Best GPS Chart Plotter for trailer sailor

[r.oril]

I currently use a Garmin GPSMap76CSX. It's small but usable with a chip. I use a iPad with a GPS puck and various apps, but can't see the display in day light.
Question: What do you use as a "Day Sailor"?

If there is a thread for this, please pass the link.

Thanks

 

[sailingandsuch]

I have a Garmin76CSX too and also a Garmin GPS Map 440S on my little 17'er. I typically don't use a GPS at all for day sails since most of the time I am in familiar waters or waters that have decent aids to navigation and with well marked channels, plus it's easy to just look at the chart and figure out where you are.

I don't have a chip for my 76 but the 440S came with all the charts on it. It's great and I used it in the Keys a little bit but not to much. Navigating with the charts and bino's is more challenging and more fun to me. Plus it keeps you ultra alert and long distance days seem to go by faster. I think....

As for another one for just day sailing I would say just stick with what you have. It's pretty sufficient for a "Day Sailor" as you have mentioned.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

we used a garmin colorado c (no longer sold), for most of the ft laud key west race. I was very impressed with the detail of the built in costal charts, AND the speed at which it refreshed and zoomed. I am looking for now on ebay... however its tiny. -but in this case so small it fits in your pocket, so that works... and I also have a 76s chart (monochorome), with bluechart americas. its ok but doesnt support waas anymore and is Slooow. (good to fair).

 

[r.oril]

Thanks for the input. I am now looking at the Garmin 441S with Transponder from Jamestown.

 

[kenn]

Question: What do you use as a "Day Sailor"?

Eyeballs, compass, paper charts, wristwatch, dead-reckoning...

Yes we do have a few small GPS units, similar to yours... we mainly use them just as confirmation or back-up.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I second Kenn's comment.
a Day Sailor will not need a GPS unless stuck in fog. Even a brand new sailor can tell where they came from and can turn around and come back till they start recognizing things.
GPS is a great tool but using it as the only source of navigational information is not recommended. learn how to pilot and keep a dead reckoning plot.
I use those "sign here" sticky arrows from Office Depot to keep track on my (gasp) paper chart. Also makes it easy for the Corinthian crew when I fall overboard to give Lat/long to the USCG.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Walt the Colorado Mac guy had a thread about RAM mounts for a chartplotter. His was a Lowrance plotter/fish finder that went for couple hundred in mono and an additional hundred for the color version. Might ask him how he likes it.
Seems like a great price.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Don't forget your parrallel rule and dividers Ken!
And I'd bet Bill has a green lensatic compass stashed somewhere on the boat.

 

[walt]

R. Oril, I did buy the Lowrance Elite 4 (color) and recently also the Mark 4 (BW). I put the color Elite 4 in the old Mac 26S and I put the Mark 4 in a 15 foot planning dingy.

I haven’t used either one yet but will be using it at Lake Havasu shortly - I’ll be in the marina if you want to check it out and how I mounted since we have close to the same boat.

The initial reason I chose the lowrance turned out to not be valid - I thought it had a higher viewing angle vs. the Garmin but I think both are fairly good. You get more features, networking capability with the Garmin. One thing that I like about this little Lowrance is the power it consumes. Check the specs on some of the larger chart plotters - I think some of the 5 inch screen models consume up to about 15 watts. Both of the Lowrace models I have (Elite 4 and Mark 4) consume about 160 ma - about 2 watts. I believe the spec says 3 watts or something like that.


For about $50 more, you can get this product with a micro SD card that has a lot better map detail. I have this in the color version that I put in the 26S. I didn’t get it for the BW version I’m using with the 15 foot planning dingy.

The picture of the BW version shows pretty much the screen I will leave it in on for both boats. Size of display digits is adjustable, I have the speed at the top in large digits, depth and then water temp under that. To some extent, I just have a depth and speed reading on one display with the bonus of the map.

Both are good (at least so far, I actually havent used either yet on the water), just have to look at the features and tradeoffs to meet your needs...

 

[r.oril]

Hey Walt - We are in the LB marina starting Wednesday the 13th thru Monday. I will be all over your boat to check out the setup. Looks like just what I want for mine. I will read up on the Elite 4 tonight.

