Onwa KP27A - for the price of the cheapest NMEA2000 only chart plotter from the big brands you get:

7 inch plotter
Navionics/CMAPS etc charts
NMEA0183 and N2K in and out
AIS Transponder
Built in GPS with external puck

Here's the thing, it's the AIS and combination of NMEA0183 and N2K that make the difference. If you're running a boat with old NMEA0183 only wind/depth/log and you want a plotter, none of the big brands will talk to NMEA0183 any more so really you're up for 500 for the converter on top of the plotter and you still won't have AIS in or out.

I've put a new Raymarine pilot on mine that only does N2K. The only way to get wind to it is to spend $500 bucks on a converter and I still can't set a waypoint.

Now I just need someone to buy one and test it for me :)

Yep - it jacked up to 800 Australian for me delivered with tax.

Note it has a separate Ais antenna that needs to be installed or alternatively will require a splitter.

we got the onwa KP-1299A chart plotter and radar about 3 years ago.

value for money is unbeatable and we have been extremely happy with performance.

only issue has been a frustrating inability to convince the plotter to talk NMEA to the rest of the system. however on balance we can live with this

PacificStar and SteveTH - thanks for the feedback, and efrontier is my new favourite website :)

Your NMEA problems might be because the ONWA outputs RS232 as opposed to RS422/485 like nearly all the other equipment (except the B&G H3000!). Icoms want RS422 according to my research. When I get my icom talking I'll confirm. I haven't bought the plotter yet.

From the ONWA website: "GPS Output Baudrate Selectable among 4800, 9600, 19200 and 38400 AIS Interface AIS Data RS232 output "

Bit crap really - you can buy a Waveshare RS232 to RS422 converter on amazon but I would recommend using either an old computer with a serial port or buying a cheap USB->RS232 interface from Jaycar to check that you're getting sentences then get a converter.