My Cath Lab Director (aka part time offshore fishing guide) told me this morning that a 26' Cat was coming in late either Sat or Sun night from offshore using only GPS and ran up on the jetties into the Ship Channel. Anyone else hear about this or have pics?

Wow thats the second accident this summer at night citing GPS.

Too cheap to buy the blue charts probably, the base maps will show the outline of the island/channel, but nothing in it. I know a couple of people that rely on back tracking by GPS to get home, they have no idea what they are close too.

They also don't realize that the GPS will shortcut the corners unless they make a way-point. It happens all the time on the river, they always blame the GPS

GPS should be used for referance only not a main navigation info, at best you can get about 20 feet of accuracy which is an actual 40 foot window of error. it is absulutly insane to rely on that for your night navigation, besides if you are looking at the screen it kills the ability for your eyes to adjust to the darkness and your ability to safely travel.

GPS is generally a lot mroe accurate than 20 feet nowadays. I've used an automotive GPS (with bluechart added) without a tracking feature many times at night. It is, of course, a reference only, and not something I would ever trust in unfamiliar waters, but most of the areas I go, I know them like the back of my hand. It really helps to let you know when a bouy is coming up, but you still need at least 2 people looking out to spot the bouys. Problem is, the GPS doesn't let you know if there's someone ahead in an unlit boat with a lit captain.