I have been reading alot about GPS units, handhelds mostly, was wondering if anyone would care to give me some input on what might be a good unit to buy?
The Best GPS
- Thread starter Sonny10775
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Etrex Legend
We use a Garmin Etrex Legend. Good mapping with navaids already installed. Most screens can be easliy customized. Can also hook up to the notebook and run Nobeltec, though we may try BlueCharts to use the mapping on the unit for depth as well. We have mounts for the boat, car, bike, and a belt holster.
We use a Garmin Etrex Legend. Good mapping with navaids already installed. Most screens can be easliy customized. Can also hook up to the notebook and run Nobeltec, though we may try BlueCharts to use the mapping on the unit for depth as well. We have mounts for the boat, car, bike, and a belt holster.
GPS
I've had a Garmin 46, 182 sounder and a 76C. The 182 was nice as it had a split screen with the depth. I like the 76C better. The screen is really clear and it refreshes faster. On long trips I plan my route on a lap top and down load the data to the GPS. Once topsides I can set it up to show me my speed, distance to next point, and an arrow to the direction to track. Below It shows a clear map via Blue Chart. It does a ton of other things too. DMG, Anchor Drag, etc.
I've had a Garmin 46, 182 sounder and a 76C. The 182 was nice as it had a split screen with the depth. I like the 76C better. The screen is really clear and it refreshes faster. On long trips I plan my route on a lap top and down load the data to the GPS. Once topsides I can set it up to show me my speed, distance to next point, and an arrow to the direction to track. Below It shows a clear map via Blue Chart. It does a ton of other things too. DMG, Anchor Drag, etc.
Garmin GPSMAP 176C on pedestal, Garmin 12s backup
and religously plot bearings on chart so we don't get sloppy. We use Bluechart chips for Lake Michigan charts and US roads. Watch for a deal. We got ours for $500 at Boat/US with a Lake Michigan Bluechart.
and religously plot bearings on chart so we don't get sloppy. We use Bluechart chips for Lake Michigan charts and US roads. Watch for a deal. We got ours for $500 at Boat/US with a Lake Michigan Bluechart.
Went with Magellan
Recommend that you get a mapping GPS. The Magellan Meridain Gold unit that I just purchased at a great discount does all and more of what is required for my coastal sailing. For you the unit even has 3D which can tell you the elevation you are sailing at. Or more to the point, if you take it along on a mountain hike, and you may not get as lost as I have in the past without GPS
. This unit uses Bluenav charts derived from Navionics Gold charts, so you can sail the world with it. It has tides and currents, if you like details. Since I am more into sailing than watching the GPS, I find this handheld B/W unit (can be plugged into 12V and computer) does more than I ask of it, by far.
Recommend that you get a mapping GPS. The Magellan Meridain Gold unit that I just purchased at a great discount does all and more of what is required for my coastal sailing. For you the unit even has 3D which can tell you the elevation you are sailing at. Or more to the point, if you take it along on a mountain hike, and you may not get as lost as I have in the past without GPS
. This unit uses Bluenav charts derived from Navionics Gold charts, so you can sail the world with it. It has tides and currents, if you like details. Since I am more into sailing than watching the GPS, I find this handheld B/W unit (can be plugged into 12V and computer) does more than I ask of it, by far.Magellan
I also bought a Magellan . I bought the marine version.It is very intuative.Every screen can be configured to your preferance.All the nav -aids were already in.Lighthouses,marinas ship wrecks,bouys.More detailed mapping is also available,easily.We use ours on Lake Michigan and inland lakes,taking it in the truck with streets listed as well.It works at 10 degrees ,has a nightime backlit screen ,doesn't eat batteries,plugs into the boat or cars easily.Bought it new on Ebay for 170 or so.
I also bought a Magellan . I bought the marine version.It is very intuative.Every screen can be configured to your preferance.All the nav -aids were already in.Lighthouses,marinas ship wrecks,bouys.More detailed mapping is also available,easily.We use ours on Lake Michigan and inland lakes,taking it in the truck with streets listed as well.It works at 10 degrees ,has a nightime backlit screen ,doesn't eat batteries,plugs into the boat or cars easily.Bought it new on Ebay for 170 or so.
GPS choice
After researching choices I got a eagle/lorance monochrome fixed mount unit. It has a much larger so more readable screen than a handheld. It has tons of features and controls. It is compatible with Navionics charts. I believe it will zoom in to closer detail than some others will. Another good point is that it has a built in base map with nav aids buoys lights and things. No need to add 200$ to the price of the unit to get an ocean usable map. It has a SD card slot for all the detailed Navionics charts you might want. I figure one should be familiar with and using paper charts anyway. GPS is a great aid to navigation. For the price it seems to do allot.
