Hey fellow salts, I've got a Hunter 30, and about to make the plunge and buy a GPS system. Anybody have any advice on this? I heard the new Raytheon unit was real nice. Please get back to me as soon as you can. I've got the itch to buy this right away. I'm trying to keep this below $1,000.... JT
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Below $ 1000 ???
You would have to go a long way these days to get it OVER $ 1000.00.. I would suggest the Garmin unit of your choice. Anywhere from about $ 100.00 to about $ 600.00 should get you a really nice unit. Garmin is the leading maker of quality GPS equipment - forget Raytheon. MC
You would have to go a long way these days to get it OVER $ 1000.00.. I would suggest the Garmin unit of your choice. Anywhere from about $ 100.00 to about $ 600.00 should get you a really nice unit. Garmin is the leading maker of quality GPS equipment - forget Raytheon. MC
Johnny, I have
a Garmin 12XL and love it. I spent $200 for it because I didn't wasnt to a fortune and discover that it wasn't ang good. In fact, I like it so much, I bought some charting software, installed it on a laptop, got an external antenna, and powered it off the ships power and made it a 'permanent' part of the ships electronics. It has all the capabilities. If i want to go further, I can hook it up to the autopilot. Just depends how far you want to go with it. The point is, these devices are good....
a Garmin 12XL and love it. I spent $200 for it because I didn't wasnt to a fortune and discover that it wasn't ang good. In fact, I like it so much, I bought some charting software, installed it on a laptop, got an external antenna, and powered it off the ships power and made it a 'permanent' part of the ships electronics. It has all the capabilities. If i want to go further, I can hook it up to the autopilot. Just depends how far you want to go with it. The point is, these devices are good....
Garmin 12XL a best buy.
Best part about mine, it came with the boat. But if I had $600. to spend I'd buy a Garmin chartplotter and mount it permanently at the helm.
Best part about mine, it came with the boat. But if I had $600. to spend I'd buy a Garmin chartplotter and mount it permanently at the helm.
I just received my Raytheon 420
I just received my Raytheon 420 Chartplotter. I also have a hunter 30 and I sail out of Jamaica Bay, just a bit west of you. I went to the boat show in Atlantic City in January and spent a lot of time at the different manufacturers booths. Garmin wasn't there, but Standard was. I liked the display on the Raytheon, which is why I selected it. One of the differences that you may want to look at is the tyhpe of chip used. Garmin uses it's variation of the Navionics chips. Standard and even some of the Raytheon units, use CMap. I got the unit, chip for the south shore of long island and a Edson pedestal mounting bracket for less than $900 total. If you want more info, my email address is gmenchini@stfranciscollege.edu. I haven't event installed the unit yet, so my real experience with this is limited, but I will share whatever I know or don't know with you, if it helps.
I just received my Raytheon 420 Chartplotter. I also have a hunter 30 and I sail out of Jamaica Bay, just a bit west of you. I went to the boat show in Atlantic City in January and spent a lot of time at the different manufacturers booths. Garmin wasn't there, but Standard was. I liked the display on the Raytheon, which is why I selected it. One of the differences that you may want to look at is the tyhpe of chip used. Garmin uses it's variation of the Navionics chips. Standard and even some of the Raytheon units, use CMap. I got the unit, chip for the south shore of long island and a Edson pedestal mounting bracket for less than $900 total. If you want more info, my email address is gmenchini@stfranciscollege.edu. I haven't event installed the unit yet, so my real experience with this is limited, but I will share whatever I know or don't know with you, if it helps.
Great chartplotter w/cartridge for under 1K!
