Garmin 5215 to 8616 Chartplotter Upgrade

[billrh42]

I've recently purchased a 2010 R-29. It's in great shape but all of the electronics are original and I would like to at least upgrade the chartplotter without upgrading the other devices. I have seen one topic from TugScout that it is possible to do this unfortunately TugScout bought a different boat and doesn't appear to be on this forum anymore.

Has anyone else upgraded their chartplotter on a 2010 or 2011 boat without changing any of the other Garmin devices?

This is a list of the current Garmin devices connected to the 5216:
Garmin GMR 18 radome
Garmin GXM 51 Xm/Wx sat weather
Garmin GSD 22 sounder
Garmin GHC 10 autopilot Helm Controller
Harmon GHP 10 Autopilot Control System
Garmin VHF 115 (updated in 2018)
Garmin AIS600

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post delayed in moderation queue.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Congrats of the boat. We love our 2011 R29. I'm still running all the legacy electronics, including an AIS 600 transponder. When I purchased, I talked to Garmin tech support. Some things to consider is backwards compatibility of the 8600 series plotter to the much older gear (radar, autopilot, depth sounder, etc). At the time, I was also warned about future firmware updates which can also make a newer unit no longer backward compatible.

Here's the route I took. As long as everything is working, which it was/is, I navigate with an iPad loaded with Navionics and AquaMaps. I use my chart plotter to display radar data, sonar, AIS targets, and engine information. If my 5215 dies on me, i expect I'll need to upgrade all the electronics, including the autopilot.

Katmat (on this forum) had the 5215 and he upgraded but I can't remember to which chart plotter. He had to get an adaptor for the sonar. You might reach out to him and get the details.

So before you get too jiggy about upgrading, call Garmin tech support. They are really good and patient. Good luck.

 

[Katmat]

I Upgrades to the 8616. It was plug & play. I purchase the unit thru a dealer at the Chicago Boat Show a couple of years ago. I talked w/ the dealer & the Garmin rep who was at the show & was told that all I needed was the 8616, not the 8616XSV. They were wrong! After the installation I didn't have have my sonar! Talked w/ Garmin & was told I had the wrong unit. I had to buy an adapter or replace the unit w/ a 8616XSV. I bought the adapter & all is good.

 

[billrh42]

Thank you both for your replies. It's sounding like I could upgrade to any of the 7x or 8x series chartplotters and it would work without upgrading any of the other components. So I may look for a good used chartplotter too. Especially if it's one that won't have anymore sw updates which would reduce the risk of having to upgrade the other components down the road.
Matt, did you have a GSD 22 sounder on your boat and you needed the adapter to make that item function?

Thanks again for the valuable information!

-Bill

 

[jeffhowell1]

I have 2011 R-27 and upgraded a year ago to Garmin 8612xsv - sonar built into chartplotter. Lots to consider, first and foremost is that the physical size on 8600 series is not the same dimensions as old 5200 series. I had to fabricate new panel behind chartplotter out of cabinet grade plywood before installing 8612. As far as compatibility, most Garmin instruments will be compatible and work with new 8600 series chartplotter. New 8600 series uses active captain app to connect to chartplotter and update chartplotter software and software for all Garmin devices connected to chartplotter. It has worked well, however be aware that Garmin stops providing software updates for older, discontinued devices. For instance, original 5212 chartplotter had stopped at 7.8 software version, new 8612 chartplotter currently running 33.4 software version. Kept old radar unit, GMR 18HD+, active captain updated software on that. Kept Reactor 40 autopilot, active captain updated software on that also. Replaced GHC 10 with GHC 20, bought unit from Ranger, current GHC 50 will not fit on helm. Replaced old Yanmar i5601E (NMEA 2000 compatible) with new GMI 20, way easier to see and read. Replaced GPS antenna with new GPS receiver 24xd, upon recommendation of Martin on Tugnuts, works excellent, accurate to within 2.5'. Still using original P79 transducer installed by Ranger, required an adapter to work with 8612xsv, needed a jump wire installed inside (to override temp sensor, I believe) but does work. Going to add P75 transducer when I get around to it. 8612xsv will run both transducers. Feel free to email me at howellhere@hotmail.com, happy to help, spent a lot of time researching, installing, troubleshooting, and optimizing all this on my old R-27.

