GPS Handheld ??

kappykaplan · Dec 27, 2011

76CsX has a color screen. I've had one for nearly 4 years, no problems. Garmin does require you to activate a region for a small fee - $99 last I looked.

Scott T-Bird · Dec 27, 2011

There are some differences between the models but I can't seem to recall the distinctions. I have the csx, I think, maybe the cx, I'd have to look at it. They seem to be the favorite model though (opposed to other GPS brands or Garmin models). Charts are a separate purchase. I have Eastern Lakes (for $99 if I remember correctly), which has lakes in Michigan, I think, but not Wisconsin. They must have charts for lakes west of Lake Michigan, I would think, but I've never seen it advertised.
They also have charts for hiking trails and road maps, all separate costs, I believe.

Bill Roosa · Dec 27, 2011

Here we go again. A hand held GPS chart plotter?
What do you consider "hand held". I can hold a pretty big chart plotter in both my hands but I don't think that qualifies. Do you intend to mount it somewhere? Why? Are you taking it with you or is there just limited space at the helm? How big a screen do you need to have "detailed" maps. The common complaint being, "well sure they are detailed if you take them down to the 0.00001 NM range but then you can't tell what you are looking at. Kinda like trying to navigate while looking through a soda straw. What you see is clear but it is what you didn't see (scroll map over) that will bite you. So you zoom out and all the detail disappears to include indicators that there is some hidden rock right in front of you. Paper maps do not have this problem BTW. They ALWAYS show obstacles.
And since you HAVE to carry the paper maps anyway…….. Kinda makes an argument for Lat-Long and a post-it “sign here” sticker to show your position on a paper map don’t it.

Papa Bruce · Dec 27, 2011

Sometimes cost

is a factor. Santa was good to us with some gift cards and I'd also like to get a handheld. Don't need a chartplotter. Will use paper charts most of the time, but a handheld, it seems, would add a bit of comfort to the equation. Thanks for posting about the 76 series. It's what I'm looking at as well.

Scott T-Bird · Dec 27, 2011

Eagle River ...

Squidd, your location stands out like few others! We had several summer vacations at Meyers Pine Crest Resort on Seven Mile Lake. Those memories are among the most vivid I will ever have, even though they were almost 50 years ago. The movie "The Great Outdoors" with John Candy (obviously NOT northern Wisconsin scenery) did do one thing right by featuring the annual ritual of going to the town dump to see the bears. (Noticed all the Illinois plates). It was hilarious ... Now we have black bears frequently running through our neighborhood.

http://www.meyerspinecrestresort.com/home.html

When I was seven years old, there was nothing in the world more exciting than the promise of driving up to Eagle River from Chicago.

r.oril · Dec 27, 2011

I got my 76CSX off Ebay for under $80. LOVE IT! I use it for my lake sailing to track my path around the lake and speed. I also use it when traveling on the highways.

Jackdaw · Dec 27, 2011

Squidd,

I can promise you that you will NOT be happy with that screen on the 76 series. Its just WAY too small. They might be OK for spot checking and navigation, but most of your requirements in the Apostles will be PILOTING. As noted, you will be zooming in and out all the time to see both the big picture, and in-close detail. The only way to avoid that is a bigger screen. And were to put it... in your pocket?

I'd look into something like the GPSMAP 440 series. They are in the $450 range on-line, and that includes a detailed Great Lakes map.

cb32863 · Dec 27, 2011

I had a 76csx, forgot it on one of the boats and it "disappeared". Anyway, the csx version has a built in compass and altimeter. While I am sure you can use the compass, the altimeter probably isn't going to do you much good. The screen is very small as JD has said and will not do you very well for a plotter. Nice to have for speed and distance and a compass if you need one. For what you want to use it for, get a bigger one.

Edit: As for the laptop solution, that is great for in the cabin route planning and the like. For out in the cockpit, go with a plotter.

Jackdaw · Dec 27, 2011

Squidd said:
Well that's the other half the equation.. a toughbook and Sea Clear with GPS...

Maybe I'm putting too much importance on the gps... I DO have the charts.. just looking for some comfort at the tiller.. maybe a little fog direction without popping for radar..

If you are looking for a low-cost laptop solution, you can be all-in for a bout 25 bucks if you want:

Software:

OpenCPN (http://opencpn.org/ocpn) which is really good software, and it's free (as in costs nothing)... You can use the free Lake Superior NOAA charts with it.

Hardware:

Globalsat BU-353 Waterproof GPS kit (http://www.globalsat...oduct_bu353.htm) is a simple, waterproof GPS with USB connector... search in Google and you can find it for about $25.00 on amazon.com and other websites... I have on and it works great.