Here is what I did after much research: 1) didnt want garmin due to the fact I had to buy their gmap cartridge that might not be available with software I purchase down the road for my laptop. 2) went with hand held magellan 6000 that is about $600.00. It is a chartplotter with built in antanae, upgradable to dgps, has the best resolution of all hand helds (4 level gray scale) and decent size screen and pretty user friendly (blow the $20.00 and get the training video vhs). The cartridge is the Cmap NT and has tons of info in addition to chart only. Real time boat movement, speed over ground, all the fuctions and menus you could ever want. The cartr. will run you about 300.00. There is your budget! Good luck. doug
Here is what I did after much research: 1) didnt want garmin due to the fact I had to buy their gmap cartridge that might not be available with software I purchase down the road for my laptop. 2) went with hand held magellan 6000 that is about $600.00. It is a chartplotter with built in antanae, upgradable to dgps, has the best resolution of all hand helds (4 level gray scale) and decent size screen and pretty user friendly (blow the $20.00 and get the training video vhs). The cartridge is the Cmap NT and has tons of info in addition to chart only. Real time boat movement, speed over ground, all the fuctions and menus you could ever want. The cartr. will run you about 300.00. There is your budget! Good luck. doug
Lowrance Globalmap 1600
I installed the Lowrance Globalmap 1600 on my H 29.5 last summer. Installation was realtively easy. Great instrument. Price was $589+/- and you don't need to buy cartridges. The unit comes with a CD-ROM and the cableing to upload from your CO. You select the maps to upload. Great detail. Unit saves something like 999 waypoints and 99 routes. Very easy to use.
I installed the Lowrance Globalmap 1600 on my H 29.5 last summer. Installation was realtively easy. Great instrument. Price was $589+/- and you don't need to buy cartridges. The unit comes with a CD-ROM and the cableing to upload from your CO. You select the maps to upload. Great detail. Unit saves something like 999 waypoints and 99 routes. Very easy to use.
Ode to a HUMMINBIRD
Johnny, Look on page 258 of the 99 Defender buying guide. I bought a Humminbird NS10 two years ago and am delighted. It is one of three GPS receivers that I have on my boat. The NS10 is a bargain because the built in database is more detailed than any of the other built in data bases (ie no C-maps ect to buy) and the price is under $600.00. It only covers the US and Caribbean but that takes care of most of us. You still need charts for the buoy details, but you should have a set of charts anyway (don't get to dependent on this e-stuff). This unit makes navigation and positioning easier than starting the engine. Frank
Johnny, Look on page 258 of the 99 Defender buying guide. I bought a Humminbird NS10 two years ago and am delighted. It is one of three GPS receivers that I have on my boat. The NS10 is a bargain because the built in database is more detailed than any of the other built in data bases (ie no C-maps ect to buy) and the price is under $600.00. It only covers the US and Caribbean but that takes care of most of us. You still need charts for the buoy details, but you should have a set of charts anyway (don't get to dependent on this e-stuff). This unit makes navigation and positioning easier than starting the engine. Frank
Garmin 48
If you're sailing using navigational aids, consider the Garmin 48 as it has all those on the east/west coasts and major waterways already in memory.
If you're sailing using navigational aids, consider the Garmin 48 as it has all those on the east/west coasts and major waterways already in memory.
Garmin 48
I have 2 48's I use with 12 volt power cords, 1 is a backup and they've served me very well in Maine fog with a good chart. I've seen them as low as $204.
I have 2 48's I use with 12 volt power cords, 1 is a backup and they've served me very well in Maine fog with a good chart. I've seen them as low as $204.
GPS
You didn't specify the size of your wallet! I went with a Garmin 48. Not big and sexy looking (fits in my drink holder), but with a built-in navigational database, it can't be beat for 200 bucks. Accuracy? I have to be careful not to physically hit the buoys!
You didn't specify the size of your wallet! I went with a Garmin 48. Not big and sexy looking (fits in my drink holder), but with a built-in navigational database, it can't be beat for 200 bucks. Accuracy? I have to be careful not to physically hit the buoys!
Home Base for a GPS
I just installed my new GPS system and I am not sure if it is acting correctly. I have the New York Area module loaded and rather than home in on my exact location, it seems to indicate that Park Slope is the "Center of the Universe". Whichever way I turn it still seems to lock in on Third Street and 7th Avenue. For those of you outside of New York, do your systems hone in on the Yuppie capitol of your local berg? Has anyone else experienced this eratic behavior by a GPS system, or do you think the problem is all in my head...... Please get back to me, all you salts and slopers.
I just installed my new GPS system and I am not sure if it is acting correctly. I have the New York Area module loaded and rather than home in on my exact location, it seems to indicate that Park Slope is the "Center of the Universe". Whichever way I turn it still seems to lock in on Third Street and 7th Avenue. For those of you outside of New York, do your systems hone in on the Yuppie capitol of your local berg? Has anyone else experienced this eratic behavior by a GPS system, or do you think the problem is all in my head...... Please get back to me, all you salts and slopers.
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