Marine GPS

[Dionysus Feldman]

If you were going to get a new GPS system this winter, which one would
it be? Is it worth getting a marine version? Is color worth the
drastic extra cost?

[Paul]

I bought my first GPS this summer, right after buying my first boat and I
was in the same quandry you are. The short answer is I put a lot of thought
into it and settled on a Garmin GPS 72. The long answer follows:

It's a high quality unit but low cost because it's stripped of all but the
essential technology.

Here's how I arrived at that conclusion.

It's a solid 12 channel GPS, WAAS and DGPS capable if you want to go there.
It doesn't have a lot of extra fancy bits but what it does have is high
quality and won't be eclipsed by technological advances for a while. If the
WAAS signal is encoded "do not use" then this unit will not use it (my
understanding is that all Garmins are like that). If you don't understand
that then you should read up on WAAS, it's a developing technology and a bad
signal or a test signal can decrease your accuracy.

I wasn't in the mood to spend hundreds for something that "sorta worked" or
was "pretty good", I wanted to be able to tell exactly where I was exactly
when I wanted to know it. Clear readout, customizable information, big
enough to see at a glance, no screwing around. And I didn't want to have to
upgrade it in the next couple of years. I don't *need* WAAS accuracy but
when it comes online I'll gladly accept an extremely accurate fix on my
position.

I looked at the fancier ones but they either sacrificed quality to add less
useful (to me) features or were terrifically expensive if they maintained
the quality. They're also very small and for me too confusing to read
easily. If you don't spend the big bucks you get those tiny little greyscale
maps that I can't make heads or tails of.

I'm going to have a laptop with digital charts on board anyway. I'll also
use the laptop to work and watch DVDs (laptops can be DC friendly), and this
GPS unit can feed its data into my computer and voila, big ass colour chart
plotter for the price of a cable. For those more rare times I actually need
a real-time chart plotted course.

Also I bought a full set of paper charts, which you should have too, so
until next year and the laptop I can just navigate the semi-old fashioned
way.

So it all depends on your needs and your budget. If you have money then get
the GPS Map 176C, it's way cool. My friend has one and I navigated us
through some shallows outside the channel, it was quite the nifty little
deal.

In my case all I really needed was a solid GPS receiver to feed my computer
and so I spent my money on the best one I could get and minimized my
expenditures on the extras.

Here is a link to the Canadian site where I bought mine. If anyone is
interested their service was fantastic. I wish they sold more stuff I needed
because I was very impressed with them. I had questions that weren't covered
in their ad copy so I e-mailed and they e-mailed me right back with the
answers. Very impressed.

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/72.htm

[Joe Parsons]

I have a Garmin GPSMap76. I chose that model for several reasons:

* It's "mappable," meaning that I can download charts to the handheld.
* It's waterproof.
* It floats (not that I'd ever...)

I've been using it for about a year now and have been reasonably happy with it.
The negatives are the screen size (very small) and a very slow redraw time when
you scroll to a new area on the chart. For navigating the Northern California
Delta, I typically use the GPS along with a paper chart to get the bigger
picture.

I've just started using the spiffy new Garmin iQue 3600--a PDA with an integral
WAAS GPS. It also takes the Garmin Blue Charts.

I've found the iQue to be very usable, with a clear color display and instant
redraws. I'm not going to give up the GPSMap76, though, for several reasons.
First, the 76 is waterproof and floats. :) Second, its functionality is still
superior to that of the iQue--working with waypoints, routes and tracks is
easier. And it has very good battery life compared to the iQue--15 hours on two
AA NiMH, compared to about 3 hours with the iQue.

I could do away with many of the disadvantages of the 76 by just running its
signal through a laptop, but I'm just not ready to schlep that much equipment
aboard just yet.

HTH,
Joe Parsons

[Paul]

> I could do away with many of the disadvantages of the 76 by just running
its
> signal through a laptop, but I'm just not ready to schlep that much
equipment
> aboard just yet.

I really considered the 76, it's a good unit. If I remember correctly it
will also accept an external antenna whereas the 72 will not. That might be
a consideration if your at an inside helm station with a lot of "stuff" over
you.

Yeah, a laptop solution will involve a lot of schlepping. It's definitely
not a portable solution and you have to be somewhat of a geek to think it's
a good idea. If I wasn't bringing a laptop anyway then I'm not sure I would
bring it just for a GPS solution.

[John]

Also, FUGAWI Marine ENC software is available, (www.fugawi.com) which
runs on the iQue. This gives you much more waypoint, track and route
functions than are natively available in the iQue. Also, you can load
in the new (and FREE!) NOOA ENC charts to the iQue (albeit in
rasterized form) as well as any other non-Garmin nautical chart such
as Maptech or Softchart. What's best is you also get the software for
PC and Pocket PC - all in one package for les than $200.

(Agree about the battery life of the iQue though...)

- John

[DaveH]

For chart-plotters, I really like the Garmin stuff. I have a 2006C, and
have had the opportunity to use a high end CMAP system. The Garmin lets you
zoom in as far as you want, and marks anything where you go past the
available maps as "overzoom". CMAP systems give you crosshatch in a similar
situation. At times, this feature makes the real-world usability of the
Garmin Bluechart system much greater, IMO.

I also have a Garmin GPS-76. It is a very rugged and accurate unit. It
gets a position lock very quickly, and has survived numerous dunkings in
saltwater with no apparent ill effect. Just make sure you spray a little
rust preventative in the battery compartment after dunking. That is the
only part of this model that is not waterproof.

Dave

"Dionysus Feldman" <Dionysu...@toughguy.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.19cb7d8a4...@news.triton.net...

[Ed]

Garmin 2006C or 2010C with a Garmin Legend as a backup.
Why? Garmin allows you two systems with the Blue maps purchase so you
can manage and backup your waypoints on a laptop and keep your charts
updated as well. I have a 48' boat and going aground cost 5x the price
of the GPS units. BTW... don't trust any charts 100%...I have found
many errors with ALL chart brands especially in the islands.

[Keith]

Something by Garmin, yes, and yes.

--

Keith
__
"Today's greatest labor saving device is tomorrow." - Tom Wilson

"Dionysus Feldman" <Dionysu...@toughguy.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.19cb7d8a4...@news.triton.net...

[Andy]

Anyone have or try the Navman 5100 - 5500 series GPS /Chartplotters? I've
had Garmin for years but this model looks good and is reasonable.
http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/electronics/chartplotters/navman_5100_series_chartplotter.htm?E+scstore
Andy

"Dionysus Feldman" <Dionysu...@toughguy.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.19cb7d8a4...@news.triton.net...

[JerryK]

Are any of you guys using the "Blue Water" charts, or is the resolution and
Points of Interest good enough with out the extra cost?

Jerry

"Paul" <nom...@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:Rso8b.441431$4UE.1...@news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

[Capt. Frank Hopkins]

I am a big fan of Garmon products. both the greyscale and color 830
units are what I use on all my charter boats. The "chips" for the local
area give excellent details and depths. Price about 70 for the greyscale
and 1000 for color. You can see color better during the day.

Capt. Frank Hopkins

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks