GPS for Boating

Tony Clark

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Sep 23, 2003, 6:31:48 PM9/23/03

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Greetings,

I have been researching GPS devices and have seen several that are
advertised specifically for marine navigation. What does this mean? Does it
mean that the base maps include marine info or are there some other features
that are specific to marine navigation that these units offer? Is there any
reason I couldn't load marine maps into a GPS device for boating navigation?

thanks
TC

Holger Issle

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Sep 24, 2003, 4:29:45 AM9/24/03

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On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 22:31:48 GMT, "Tony Clark" wrote:

> advertised specifically for marine navigation. What does this mean? Does it
> mean that the base maps include marine info or are there some other features
> that are specific to marine navigation that these units offer?

They come with preloaded marine info, can usually load bluechart
marine maps, are waterproof and swim, and have special marine fields
like speed in knots. The 76 can also enter a waypoint like a mariner
does with direction and distance.
--

Ciao,
Holger (GUS-KOTAL, GUS#1100)

90-92 Honda CB400 10 Mm | 93-95 Yamaha TDM 850 26 Mm
95-97 KTM 620 LC4 13 Mm | seit 97 BMW R1100GS 50 Mm (Die Renndrecksau!)

cu @ http://www.issle.de

Wayne R.

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Sep 24, 2003, 6:20:45 AM9/24/03

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In addition to Holger's comments, some allow combined display of
sonar/fishfinder data, some radar units will integrate chartplotter
data into the same display. The NMEA standard will allow all sorts of
data (not solely GPS) to share the same bus, and anything that wants
to use/integrate data from that bus can do so.

Specifically, in the Garmin world only BlueChart-capable units can use
the marine chart products (BlueChart). Those units are clearly ID'ed
at the Garmin website....

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 22:31:48 GMT, "Tony Clark"

Tony Clark

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Sep 24, 2003, 11:10:13 AM9/24/03

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Thanks guys,

The responses help put things into perspective. Since I am not to familiar
with the various mapping products I have one follow up question. With
respect to Garmin or Magellan do they have mapping products that offer
Marine data (other than the BlueChart product from Garmin)? If this is the
case couldn't any GPS device be used for rudimentary marine navigation then?
(OK that's 2 questions...LOL)

TC

"Wayne R." <wruf...@KomKast.net> wrote in message
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Holger Issle

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Sep 24, 2003, 12:42:11 PM9/24/03

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Hi Tony,

> respect to Garmin or Magellan do they have mapping products that offer
> Marine data (other than the BlueChart product from Garmin)?

I only know of Garmin's bluechart to be loaded into the GPS. There are
maye more to be used on a PC connested to the GPS - maps to use with
Fugawi and TTQV (TTQV can load all the BSB-type maps labeled for
Fugawi)

> If this is the
> case couldn't any GPS device be used for rudimentary marine navigation then?

ANY GPS can be used for rudimentary navigation anywhere. But then why
invest a lot of money in a GPS that does more than rudimentary
navigation? Seriously, what you can do is to track your path on a
paper map, and set waypoints derived from paper map in the GPS to turn
in front of rocks etc. Then, you can use a PC with TTQV (from
www.ttqv.de, they just released v3) and do all that on your PC rather
than on the paper map.

Tony Clark

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Sep 24, 2003, 2:22:15 PM9/24/03

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Thanks again. I got the Bluechart figured out. I didn't notice until today
that you can get CDs with all the map data. I thought you could only get
pre-loaded memory modules with Bluechart data on them which some devices
won't accept (no memory module slot).

Cheers
TC

"Holger Issle" <Hol...@issle.de> wrote in message
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