I have just purchased my first sailboat a 1983 Oday 30 and would like some recommendations for a hand held GPS. I want color and all the features you know I should have even if I don't. All recommendations appreciated.
Hand held GPS
- Thread starter charliehall1@verizon.net
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Charlie, I have lived in
Colonial Heights and know the James quite well. A garmin 76 handheld will serve you very well. It won't give you color but it will tell you where you are. You DO need a good depth sounder. If you berth you boat above Hopewell then get protection from the bottom up you can't get lost up there.
Colonial Heights and know the James quite well. A garmin 76 handheld will serve you very well. It won't give you color but it will tell you where you are. You DO need a good depth sounder. If you berth you boat above Hopewell then get protection from the bottom up you can't get lost up there.
Look at the Garmin 76 series
Charlie, I just bought a Garmin 76. No color, and no mapping, but both are available on the 76. There is also a small mounted unit that will give you depth for not much more money. Check the Garmin Website. I recommend Garmin, only because there is a good dealer base, and service is at worst, only a UPS shipment away. Check prices on the internet, get your best price, and print the page. Take it to West Marine and they'll match the price. Nice thing about West is that you can take the unit home and play with it for a couple of days. If it's not what you really needed, you can take it back with no hassle. See Kevin at the Broad Street store in Richmond. Tell him Larry, with the four sailboats sent you. Are you planning on sailing on the James? I keep my boats in Deltaville and Urbanna, didn't think there was really enough water to do much sailing in the Hopewell area. Larry Wilson Richmond,Va.
Charlie, I just bought a Garmin 76. No color, and no mapping, but both are available on the 76. There is also a small mounted unit that will give you depth for not much more money. Check the Garmin Website. I recommend Garmin, only because there is a good dealer base, and service is at worst, only a UPS shipment away. Check prices on the internet, get your best price, and print the page. Take it to West Marine and they'll match the price. Nice thing about West is that you can take the unit home and play with it for a couple of days. If it's not what you really needed, you can take it back with no hassle. See Kevin at the Broad Street store in Richmond. Tell him Larry, with the four sailboats sent you. Are you planning on sailing on the James? I keep my boats in Deltaville and Urbanna, didn't think there was really enough water to do much sailing in the Hopewell area. Larry Wilson Richmond,Va.
Get a fixed mount chartplotter
For a few dollars more than a handheld with all the bells and whistles you can get a fixed mount chartplotter. Look at the Garmin line like the 176 and 182. They come with built in anntenna for easy installation and portability and have a bigger screen than the handheld. We have two 182s one B/W and one in color. The main difference is that the color screen is easier to see in the sunshine. Have used a lot of handhelds and the main objection is a small screen for showing details on a chart. I never got around to install a 12V source for the handheld so was always looking for AA bateries. The 182s are hardwired into the 12V system. The only advantage the I find in a hand held is that if it has an anchor alarm you can take it into the cabin with you to monitor your holding. Good luck.
For a few dollars more than a handheld with all the bells and whistles you can get a fixed mount chartplotter. Look at the Garmin line like the 176 and 182. They come with built in anntenna for easy installation and portability and have a bigger screen than the handheld. We have two 182s one B/W and one in color. The main difference is that the color screen is easier to see in the sunshine. Have used a lot of handhelds and the main objection is a small screen for showing details on a chart. I never got around to install a 12V source for the handheld so was always looking for AA bateries. The 182s are hardwired into the 12V system. The only advantage the I find in a hand held is that if it has an anchor alarm you can take it into the cabin with you to monitor your holding. Good luck.
GPS
Thanks for all the good advice. My slip is at Stingray Point Marina in Deltaville will be sailing in the Chesapeake. In the mid 90s I owned a powerboat kept it in Urbanna didn't much care for the time it took to reach the Bay figured this time around with a sailboat I would be much better offer in Deltaville. Thanks again to all.
Thanks for all the good advice. My slip is at Stingray Point Marina in Deltaville will be sailing in the Chesapeake. In the mid 90s I owned a powerboat kept it in Urbanna didn't much care for the time it took to reach the Bay figured this time around with a sailboat I would be much better offer in Deltaville. Thanks again to all.
Handheld GPS
Small boat sailors really like the convenience and utility of the Garmin 76 Series. I've installed a 12v connection at the helm and this saves on batteries. I have some pics and more discussion at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/gps/gps1.html
Small boat sailors really like the convenience and utility of the Garmin 76 Series. I've installed a 12v connection at the helm and this saves on batteries. I have some pics and more discussion at this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/gps/gps1.html
G76 12 V power data cable
Got the power/data cable from West Marine. The Garmin item is about $35 but you can get it cheaper from other sources. Some come w/o 2.0 amp fuse holder but this is only a few dollars at WM. See Pg 56 of G76 manual for wiring diagram. Here's some links: Found it at: http://planetgps.net/grm2023.html This is also where I got my GPS. Also on e-bay at: http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-V-60C-76-StreetPilot-III-Bare-Power-PC-Cable_W0QQitemZ9710104072QQcategoryZ58045QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem More info contact me at: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
Got the power/data cable from West Marine. The Garmin item is about $35 but you can get it cheaper from other sources. Some come w/o 2.0 amp fuse holder but this is only a few dollars at WM. See Pg 56 of G76 manual for wiring diagram. Here's some links: Found it at: http://planetgps.net/grm2023.html This is also where I got my GPS. Also on e-bay at: http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-GPS-V-60C-76-StreetPilot-III-Bare-Power-PC-Cable_W0QQitemZ9710104072QQcategoryZ58045QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem More info contact me at: http://kobernus.com/hunter260/index.html
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