Before investing in a GPS/Chartplotter, I'd like a handheld GPS for use sailing the Great Lakes. Anyone have any make/model suggestions?
- Status
I have always used Garmin
and and have been very satisfied with them. I currently use a Garmin 76 handheld GPS. I note that the Garmin 72, which is a basic model similar to the 76, but without a computer connection cord(I have never used mine) is currently being sold by West for $130. This is a great price for a quality, but basic, unit that does all the typical GPS functions.
and and have been very satisfied with them. I currently use a Garmin 76 handheld GPS. I note that the Garmin 72, which is a basic model similar to the 76, but without a computer connection cord(I have never used mine) is currently being sold by West for $130. This is a great price for a quality, but basic, unit that does all the typical GPS functions.
I have the Lowrance H2O C and like it.
It uses an SD map chip that contains all US charts and costs $100. The chip can be used in all Lowrance Chartplotters so ya only have to buy it once for when you upgrade later.
It uses an SD map chip that contains all US charts and costs $100. The chip can be used in all Lowrance Chartplotters so ya only have to buy it once for when you upgrade later.
A little help with basemaps
Hopefully to add and not hijack this thread, can anyone also explain the basemap that comes with the various handhelds? Is the basemap sufficient, or should you also purchase (sometimes expensive) additional maps for greater detail? Thanks. Paul
Hopefully to add and not hijack this thread, can anyone also explain the basemap that comes with the various handhelds? Is the basemap sufficient, or should you also purchase (sometimes expensive) additional maps for greater detail? Thanks. Paul
Tim...
I have a Garmin GPS 48. It has no graphics. It is as precise as other units. You can either plot lat/lon on paper or use a laptop w/appropriate s/w. I recommend a cheap laptop with Seaclear II. 1. Seaclear's free (http://www.sping.com/) 2. There is an online, responsible govt source for free charts (http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm) 3. replace laptop when it breaks More questions? Contact via this site's email feature. Do a search for owner name "barometer" in HOW's owner directory. There's an email feature in there.
I have a Garmin GPS 48. It has no graphics. It is as precise as other units. You can either plot lat/lon on paper or use a laptop w/appropriate s/w. I recommend a cheap laptop with Seaclear II. 1. Seaclear's free (http://www.sping.com/) 2. There is an online, responsible govt source for free charts (http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm) 3. replace laptop when it breaks More questions? Contact via this site's email feature. Do a search for owner name "barometer" in HOW's owner directory. There's an email feature in there.
Quest II
I have a Garmin 3206 as my primary chartplotter. I also have an Etrex Legend as a backup but it is getting a little flaky in it's old age(me too). So this year I opted for a Garmin Quest II which is a nice compact unit that is primarily setup for automobile navigation(comes with complete us city navigator maps). I transferred my Blue Chart license from my Legend to the Quest to use as a backup. It comes with a car adapter kit and you can buy a handlebar mount to use at the binacle guard. If you want a true handheld I would go for the Garmin 76csx
I have a Garmin 3206 as my primary chartplotter. I also have an Etrex Legend as a backup but it is getting a little flaky in it's old age(me too). So this year I opted for a Garmin Quest II which is a nice compact unit that is primarily setup for automobile navigation(comes with complete us city navigator maps). I transferred my Blue Chart license from my Legend to the Quest to use as a backup. It comes with a car adapter kit and you can buy a handlebar mount to use at the binacle guard. If you want a true handheld I would go for the Garmin 76csx
Don't worry about the chart
For the most part, a handheld GPS is only good for the way it was originally intended as just giving directions, and locations. When you try to put in a base chart as in a typical chartplotter today, by the time you get down to the detail you need, you are zoomed in too far and can't see everything that you need to see. It all comes from the size of the screen. Now, you go into some of the larger Handhelds, like the Big garmins, and the screen size allows you to get even better. My recommendation to you, is to buy a Garmin 76, 76cx, or 76 csx that will be supported for some time and don't plan on using the chart part, unless you are only sailing one reasonable area. If you will need more than one chart area, you will be spending more money than you need to. About the only thing I feel that the chart on most handhelds is useful for is scrolling around the map to set a waypoint or route without having to type in multiple numbers, not for actually getting there.