Thanks

 

[fredr]

I replaced my failed Garmin 276 with a Garmin 441 it is a very nice unit.
The 441 has a magnet inside to hold the micro card door closed so it has to be about 8" from a compass. Also, I bought mine from Anchor Express who has one of the lowest prices.

 

[Ken Cross]

Garmin 441s

We use a Garmin 441s and really like it.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=28755
We use it for fishing, bottom depth, anchor drag alert, tide tables, current tables, and GPS navigation.
Yes I can navigate with a paper chart and yes I carry them, but the GPS is a pretty convenient item. In areas such as the San Juan and Gulf Islands the shorelines tend to look alike until you've been there a few times.
I mounted the transducer inside the hull just by sticking it down with wax. It works great but water temperature is actually hull temperature. .

 

[kenn]

Arrrr.....

Don't forget your parallel rule and dividers Ken!
And I'd bet Bill has a green lensatic compass stashed somewhere on the boat.

I gottem somewhere... We completed CYA Coastal Nav a few years ago. Now I'm learning the sextant.

It's really cool to have new things to learn in middle age!

 

[finding41]

I just got paper charts I ordered at the Toronto boat show in the mail today. I am more comfortable with paper charts at this point. I do have a hand held gps and a Lowrance Plotter/ look at the fishery thing. I'm not too sure of it yet. It works fine but I think the display head is too big for my 26D. (Maybe Ok on a bigger boat.) May yet go on E-Bay...

 

[Sumner]

If I was buying one and didn't have a ton to spend I'd also buy the 441. We are happy with what we use, but I think the 441 has a lot to offer and there must be a reason there are a number of happy users reporting on this thread.

We have full size paper charts with us always and I try to keep track where we are, but in new water in places like Florida and like what was mentioned above it can be very hard to navigate the first time with paper. Places that have clear landmarks and such are much easier.

Bob where do you want to use the chart plotter? That would help in helping you with a better solution. I for sure would want one that can work with a computer via a serial port for easier trip planning and use while out on the water. We don't have an I-pad. Can you use an USB with one and use a USB/serial converter. It is much easier to plan a trip or even change a trip on the water using the larger screen of a computer and route software and downloading waypoints to a chart plotter vs. entering them directly in the chart plotter.

Good luck,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[r.oril]

Hey Sum - Glad you come in. I like boat toys.
I travel mostly out of Channel Islands Marina, Oxnard Ca. I like GPS and Charts not much into fishing at this time. I would like to know what the depth is. My Garmin GPS Map76CSX is just too small for the charts and the iPad is too hard to read in the sun. Garmin cost more.

 

[Sumner]

.. I would like to know what the depth is... .

The depth as shown on the chart or the real live depth as to where you are at the moment?

We looked hard at the 440 series and if we would of bought a chart plotter vs. using SeaClear II or OpenCPN it would of been one with a transducer for depth. At the moment if we were going to switch from what we are using that would still probably be our choice. I'd want a screen at least that large. They also come with the charts so you aren't buying them separate.

I would think that depth wouldn't be a major concern there once away from shore just a bit. If you are just looking for depth as you come in have you considered just a depth/fishfinder?

If you don't have it now you will want DSC and AIS would also be nice there in the next radio you buy so make sure you get something that can transmit the GPS location to the radio. The Garmin and most other higher dollar plotters will do that. Our $200 Cuda fishfinder/GPS will transmit the location to our radio, but we can't send waypoints to it from a computer so we send them to a handheld. Try not to get into that situation,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

 

[Bad Obsession]

I have a 441s by Garmin. I love the unit.

 

[dscribner]

We use the 76C and are happy with it. BUT . . . we also use BookletCharts. free from NOAA, for general cruising and full size charts for the big picture. That, and stay in the pot buoys figuring that the lobstermen won't risk $250K worth of boat over shallow spots.

 

[r.oril]

Well, I ordered the Lowrance 103-001 Elite 5-Inch Color LCD GPS/Chartplotter with Navionics, Gold from Amazon for $399.:dance: Free shipping, no tax and saved $169. This will be my first Lowrance product. Walt is happy with his.

I will update this post after using it at HPCC in February this year.