looking for a boating gps

[newsailor72]

new to sailing/boating, looking for a gps with maps, hope to spend under $200. is the gamin 76cx a good choice ? seems to have good reviews on amazon. here's the item: http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Garmin-GPSM...&_pcategid=156955&_osacat=0&_dmpt=GPS_Devices

I'll mainly use it in SoCal coastal waters from MRD to San Diego, and Catalina also. thx

 

[tommays]

I have the 72H and i got my son the 76cx for land use and find the 2" screen of small value for charting

It is also much harder to use the 76cx as they threw in so much NON boating junk

You just enter all your stuff on the 72H and they will display on screen and get you were you need to go

 

[Ross]

This is also a good choice to have available. http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/PacificCoastBookletCharts.htm

 

[Winkfish]

new to sailing/boating, looking for a gps with maps, hope to spend under $200. is the gamin 76cx a good choice ? seems to have good reviews on amazon. here's the item: http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Garmin-GPSM...&_pcategid=156955&_osacat=0&_dmpt=GPS_Devices

I'll mainly use it in SoCal coastal waters from MRD to San Diego, and Catalina also. thx

New sailor, I have the 76cx and love it. I use it in the marsh down here a lot. Yes the screen is small, but I use it every time I go out and it works like a charm. I never rely solely on a battery powered device, so I do refer to paper charts as well, but the gps makes it easy to get where I'm going and back again. At West Marine, you can get the GPS unit, plus the BlueChart mini SD chart for $250.00.

Having said that, if you can afford a couple of hundred bucks, I'd go for the 78 model. It comes with a bunch of charts included, and it supports integrating other electronic charts, like Google.

 

[mark_swart]

Or you can download Navionics maps to your smartphone for $9.99.

 

[Kordie]

Navionics is fantastic on the iPad. Prob the same on other tablets too.

 

[Stu Jackson]

We really like our 76Cx, prices have dropped way down. Make sure you understand how the maps get onto the handheld. Read the Garmin website. I find the small screen perfectly adequate for the local boating I do.

 

[Ross]

Almost any gps will give lat and lon and then the paper charts will pick up there.

 

[vtsailguy]

I just got myself an iPad for this reason. I bought the 3G version to get the gps chip, but then didn't activate the plan. Then was a preloaded map app and I have a great 9" screen gps. I also jumped on another info app for sailers that shows all sorts of stuff, even boat heel!