I'm looking for recommendations for a handheld GPS that has mapping capabilities. For a point of reference, I sail on Lake Champlain, so I'm looking to mark local hazards to navigation, regular routes, favorite anchorages, an anchor alarm and so on. I sail most weekends from May to October (with some overnights), as well as sailing until dark at least one night a week after work. If it helps, I sail an O'Day 23. Thanks!
Handheld GPS recommendations
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Handheld GPS Question
I think the majority of small boat sailors prefer the Garmin 76 series. The most recent color version is the way to go. This link gives you an overview of the G76. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/gps/gps1.html
I think the majority of small boat sailors prefer the Garmin 76 series. The most recent color version is the way to go. This link gives you an overview of the G76. http://kobernus.com/hunter260/gps/gps1.html
Garmin 76CSX
I looked at a lot of them as a back up for my Raymarine E80 and found that the Garmin 76CSX is the best. It can be used both on the sea and as a GPS system for your car, When on a deliver of a boat from Everett WA to Portland OR via the Washington coast. There was no GPS on it except my handheld 76CSX. Works just great. The only thing I don't like is that Garmin nickels you to dead with the costs of maps that you need to by pesides the handheld. It comes with no water maps. Other than that I higly recommend it.
I looked at a lot of them as a back up for my Raymarine E80 and found that the Garmin 76CSX is the best. It can be used both on the sea and as a GPS system for your car, When on a deliver of a boat from Everett WA to Portland OR via the Washington coast. There was no GPS on it except my handheld 76CSX. Works just great. The only thing I don't like is that Garmin nickels you to dead with the costs of maps that you need to by pesides the handheld. It comes with no water maps. Other than that I higly recommend it.
I have the Garmin 76CS ...
I bought the US Recreational Lakes Map for the Eastern US for about $100. It gives you detail about the lake that you will want. The map that comes with the GPS is useless on the lake. I think you can view the detail that you would see on Lake Champlain if you go to their website.
I bought the US Recreational Lakes Map for the Eastern US for about $100. It gives you detail about the lake that you will want. The map that comes with the GPS is useless on the lake. I think you can view the detail that you would see on Lake Champlain if you go to their website.
Garmin E-trek Legend
Works well. Has everything most of which i'm still trying to master. Especially marking way-points ahead.(any help with that WILL be apreciated
It does do land & water... Roger
Works well. Has everything most of which i'm still trying to master. Especially marking way-points ahead.(any help with that WILL be apreciated
It does do land & water... RogerGPSmap76S
This is the one I bought and I like it a lot. The 76 series are for marine use some of the others are water proof. But if you compare the different hand held models (and you should on Garmin site. George posted it) you will see they are waterproof but some don't float. I have butter fingers and sale in over 100 ft. of water. Water proof dosen't hep me if it's on the bottom. Just another 2cents.
This is the one I bought and I like it a lot. The 76 series are for marine use some of the others are water proof. But if you compare the different hand held models (and you should on Garmin site. George posted it) you will see they are waterproof but some don't float. I have butter fingers and sale in over 100 ft. of water. Water proof dosen't hep me if it's on the bottom. Just another 2cents.
garmin Etrex
Is made for Hiking- ie it is more designed to help you find your way BACK from some place than TO some place. That said it will serve your purpose onthe water. The only way I have found to set way points is to follow the instructions to "set a waypoint" then change the lat/long co-ordinates to your chosen way point and then change the name. Unless of course you are at the spot you wish to set, then just change the name. Some what of a PITA but works
Is made for Hiking- ie it is more designed to help you find your way BACK from some place than TO some place. That said it will serve your purpose onthe water. The only way I have found to set way points is to follow the instructions to "set a waypoint" then change the lat/long co-ordinates to your chosen way point and then change the name. Unless of course you are at the spot you wish to set, then just change the name. Some what of a PITA but works
Toronta eh?
Thanks Richard. That's what i've done. I was hoping for some trick?? It is APITA, but i guess, you do what ya gotta do. I'm posting from FL for the next 5 months just waiting it out Roger
Thanks Richard. That's what i've done. I was hoping for some trick?? It is APITA, but i guess, you do what ya gotta do. I'm posting from FL for the next 5 months just waiting it out
Roger
Display SIZE!