 

[SkookumR29]

We are still getting great service from our original Garmin system on our 2011 R29. I had considered an upgrade, as I was experiencing a few chart discrepancies on the Salish and was not able to get chart updates any longer on the Bluechart G2 program that we had. Fortunately, after working with West Marine and Garmin last summer, I was able to obtain a new Bluechart G3 chip for Salish Inside/Outside passage that is compatible with our 5215. This will give me another 6 years of free chart updates. All is good. The cost was about 350.00 as I remember, but well worth it and less than a chart plotter upgrade.

Part number is (Inside-Outside Passage Part number: 010-C1105-00/USP BlueChart® g3 Vision)

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I have a 5212 and it works great.

check that the current depth sounder cable is compatible with the newer chart plotters. having to run a new cable put me off this upgrade!

Honestly I'm not sure for the cost the upgrade is worth it for coastal cruising. what are we talking $3-4K for the plotter and the cost of upgrade to any newer accessories to get the benefits. its like a $10K+ exercise for what?

my
radar works
depth sounder works
charts work
Volvo data into Garmin works
you can add AIS separately anyway.
you can run navionics on an iPad using either a separate GPS unit or the NMEA GPS with a yacht devices gateway. ($100)

 

[Thorolson]

Bill,

Take a look at the Vesper Cortex M1 (now owned by Gamin). We had a Vesper 8000 on Gemini Gypsy and were very pleased. The new Cortex is not only an AIS, but also offers boat monitoring.

 

[billrh42]

Good question regarding why to upgrade. For me it's two things. One is to have the ability to work on my routings at home on my iPad and then download them to the chartplotter when I get on the boat. So I need wifi and Navionics on the chartplotter which the 5215 doesn't seem to support. The other item, although less important, is I'd like a quicker display. Are those two items worth the $6K+ for a new chartplotter? I'm thinking not, but I would pay a few bucks for a used 7x or 8x series chartplotter. I'd also upgrade the i5601e engine display to a Garmin GMI 20 since I can hardly see the older display any more.

I appreciate all the comments as they gave me more options than I thought were available.
Thank you.

-Bill

 

[Chili-Tug]

Good question regarding why to upgrade. For me it's two things. One is to have the ability to work on my routings at home on my iPad and then download them to the chartplotter when I get on the boat. So I need wifi and Navionics on the chartplotter which the 5215 doesn't seem to support. The other item, although less important, is I'd like a quicker display. Are those two items worth the $6K+ for a new chartplotter? I'm thinking not, but I would pay a few bucks for a used 7x or 8x series chartplotter. I'd also upgrade the i5601e engine display to a Garmin GMI 20 since I can hardly see the older display any more.

I appreciate all the comments as they gave me more options than I thought were available.
Thank you.

-Bill

Hey Bill, I was wondering what upgrade you decided on. I have a 2012 R-27 with the Garmin 5212 and looking for upgrade recommendations, used or new.
Thank you
Evan
Chili-Tug

 

[billrh42]

Hey Bill, I was wondering what upgrade you decided on. I have a 2012 R-27 with the Garmin 5212 and looking for upgrade recommendations, used or new.
Thank you
Evan
Chili-Tug

Hi Evan. I plan to upgrade to the 8616 in the fall. Will probably upgrade the radio and engine display at the same time. From everything I’ve read it appears that the other electronics will still work.

-Bill

 

[SJI Sailor]

Hi Evan. I plan to upgrade to the 8616 in the fall. Will probably upgrade the radio and engine display at the same time. From everything I’ve read it appears that the other electronics will still work.

-Bill

FWIW this timing sounds good. I would wait until after Garmin's next significant chartplotter announcement (usually in the Fall, or at least before the late Winter boat shows), whatever that may be.

That's because the 86xx series is approaching 7 years old and they have had 9xxx series out since last Winter ... but only starting at 17". I imagine they might release a newer 12" & 16" model soon (but who knows?)