on my boat. Each unit has its pluses and minuses. I wish Garmin or Lowrance would make a model with a large screen like the Magellan XL. I also wish Garmin would unlock the whole country like Lowrance's nautipath marine charts. I think the deciding factor for me will the performance under foliage and cost of marine charts. My problem is I haven't seen any direct comparisons of the units under foliage. Thanks for your input.