I also have the Garmin GPS MAP76cs and for the most part quite happy with it. I bought a portable because I wanted to take it with me if I ever decided to change boats. The unit has all the whistles & bells one could ask for with exception of the display size. I have perused the Garmin website for a mounted unit with a larger screen, but unless one is willing to spend excessive $$ they really don't have any thing worth my considering. As handy as the hand held is I really would like to see my location on something bigger without having to haul the big charts out. Yes I know it is a simple matter of applying the coordinates of the handheld onto the chart for a big picture but I find that to be too onerous. Being lazy I would prefer a bigger screen. BlueCharts allows for use of two units so I am still searching for a viable second unit to mount on my pedestal, something reasonably priced with at least 7" diagonal screen. I don't own a big expensive boat so I don't require an expensive unit, just something with a bigger screen that is compatible with BlueCharts.
I also have the Garmin GPS MAP76cs and for the most part quite happy with it. I bought a portable because I wanted to take it with me if I ever decided to change boats. The unit has all the whistles & bells one could ask for with exception of the display size. I have perused the Garmin website for a mounted unit with a larger screen, but unless one is willing to spend excessive $$ they really don't have any thing worth my considering. As handy as the hand held is I really would like to see my location on something bigger without having to haul the big charts out. Yes I know it is a simple matter of applying the coordinates of the handheld onto the chart for a big picture but I find that to be too onerous. Being lazy I would prefer a bigger screen. BlueCharts allows for use of two units so I am still searching for a viable second unit to mount on my pedestal, something reasonably priced with at least 7" diagonal screen. I don't own a big expensive boat so I don't require an expensive unit, just something with a bigger screen that is compatible with BlueCharts.
I dunno
I have a 76cx, and the screen is good enough for me for the general not-getting-lost when I'm 2-3 miles offshore on lake ontario and everything looks the same. I don't know how much better a 7" would be. what do you guys think of having a laptop down below, with a remote keyboard, mouse, and LCD up above?
I have a 76cx, and the screen is good enough for me for the general not-getting-lost when I'm 2-3 miles offshore on lake ontario and everything looks the same. I don't know how much better a 7" would be. what do you guys think of having a laptop down below, with a remote keyboard, mouse, and LCD up above?
Etrex
I got the e-trex since I use it also for hiking in the mountains and it mounts on my bike. It has a built in altimiter that is useful in the mountains or if you might be sailing in mountain lakes. However, if my use were confined to sea level it would be the Garmin 76.
I got the e-trex since I use it also for hiking in the mountains and it mounts on my bike. It has a built in altimiter that is useful in the mountains or if you might be sailing in mountain lakes. However, if my use were confined to sea level it would be the Garmin 76.
Daylight Readable Display
Briam M H23 wrote: "what do you guys think of having a laptop down below, with a remote keyboard, mouse, and LCD up above?" I tried the notebook down below route and it was more trouble than it was worth. Garmin provides a software called n-route for live tracking on the notebook via the handheld. I bought one of those monitor arms that clamp onto a desk for mounting a monitor on, but I just put the whole notebook on it and clamped it to the companionway ladder so all I had to do after hooking up all the cables was swing the arm plate into the companionway and view from the cockpit. Well much to my dismay the daylight washed out the screen so I could not see it, I had to put the notebook well below and out of direct light in order to see it. Then I tried one of those 3M display covers to cut back the amount of daylight hitting the screen but this too was not enough. The notebook idea is a good one but it must be kept completely away from daylight. There is a line of notebooks made by Panasonic called Toughbooks and some models come with sunlight readable displays which outdoor professionals require, but they are very expensive, might as well just ante up and buy an expensive Garmin unit. You really need some kind of daylight/sunlight readable display to exploit the use of a notebook in the cockpit. Back to the drawing board...
Briam M H23 wrote: "what do you guys think of having a laptop down below, with a remote keyboard, mouse, and LCD up above?" I tried the notebook down below route and it was more trouble than it was worth. Garmin provides a software called n-route for live tracking on the notebook via the handheld. I bought one of those monitor arms that clamp onto a desk for mounting a monitor on, but I just put the whole notebook on it and clamped it to the companionway ladder so all I had to do after hooking up all the cables was swing the arm plate into the companionway and view from the cockpit. Well much to my dismay the daylight washed out the screen so I could not see it, I had to put the notebook well below and out of direct light in order to see it. Then I tried one of those 3M display covers to cut back the amount of daylight hitting the screen but this too was not enough. The notebook idea is a good one but it must be kept completely away from daylight. There is a line of notebooks made by Panasonic called Toughbooks and some models come with sunlight readable displays which outdoor professionals require, but they are very expensive, might as well just ante up and buy an expensive Garmin unit. You really need some kind of daylight/sunlight readable display to exploit the use of a notebook in the cockpit. Back to the drawing board...
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