Of course you gotta keep it dry.....

Benny17441 · Dec 27, 2011

I don't think the issue should be Charts vs GPS but it should be how to use both of them together. When planning a trip I like to see the big picture, I plot the course on a chart and match waypoints with the GPS. Underway I like the calculations the GPS makes to keep me posted with real time information. I believe in "trust but verify" and I trust our Chartplotter but will verify with chart and compass. Together they are better than individually.

Ron20324 · Dec 27, 2011

Squidd said:
Looking at Garmin GPSMAP 76 series handhelds... Looking for detail maps of Great lakes are they included, or is that a seperate purchase...?

Perhaps you've seen that West has the 76Cx for 149.99 through the end of the year? Plus, of course, 99 for the chip that cover all the U.S. and Bahamas. A chip is available that covers Canada.

Winkfish · Dec 27, 2011

I bought the 76cx at West, and at $249 the Bluechart g2 micro sd card was included. I love it. I fish a lot in the marsh down here, and there are hundreds of bayous and bay/lake entrances. I use a chart, and I can find my way, though slowly. The gps has been a great backup. When I think I know where I am, the gps confirms it.

The cx has a standard gps compass, the csx has the electronic compass and altimeter. Since we have no mountains down here, I don't miss the altimeter.

Yes the screen is small, but that hasn't been a problem for me.

MJWarner · Dec 27, 2011

I just bought the 76cx along with the chip that covers Canada through the Turks/Caicos from WM. Got for two reasons: I will use it as a backup chartplotter to my big plotter, and because it comes with software and a USB cable, I can use it to overlay my daily track onto Google earth as an animated route that I can upload to my blog. Folks will be able to follow our path each day by clicking the link. Got to keep up with the new toy gimmicks! And of course I carry and update my paper chart throughout the day, just for practice for when "the total failure of the GPS system" comes along.

Sumner · Dec 27, 2011

Squidd said:
Well that's the other half the equation.. a toughbook and Sea Clear with GPS...

Maybe I'm putting too much importance on the gps... I DO have the charts.. just looking for some comfort at the tiller.. maybe a little fog direction without popping for radar..

We now have 3 of the 76S series non-color. The last 2 we bought on E-bay for $60 an $80 and yes the S has the compass. Haven't used that much but some. One is tethered to the main computer running SeaClear. One is connected to the VHF for DSC and the third is backup.

The other thing we did use a lot in Florida was the tide info. Need it for when to go through cuts with current and to figure anchorage depths. But as has been mentioned the screens are just too small for us to consider one for our navigation alone.

We have have SeaClear running below all of the time on the ship's computer I built. It it hooked to the 76S and to the GPS puck mentioned above. We plot the days course with SeaClear and sometimes change it in route and send the waypoints to the 76S out in the cockpit where Ruth can see it at the tiller ...

....before starting and the new ones if we changed while underway. That just takes a couple seconds. Now we can zoom in and go waypoint to waypoint with the 76S and be very accurate staying on course. If need be I move by the companionway and....

.... also watch SeaClear just below on the 'big screen'. This all worked very well for us traveling over 500 miles in Florida over all new water for us.

I did post recently about adding a cheap 7 inch daylight display....

...for SeaClear that we will try out on the next trip. We will still keep the 76S running, but the display should now also show the person at the helm a better view of what is going on.

There is more on what we are using here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html

Good luck,

Sum

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Stu Jackson · Dec 27, 2011

Long answers to a simple question. The Csx has the compass and altimeter, which, IMHO, you don't need. I have the Cx. Works just fine for everything I do, easy to use. Go to Garmin's website and find out more about the differences, I am not familiar with the plain 76.

mitiempo · Dec 27, 2011

I have a 76csx and have never looked at it as a plotter because of the screen size. I recently purchased a Standard Horizon CP190i which has a 5` screen with a C-Map chip that covers the B.C. coast - actually the entire Pacific Coast from Alaska to Central America.

The Garmin is good back-up though for lat and long.

I also have Open Cpn on my laptop and I acquired charts of the world from a friend.

HukilauMike · Dec 27, 2011

I saw the 76cx on sale at West Marine this morning. $149. That is an amazingly low price. The map chip was also on sale for $99. They say the chip is normally $149, but I've seen them on sale for $99 before. I've never seen the GPS itself that inexpensive.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50157&subdeptNum=50177&classNum=50179

I was sorely tempted to buy one as a mini-chartplotter. But I decided to stick with my current unit, the Garmin 72. I bought it used on ebay with a whole bunch of accessories, including a very robust mounting kit for $40.