Garmin has become a serious player in the saltwater big-boat market, and they continue the push with their new GMI10 Digital Marine Instrument. Analog is beyond passé (though you can program these puppies to display “virtual” analog gauges, if you so desire,) and all of the cool new rigs have digital gauges. But, what if you’re happy with your present boat? Then it’s time to upgrade. And guess what? The GMI10 is the least expensive full-color option out there. The GMI10 can talk to any NMEA 2000 system as well as the Garmin Marine Network, and it supports dozens of NMEA 2000 data streams. It also features audible alarms. Nav data, fuel flow, engine data, and weather data all can be displayed on the GMI10. It’s downright good-looking, too, with a 3.5” QVGA 320 x 240 pixel color screen that produces crisp, easy to see numerals.
Though the 3.5” screen is great for viewing numerals or single gauges, in my opinion it’s really too small to divvy up into different departments. So, if you want more than a couple of details at the same time, you’ll probably want to mount multiple units at the helm. That’s a piece of cake, since you can program each unit to display different data sets. Plus, this unit can be either flush or surface mounted. And don’t worry about exposure to the elements, since the GMI10 is waterproof to IPX7 standards.
Price: MSRP $535
High Points: Color digitals in a relatively low-cost package.
Low Points: 3.5” screen means you may need multiple gauges.
Who Wants It: Captains of boats with limited helm space who want to enjoy big-boat features and competitiveness. Captains who like simplicity will also find the GMI10 ideal for their dash.
Contact: www.garmin.com