For the most part, a handheld GPS is only good for the way it was originally intended as just giving directions, and locations. When you try to put in a base chart as in a typical chartplotter today, by the time you get down to the detail you need, you are zoomed in too far and can't see everything that you need to see. It all comes from the size of the screen. Now, you go into some of the larger Handhelds, like the Big garmins, and the screen size allows you to get even better. My recommendation to you, is to buy a Garmin 76, 76cx, or 76 csx that will be supported for some time and don't plan on using the chart part, unless you are only sailing one reasonable area. If you will need more than one chart area, you will be spending more money than you need to. About the only thing I feel that the chart on most handhelds is useful for is scrolling around the map to set a waypoint or route without having to type in multiple numbers, not for actually getting there.
76cs
I bought the Garmin GPS MAP 76CS handheld a few years back when it first came on the market. It is only worth half what I paid for it today, you can get one for $279.00 It is nice to have the charts loaded but I had to buy two seperate regions for the PNW from Garmin, a bit of a rip-off. It may be somewhat cool and portable but the itty-bitty screen size is a bit small, I am saving for a 7" screen chartplotter/sounder. Scrap the hand held and get a decent size screen.
I bought the Garmin GPS MAP 76CS handheld a few years back when it first came on the market. It is only worth half what I paid for it today, you can get one for $279.00 It is nice to have the charts loaded but I had to buy two seperate regions for the PNW from Garmin, a bit of a rip-off. It may be somewhat cool and portable but the itty-bitty screen size is a bit small, I am saving for a 7" screen chartplotter/sounder. Scrap the hand held and get a decent size screen.
Etrex Legend
I'll join in here with a vote in the Garmin camp as well. I've had an Etrex Legend that has served me well. Does some rudimentary mapping and graphics, limited by it's screen size, but still better than nothing. I like some of the tracking and rhumbline functionality it has as well. And just like Barometer, I use SeaClear on my laptop as well. Originally used it with the Etrex Legend, and then bought the cheapest Etrex they had to hook to the computer and keep the Legend in the cockpit. I like a little redundancy. And I use the Lat/Lon that I pull off the cheapie in the cabin to update the paper charts below. T J
I'll join in here with a vote in the Garmin camp as well. I've had an Etrex Legend that has served me well. Does some rudimentary mapping and graphics, limited by it's screen size, but still better than nothing. I like some of the tracking and rhumbline functionality it has as well. And just like Barometer, I use SeaClear on my laptop as well. Originally used it with the Etrex Legend, and then bought the cheapest Etrex they had to hook to the computer and keep the Legend in the cockpit. I like a little redundancy. And I use the Lat/Lon that I pull off the cheapie in the cabin to update the paper charts below. T J
saving money at Waste Marine
Whatever you buy, if you are considering getting it from Waste Marine, be sure to check on line prices. Waste Marine will match any advertised price, so if you print out whatever online price you find and bring it in, they will match it. Take one example: Online price for BlueChart Americas: $98 Waste Marine price: $299. WM just sold it to me for the online price, saving me $200. They wanted to charge me the price plus the online shipping costs, but I pointed out that I don't have to pay taxes for the online purchase, so they even dropped that one.
Whatever you buy, if you are considering getting it from Waste Marine, be sure to check on line prices. Waste Marine will match any advertised price, so if you print out whatever online price you find and bring it in, they will match it. Take one example: Online price for BlueChart Americas: $98 Waste Marine price: $299. WM just sold it to me for the online price, saving me $200. They wanted to charge me the price plus the online shipping costs, but I pointed out that I don't have to pay taxes for the online purchase, so they even dropped that one.
Waste Marine is RIGHT!
I took an online ad to match a price and the guy told me they only matched Boater's World and one other place he couldn't remember. I ended up ordering the items from Torrensen Marine - ALOT cheaper that WM. You also have to watch them like a hawk when they ring things up. I have yet to leave there without something being overpriced, rung up wrong or credited wrong. Funny, but it's ALWAYS in their favor, too. They should be the marine store of last resort.
