Suggest a GPS
 

Heading to Florida soon for a trip to the Bahamas. Want to install a GPS/Nav system in my 35' Fountain. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks.

Re: Suggest a GPS
 

Get as good as you can afford from Garmin.

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I run a Furuno 18xx. It's easy to use, plus it ties in to the radar and fuel floscan.

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Garmin 182c or bigger-the best.

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What ever you get buy the Mapsource BlueChart Americas v6.5 CD-ROM.Runs about $150.00. :cool:

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I had a Standard Horizon -- now have a Simrad Chartplotter/Depth Sounder combo. Both are color which is absolute necessity.

It uses C_Map cartography which is best of all of them per most reviews. If you have an electronic compass (KVH) it can be interfaced to the GPS and you get double accuracy of both instruments.

You should also get a computer navigation program--like First Mate from www.thecapn.com -- you can plan the trip in advance and upload the routes to you GPS prior to departure. Also get benifit of "taking" trip at your desk before you have to try and spot markers and shoot difficult channels while trying to operate boat and all the electronics.

Check with the marina you are departing from in advance--maybe you can find other boats to "raft" up with for first rip. It sure takes the suspense and mystery out of trip if you can go with an old hand.

Poorsche

www.BOATMAT.com

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My dad has c-map on his lorance and I don't think that much more about it.Blue chart has computer nav. program.Color is nice but absolute :rolleyes:

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Got my vote!

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I have been contemplating a trip from Florida to Bahamas with my family during spring break. Never done it before and some people are trying to talk me out of it. I usually boat the Great Lakes, so it''ll be a haul to get the boat down there if I do it, but I figure it's worth it. Got any pointers? I also thought it would be a good idea to plan it with others in case there are any mechanical problems. By the way, I bought a Garmin 172C. Fits nicely in the dash and easy to use/read/chart.
Kevin

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Garmin does have some nice units, but they are behind the times at the moment.
I prefer the heavier and more cluky and more expesive Furuno that doesn't break.

You start running far Off Shore and then you need to start not only thinking about how many gallons per hour you are burning but also how many actual miles per gallon you are getting.

Running beside a coastline or a lake is one thing, running off shore is another.

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Freebird,let us know how your trip goes,if i ever quit wasting money on my 27 ft baja and buy a bigger boat i want to make same trip,Smitty!

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Th trip from FL to Bahama's is more than just a ride--it's 60 miles from Palm Beach to West End and there a lot of considerations--especially weather--and the first rip takes a lot of planning--at least in my mind.

Fuel is issue--availabilty and cost; food and "beverages" can be interesting; customs (US Dept of) is another thing you need to understand and some rules you have to deal with.

Definitiley do the trip--but over-plan and it will be great.

Poorsche

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Thanks for your response. I will be going with two friends (two other boats) that have made the trip a few times. Planning to make it around early June, weather permitting, and looking forward to it.

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Must go color. The 186c has the depth finder and temp also.
Great units

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I've had monochrome and color GPS--I wouldn't even think about anything but color. THe data they ahve on the cartography chips now demands color display if you want to get all the benefits of them

Poorsche

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Well I guess I am behind the times.In the early eighteys we learned to navagate on the charts,set and drift,no gps.Three hundred foot barg and 100 ton tug.Been offshore.I do not trust GPS or anything else I just take it in to consideration and fly by the seat of my paints thats all.If I were to plan another trip to and island I would still have a back up chart plotted and a working compass .Guess it's all what you are use to. :D

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Garmin 2010 C, great GPS and colour chartplotter + possible to add echo sounder. Must be fast when updating the plotter and this one is.

I love it!

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I have the garmin 2006C and love it. It is easy to use on the fly and easy to see in the sun light. You can also get the BlueChart chips pretty easy. Great unit and the chips are programable......

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I love the Garmins. They are easy to use. My dad has the 2010c and I am looking to replace my 176c with the 182c.

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have you seen the new 16:9 ratio widescreens? That's where I'm going.
I think the Bluecharts are too busy, and when you use the "declutter" you loose to much of value. C-Map NT+ only way to go IMHO.

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Agree C-Map is good and the first Bluecharts in my area was terrible!!! The newer versions are much better and one other feature that I like with the Garmin is the easy way to upgrade plotter software(not the bluechart). Just download from the web to a card and then plug it in, new versions of the software made a huge difference to map/chart presntation as well. Take a good look before you pay and remember you need a fast plotter in a fast boat.....

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I just recieved my Garmin 182c in the mail today. Bought it at the NY Boat show for $678.00 at the West Marine Booth. Reg price is $999.

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I'd suggest you also get a regulater 12V power supply so you can experiment with setup and all the other setting at home before you go to boat. They all have more options than imaginable and each option you select at setup affects something else. Another good use of the power supply is learning how to use the most important functions and find out which displays mean the most yo you.

Processor speed/update speed are critical. Find out that data and see it prior to purchase. On my first one I had sometimes passed a marker before the disply refreshed--especially in Heads Up mode. I'm told North Up is fastest refresh on all of them---

Finally--C-Map is top notch. They have a great exchange, update and rental program-- http://www.c-map.com/index2.html

Poorsche

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CUSTOMS:

1. You will need to get your customs stiker from custome. $25.00

2. As mentioned before food etc going to the Bahamas is a NO NO!

3. Check with your insurance carrier.

4. Coming back is a "B". You have to schedule your return with customs.

5. The Bahamas also has instituted a entry fee for boats per year whcih I beleive is as high as $400.00.

I have never boated over but I fly my plane over there once a year on an average. Several times both the Bahamian customs and US customs have been nightmares. They took all the floor and hatch panels off the plane including the upper and lower cowlings. Guess who had to put them all back on on a 100 degree day at Ft Lauderdale exec airport. I was drenched and pixxed. They took my bags and gals bags and DUMPED them on the floor and KICKED eveything around with heir feet. I mean Kicked!!!

Again, many times have been easy and pleasant.

DO NOT use your cell phone in their presance or office.

The best customs is Key West. Flying back from the Caymans after flying over Cuba I always clear customs in KW. Great bunch of professionals.

When I bought my Ferrari they gave me a new Ferrari watch. I drove the car to the airport, they let me place it in a hanger. I had the watch in it's case packed in my carry on style bag. The box this watch came in was huge with 2-3 large manuals. When I came back these guys were enthralled with the BOX and manuals. They must have tapped and inspected that box for 10 minutes. One guy when he first opened it up yelled " Hey guys, come look at the instruction books for this watch". Kept three guys entertained for a while on our tax dollars. I explained to them the origin of the watch they smiled commented on the box and manuals and let me go. A $4,000 watch! Never looked at it.