A new feature for me??

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sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
After having a Garmin 498 for over 3 years, I just learned a new feature I never knew existed. It has on the highway page, a feature that when engaged, gives both the speed over ground, and the speed to the destination, so you can see both at the same time. I have learned that the best boat speed is not always the fastest towards the destination. What a wonderful feature. Just wish I had known about it long ago.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,358
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
GPS and VMG function

My Garmin GPSMap 76Cx has VMG. The defaults don't show it, but I can change the displayed fields to have it show on any screen I want, not limited to the highway page. It has that, too, but I found I didn't like it. I use the map page (with speed and bearing) the data page with a whole bunch of stuff including speed and VMG, ETA, time to go, and real time (avoids looking at my watch!!!, and the course pointer page. Easy to click through them for maximum information.

Don't know if your model had these changeable data fields.

Almost all GPSs, even the old ones, had a VMG function. My old Blazer 12 has a TTG. When tacking upwind, when TTG went to infinity (and beyond!) it was time to tack, like VMG went to zero, same thing.
 
Dan

Dan

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Jul 26, 2006
190
Hunter 420 Stamford
I find I use VMG (velocity made good) quite a lot to figure out whether I should be close hauled or close reaching. While I may not be heading straight toward my destination, a faster speed over ground (SOG) when close reaching can sometimes get me there sooner.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,358
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Phil, page 30 of your manual (that I downloaded from Garmin's website) says you can change the data fields, just like I described above. Check it out.
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

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Jun 21, 2007
2,118
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
My GPS is mounted at the Nav Station in the cabin. But last year I did figure out how to link it to my autopilot head unit out in the cockpit. So now I can see SOG and other GPS features when I'm at the helm. With the strong SF Bay currents, this is sometimes demorilizing when the boat's knot meter is showing say 4.5 kts, but the GPS is showing only 2.0 kts SOG. But it can also go the otherway. The other day, with good stiff breeze and a following current, we had "water speed" for a little while at 8kts. The GPS's SOG was displaying almost 10kts. Really flying!
 
AbbySedge

AbbySedge

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Dec 29, 2009
51
Seidelman S-37 Mobile
Garmin

Nice N Easy said:
After having a Garmin 498 for over 3 years, I just learned a new feature I never knew existed. It has on the highway page, a feature that when engaged, gives both the speed over ground, and the speed to the destination, so you can see both at the same time. I have learned that the best boat speed is not always the fastest towards the destination. What a wonderful feature. Just wish I had known about it long ago.
Click to expand
Where did you get your Garmin?
 
AbbySedge

AbbySedge

.
Dec 29, 2009
51
Seidelman S-37 Mobile
Nice N Easy said:
After having a Garmin 498 for over 3 years, I just learned a new feature I never knew existed. It has on the highway page, a feature that when engaged, gives both the speed over ground, and the speed to the destination, so you can see both at the same time. I have learned that the best boat speed is not always the fastest towards the destination. What a wonderful feature. Just wish I had known about it long ago.
Click to expand
So glad you are enjoying the Garmin. Where did you get it ? I am sure there are many on this board would be interested in knowing.
 
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