I tLike I said before, it's all a matter of preference, but I really do love the e7. It's smaller than the 4208, but it's also cheaper, and has a $150 rebate. You can also get the e7D version which has a built in depth sounder, which is lightyears better than Garmin's GSD22 if that was an option.
I would go with the e7, but a Navionics Platinum Plus chart chip, take the $150 rebate, and at that point you're basically getting the chip for $50 bucks. If you were interested, the price of the system would break down like this:
e7 -1350
Platinum Chart for your region - $190
If you go for the e7D, the price would be $1500 for the unit, and a transucer ranges frpom 90 for a P48 Fan Beam DT Tansom Mount, $240 for a tilted element flush mount bronze B60, or $335 for a B744V thru-hull, Bronze with fairing block.
Still get a rebate. Or if you have an older Pathfinder series/HSB/DSM Style trandcuer, youcan use a $65 adapter cable to use that ducer.
The e7 is much faster, much eaiser to operate, and the Fish'N'Chip that you get with the Navionics chart is unmatchable when it comes to bathy charts until you start looking at the MaxSea/MapMedia "Fishing Charts". Just my 2 cents.
No offense to anyone here with Garmin, I just think they're best units were the 3210/6/5 series. A button for each function, no unneeded frills, easy to use, and that's what got people into the "Garmin is the most user friendly machine out there." The most user friendly machine is the one that you take to figure out how to use. Except for the Furuno NavNet 1 and VX2 plotters. Those were tough to master, but if you mastered them, they were the best all-around system out there for a while. The plotter end was a bit too slow and clunky, but that radar still is awesome, along with the BB fishfinder modules. End of electronics rant.
- Chris