After researching choices I got a eagle/lorance monochrome fixed mount unit. It has a much larger so more readable screen than a handheld. It has tons of features and controls. It is compatible with Navionics charts. I believe it will zoom in to closer detail than some others will. Another good point is that it has a built in base map with nav aids buoys lights and things. No need to add 200$ to the price of the unit to get an ocean usable map. It has a SD card slot for all the detailed Navionics charts you might want. I figure one should be familiar with and using paper charts anyway. GPS is a great aid to navigation. For the price it seems to do allot.
Magellan meridian
I have a magellan meridian and find it works great. easy to use menus, SD card slot, very easy to customise screens, etc. I have used a lowrance ifinder and didn't like it as much. I think that all the current makes of handhelds are very similar in performance, it's about your personal preferance. I got my meridian new on ebay for 135.00.
I have a magellan meridian and find it works great. easy to use menus, SD card slot, very easy to customise screens, etc. I have used a lowrance ifinder and didn't like it as much. I think that all the current makes of handhelds are very similar in performance, it's about your personal preferance. I got my meridian new on ebay for 135.00.
I've got Two
My primary is a Garmin 182 Blue Chart Chartplotter. Fantastic unit. Made an 800 mile trip the first summer I had it. It was an early one (2002), but would opt for the 182C (Color) now. It has a very crisp display, refreshes fast and easy to use. My backup handheld is a Magellan Colortrak. About 6 years old and should be updated. But, it too, is a very reliable unit.
My primary is a Garmin 182 Blue Chart Chartplotter. Fantastic unit. Made an 800 mile trip the first summer I had it. It was an early one (2002), but would opt for the 182C (Color) now. It has a very crisp display, refreshes fast and easy to use. My backup handheld is a Magellan Colortrak. About 6 years old and should be updated. But, it too, is a very reliable unit.
GPS
If you are looking at hand held units, check out the Garmin 76C and 76 CS. They are a little larger than the etrex, but have a lot more memory and can carry quite a few maps. They float, too. The bluechart maps are an extra cost with Garmin if you want them, but are fairly good and work with both the Etrex and 76 series of hand held units. The color units are easier to see in the sun than the B/W units. The can be used with Garmin road maps, topographic maps, and other Germin maps as well. I am not familiar with Magellan units. This site will give you some information to compare units: http://www.gpsinformation.net/
If you are looking at hand held units, check out the Garmin 76C and 76 CS. They are a little larger than the etrex, but have a lot more memory and can carry quite a few maps. They float, too. The bluechart maps are an extra cost with Garmin if you want them, but are fairly good and work with both the Etrex and 76 series of hand held units. The color units are easier to see in the sun than the B/W units. The can be used with Garmin road maps, topographic maps, and other Germin maps as well. I am not familiar with Magellan units. This site will give you some information to compare units: http://www.gpsinformation.net/
Garmin 276C
I previously used a Garmin Legend which was bought for other uses, but decided the screen was just too small while using it sailing, so I took the plunge and bought a Garmin 276C. Haven't had the chance to use it too much with all this snow but I'm headed to the Grenadines on St. Pats Day so I'll try it out in style down there. It's got a larger screen while still retaining it's portability. I bought the pre-programmed chip for the Chesapeake, the charts look pretty good on it...
I previously used a Garmin Legend which was bought for other uses, but decided the screen was just too small while using it sailing, so I took the plunge and bought a Garmin 276C. Haven't had the chance to use it too much with all this snow
but I'm headed to the Grenadines on St. Pats Day so I'll try it out in style down there. It's got a larger screen while still retaining it's portability. I bought the pre-programmed chip for the Chesapeake, the charts look pretty good on it...Check memory limits
I have a Garmin GPS MAP 76. It is very easy to use and has a clear display. The only drawback to consider is this unit has a fixed 8 meg memory. This memory limits the number of maps you can download from the software onto the unit. You might want to consider a unit with a memory card or expansion capabilities if you want to use it for large areas.
I have a Garmin GPS MAP 76. It is very easy to use and has a clear display. The only drawback to consider is this unit has a fixed 8 meg memory. This memory limits the number of maps you can download from the software onto the unit. You might want to consider a unit with a memory card or expansion capabilities if you want to use it for large areas.
The family got our boat a 176C sounder...
for my birthday last year. I picked up a 32 meg data card off of e-bay, which holds two regions worth of charts. I'm using one region consisting of 150 charts that uses up about 13 meg of the data card. One slick machine. Clear, color, easy to use and compact. Everything you need at your finger tips. I have a Garmin 38 hand held as a back up that I used for years before I got the 178C. Old reliable! Terry
for my birthday last year. I picked up a 32 meg data card off of e-bay, which holds two regions worth of charts. I'm using one region consisting of 150 charts that uses up about 13 meg of the data card. One slick machine. Clear, color, easy to use and compact. Everything you need at your finger tips. I have a Garmin 38 hand held as a back up that I used for years before I got the 178C. Old reliable! Terry
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