It all depends on what you want to use it for, but yes it's more than
suitable (but you can get it far cheaper than $300 - the first Google hit
was $271).
If you have a laptop on board, there are a good variety of charting programs
available that can be driven by the Garmin. The cx allows you to download
charts/maps, although the cost is rather high and beyond my budget.
I have an old Garmin with a marine database which has done me for many
years, and I've recently added an eTrex Vista to which I upload road maps
that is fine for both car and boat. The model you mention is way better than
my eTrex because it has automatic routing, which most devices that price
didn't have last year, though that's not a feature you would use at sea.
The bottom line is: handheld it tells you where you are, and where you are
going, and if you have programmed a route it gives you time and course to
destination. If you have programmed proximity alarms then you will have an
audible warning of the vicinity of danger areas. If you attach it to a PC
you can watch your progress on the (suitably calibrated) chart as well as
storing tracks. Alisdair
suitable (but you can get it far cheaper than $300 - the first Google hit
was $271).
If you have a laptop on board, there are a good variety of charting programs
available that can be driven by the Garmin. The cx allows you to download
charts/maps, although the cost is rather high and beyond my budget.
I have an old Garmin with a marine database which has done me for many
years, and I've recently added an eTrex Vista to which I upload road maps
that is fine for both car and boat. The model you mention is way better than
my eTrex because it has automatic routing, which most devices that price
didn't have last year, though that's not a feature you would use at sea.
The bottom line is: handheld it tells you where you are, and where you are
going, and if you have programmed a route it gives you time and course to
destination. If you have programmed proximity alarms then you will have an
audible warning of the vicinity of danger areas. If you attach it to a PC
you can watch your progress on the (suitably calibrated) chart as well as
storing tracks. Alisdair