Daytime viewability remains a very important test criterion. The Simrad screen (right) fogged during testing. While that would be a simple warranty issue, it was not, in any case, as readable in the sun as the Furuno.

Space is tight on your pedestal or cockpit bulkhead, and so is your budget. But spring is here, and you want a taste of the latest and greatest in electronics. A chartplotter-sounder combo might be the solution—one with all the best features, like an LCD color screen, an alphanumeric keypad, a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, and a powerful sounder. Good news: We found a pair that won't break the bank.

What We Tested…