Info. on GPS units...
 

I would like to purchase a GPS unit. Any advice you can provide would be helpful. I would use mine on large inland lakes and large rivers, as well as traveling along interstates and St. Routes. I am gathering info. but I would like to purchase one for $300 range.

1. What unit do you use-make & model?
2. How much did it cost-where did you purchase it? Best place to purchase one?
3. Pros/Cons of your unit?
4. Other advice...?
5. Do you have one or know of anyone who has one for sell used?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

So... no one has any info. for me:confused: :confused:

I found it tough to spend $300 and get everything I was looking for. Spent $450 for a Garmin 176 through gpsdiscount.com. Then I spent a little more for the Mapsource/MetroGuide software. The 176 is great for taking either on the water or on the road. It gives good detail and the screen is large enough that you can view your route without a lot of clutter.

I would prefer the Garmin 182 for a fixed mount unit in the boat as the screen is much larger and allows you to navigate while underway. The 176 screen is a tad small. If I'm navigating alone it's tough to view at speed.

Gpsdiscount offered fantastic service at the best prices.

:cool:

I also have a Garmin 176.
Pros: Small enough to be portable and big enough to be (almost) readable. I use a four-panel screen that shows course and speed and two other things (you can choose what's shown) most of the time because the numbers are nice and big. It runs on batteries or a cigarette lighter plug, so there's no need for hard wiring.
Cons: I agree with Frequency that it's a little hard to use for navigation at speed. The basemap that comes with it is pretty poor and has no marine info. You gotta spring for the BlueChart chips, which aren't cheap.
Cost: $499+tax at Boat/US plus whatever the BlueChart is when I get it. I'd check Consumers Marine Electronics in NJ too. I've gotten good prices from them.

Thanks for the replies Jana and Frequency. Anyone else have advice?:confused:

I have a garmin gps map 76 handheld. I like the map feature (though it is quite small). I paid just over 300 for it at the NY boatshow last Jan. and like the portability

The Garmin GPS MAP76 seems to be the way to go in a handheld. You can get similar features in the Magellan Meridian Marine for a little less money but it doesn't have a max speed function for those hands free top end runs. Look HERE for what appears to be a good deal on a factory warranteed reconditioned unit from Garmin.

I have the Garmin Etrex Vista and I love it. you can use it for anything. I bought mine from LakeRacer he saved me a lot of money on it. Whatever unit you decide to buy you should check with him to see if he can get you a better deal.

I did a ****load of research on this topic. Settled on the Garmin GPSmap76s. It has some excellent features that until you have used others you cannot appreciate. Off course alarm, configurable screens, anchor drag, and proximity alarms. The proximity is very usefull. Set a waypoint and create an alarm to go off within x distance. Handy for turns or submerged objects.

Tim T.

Garmin
 

I have a old Garmin GPS II. It has more features and menu pages than I am smart enuf to use:D . I got it in 1999 so it has seen 4 years of boating and off roading and still works just fine. It has a top speed function that is always on. It also has a map that draws a little line as you go so all you have to do is fallow the bread crum trail to get home.:D It also has a light for night use. I think the new model is a IV. Charlie

I use a Garmin e-map. Great unit but buy the 76s. 76s is waterproof. My e-map quit and I had to send it to Garmin for service. The service was Supurb! You can't go wrong with a Garmin unit.

I just bought a Garmin e-trex Legend. You can get them for 200-250 bucks and they are blue chart compatable. It comes with the patch cord and you buy the blue chart cd for around 150 bucks. It's a nice little unit that is portable.

Thanks for the replies.

If I choose the Garmin76s, can I still use if for driving purposes along interstates and so??? Or is it a marine application only?:D

Yes you can, it functions very nicely for this as well. You can reverse the colors of land and water for better perception. It will accept the MapSource CD's as any other mapping unit would. One note, the 76 is optimized for a somewhat angled up display as if it were mounted on a dash or instrument panel, the E-Trex series is designed to be held more level. This will effect the receptions to a small degree. The 76s has elevation and glide ratio charts and logging for what that is worth. Kind of cool to see the elevation changes as your truck runs out of steam on that hill.

PDA???
 

One option I am looking into is buying the GPS for
my IPAQ PDA. You might consider something along
those lines if you have a PDA. I am just begining my
research on this option though so I don't have much
info on that yet.

http://www.pdamart.com/gpssystems.html

You can also find them for use if you have a laptop.


Jack

I picked up the Garmin GPSmap 76 around christmas last year and have used it on trips over land and water. The basemap is pretty detailed and has buoys and major roads. As has been said, you can buy additional CD's with more detailed info, like all streets, better water detail like depth contours, marina info, etc. The proximity alarm is great since we have a sand island that is about 6 inches under water now and a mile off the shore. It's very handy and is waterproof and floats. It has a marine mount and a plug-in hardwire power cord, so I run off the boat battery and can still take it off when we aren't on the boat. I got mine from boatfix.com - current price is $314.

Again, thanks for all the info. everyone is sharing. It helps using all of you to make a decision. I believe I may purchase the Garmin 76s. I have a friend who will get the same one as me, so that, we can split the cost of any software/map upgrades:D

Does anyone want to sell their 76s:confused:

Mike

Thanks Thrillseeker.

I'm pretty sure I can beat anyones price on the Garmin 176. I can also get the 76. If you want the 76, do you want the 1mb internal memory or 8mb internal memory unit?

Lake Racer,
I sent you an email.