I took an online ad to match a price and the guy told me they only matched Boater's World and one other place he couldn't remember. I ended up ordering the items from Torrensen Marine - ALOT cheaper that WM. You also have to watch them like a hawk when they ring things up. I have yet to leave there without something being overpriced, rung up wrong or credited wrong. Funny, but it's ALWAYS in their favor, too. They should be the marine store of last resort.
The Garmin 76 series has a very good record with many small boat sailors. The most recent color versions are a significant improvement over the earlier B & W versions. Of course, the screen size is a limitation but if you want a handheld I think this is the way to go. I've sailed a lot of Lakes Michigan and Huron, the Florida Keys, and the BVI using it and found the base map has all the nav aids you'll need. However, I've found the Blue Chart maps handy for avoiding those big rocks in the Canadian North Channel. I've dropped mine several times and once it ended up in the water -- still works perfectly after 5 years. West Marine now has a sale on the Garmin 76CSX for $300. Also, I've had good luck with Garmin customer service. More at this link: http://h260.com/gps/gps1.html
There is nothing wrong with a handheld and
paper charts. I like Garmin for ease of use. Look for a model with an anchor alarm and purchase a 12V connector as they can go through 4 AA batteries pretty quickly.
paper charts. I like Garmin for ease of use. Look for a model with an anchor alarm and purchase a 12V connector as they can go through 4 AA batteries pretty quickly.
Garmin, Garmin, Garmin
Garmin has a new Colorado model, available in the mid $400 range online. It is available in the "i" version with inland lakes installed or the "C" version with costal charts installed. Having the charts preinstalled is a good value. This is what I would buy to replace my Map76. There are a few "GPS stores" online that i would not hesitate to do business with. And they will have any accessories that you might need like a mount. C A
Garmin has a new Colorado model, available in the mid $400 range online. It is available in the "i" version with inland lakes installed or the "C" version with costal charts installed. Having the charts preinstalled is a good value. This is what I would buy to replace my Map76. There are a few "GPS stores" online that i would not hesitate to do business with. And they will have any accessories that you might need like a mount. C A
I got mine
a Garmin 76C and was pleased. They have a 76Cx for 240.00 http://www.gpsonsale.com/garmin/
a Garmin 76C and was pleased. They have a 76Cx for 240.00 http://www.gpsonsale.com/garmin/
correction
Stu queried me directly about the price I cited at Waste Marine - $299. He was right, their regular price was $139 not $299. Thanks, Stu, for checking up on this. I asked the salesperson, and he said that, yes, he had told me $299, which is what I was going by, but he'd been mistaken. It didn't matter, since I got it for a reduced price anyway. Oh, and I got a $24 garmin/pc interface cable for about $10 instead of their twenty-something dollar price.
Stu queried me directly about the price I cited at Waste Marine - $299. He was right, their regular price was $139 not $299. Thanks, Stu, for checking up on this. I asked the salesperson, and he said that, yes, he had told me $299, which is what I was going by, but he'd been mistaken. It didn't matter, since I got it for a reduced price anyway. Oh, and I got a $24 garmin/pc interface cable for about $10 instead of their twenty-something dollar price.
Price matching
Price matching by retailers just seems wrong to me. It's like, "We will rip you off if we can, but we will give you a better price if you are smart enough to game the system!" If I find someone who has a better price, I buy it there. I feel like the company who comes right out and offers the best price without the trickery should be rewarded. I don't mind paying a little extra for convenience and service (5% maybe), but prices that are 25-50% higher are like a slap in the face. Especially given the fact that I spend on average $10k a year on boat gear.
Price matching by retailers just seems wrong to me. It's like, "We will rip you off if we can, but we will give you a better price if you are smart enough to game the system!" If I find someone who has a better price, I buy it there. I feel like the company who comes right out and offers the best price without the trickery should be rewarded. I don't mind paying a little extra for convenience and service (5% maybe), but prices that are 25-50% higher are like a slap in the face. Especially given the fact that I spend on average $10k a year on boat gear.
- Status