I'm curious. I am looking at getting something portable for the new boat since I don't want to perminantely mount, drill, or cut anything into the new boat. I saw Garmin has a few like the 78sc and others. Are they even worth considering? Just looking for opinions. I want to actually get out farther this year since I'm stepping into something bigger and would be nice to be able to set some waypoints to places where I don't go often.

I had a hand held mounted to dash with the suction cup mount on my old Nordic, It worked fine. It is just what you think it is, a smaller version of the bigger units. Yes you had to look at little closer at times but it did the job no problem. I had no regrets using it because I didn't have unrealistic expectations for it. It'll get you where you want to go with plenty of information, I wouldn't hesitate again if the circumstances called for it.

Thats all I'm looking for.. I am headed to West Marine today just to get some eyes on a few. I just want to expand my runs and with more fuel and bigger boat I want to cover myself in not so familiar places.. The boat I bought is too clean to drill into lol...

My guess is that the resolution and display has improved a lot since I had one...go for it.

Save yourself a little money. I downloaded an app on my phone by Navionics. Its a pretty nice ap and you can zoom in/out etc.. I think it cost about $10.00. Used it in my trip to Florida this past winter and it was fairly accurate.

I use a Garmin 76 for marine. It floats, was cheap and is OK, not great.

Wannabe

Roll.....App name? Never mind, found it.

I just picked up the Garmin 78sc after work. I will see how it works out running up and down the bay lol... West Marine had them on sale so I figured I'd give it a try. I just can't bring myself to permanently mount something on the new setup

I put Navionics on my Tab 3 tablet and got a suction mount for the boat.

This worked really well for me until I was in the middle of Biscayne Bay with no service.........