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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/18/2006 : 23:22:59

I am looking into buying a GPS unit for our boat. I not sure what to get and or what I need. I have seen pictures of some of the boat owners here that have them mounted in the companion way on a swing out arm. I am not sure it I like that. I would feel better if the GPS unit was closer to me at the helm. I have a tiller stearing and was thinking about using a handheld Garmin Marine GPS unit and mounting it on the tiller handle. Has anyone tried this? Will the handhelds chart ploter be easy to see or would I be better suited with a unit that was mounted up front with a larger screen. Any ideas or sugestions would be great.

Don and Kim
<i>Red Red Whine</i>

Don and Kim Young
Las Vegas Nv
http://web.me.com/bolter303/Our_World/Welcome.html

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2006 : 00:22:49

A lot depends on where you are and where you are going.

I have been using a handheld for the past 3 years and am biting the bullet on a full sized unit. I also changed my venue and have rocks currents and big tides now. In other words, a real easy place to sink a boat.

If you sail in benign water and do not travel a standard small gps will give you great service.

The next step up is one that has marine charts. They are usually $100 for a given area and show your position on the map with the depth contours. Garmin is the most popular but offers the least bang for the buck. Lowrance is a great buy in this field and offer a $80 chip that has the whole coastal US on it. They also offer a nice handheld that is compatible with the chip. That is what I am currently using.

This is only $169 +$80 for the Nauticpath chip.

The next step up is the H2O C. This would be my choice if I only wanted a handheld

I am also getting into salt water fishing and want a fishfinder. I am ordering a Eagle Fishelite 502. It is $450 (eagle is a cheaper Lowrance)

This is a combo unit that has a built in sounder and GPs.

Lowrance also has down-loadable simulators that work exactly like the products so you can play with them before you buy.

IMHO, Lowrance offers a distinct price advantage. Especially if you travel and might need "new" map from Garmin.

Hope this helps.

Tom.

Edited by - atgep on 06/19/2006 07:31:05

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2006 : 10:14:06

I agree with the point that choosing a gps depends on variables.

My offering is a point that will not normally be considered. If the boat is to be cruised a captain has the responsibility to make the cruise as interesting as possible for crew.

Crew can get bored during cruising so finding things that the crew can get into are worthful. I've found navigation a winner for this challenge. To pull it off, the gps should be mounted where the crew can see and operate it, not so much for any issue other than crew involvement. All the crew I've had love to get involved in the navigation and pick it up very quickly.

Another tool to make this work is having waypoints and routes marked on the chart. The chart should be small and I prefer making 8.5x11 printout charts from a program and making a cockpit chart book. The crew will not enjoy wrestling with folding and unfolding a large chart and dealing with it in a wind, nor do I. This allows the crew to very easily monitor the passage and apply the waypoints, etc. The crew also gains a better understanding of foul areas where caution is needed.

I've cruised with four different crew and each has gotten involved fairly strongly with the navigation and I believe doing so made their experience much more interesting.

Last, part of being a captain is the total responsibilty a Captain accepts. As much as possible, the captain should not become so focused on some particular task as to be distracted from an overall constant watch on everything. Sharing the navigation with the crew is a help. Keep in mind, the detailed part of the navigation was done long before setting foot into the boat, the crew are just implementing that planning and in the process are involved and allowing the captain wider focus.

Edited by - on

RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2006 : 10:25:08

Hello all,

I did forget to mention that I will mostly use it on Lake Mead in Nevada but will also be going to Southern California from time to time. That is why if I am going to invest in this than I want chart plotting ability for the west coast. Thanks

Don

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2006 : 19:41:21

Don, I have 3 gps;
Garmin 12 hand held. A very basic unit, I've had it going on 8 years now. Very tough and dependable and that's about it. It don't have any cool functions like anchor alarm, base maps or any of the fun stuff. Monochrome screen, hard to see in the sunlight. I have it hooked to my VHF for DSC capabilities. ($119)

I bought a Lowrance 68C about a year ago, which is a Depth Finder/Chart plotter combo. It has a color screen which makes it easy to see in the sunlight, <b>a real plus!</b> It has a very good base map, anchor alarm, depth alarm, and lets you view data from both the depth, and chart plotter functions on one screen, plus other data like battery voltage, and time. ($367)

I won a Garmin 276C as a door prize at west marine. Its a very powerful unit, its does everything but cook dinner! But like TomG said, the software is were they get you. The base map that came on the unit is weak, you'll have to buy maps to install at $100 or more a pop. Although once you get the maps its great. Pricey($699 without software) If your going do coastal cruising this is your unit.

Of the three, I like the Lowrance 68C the best. It easy to use, comes with fairly good map already loaded. If your going to need a depth finder too, you may want to look at the combo units like this one or the one TomG getting. If you decide to get a hand held, my recommendations are to get a color screen and one with an anchor alarm.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 06/19/2006 19:43:17

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/19/2006 : 22:46:03

Garmin 192C - love it! And it has maps of the entire coast including bimini.

paul

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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2006 : 14:10:09

Thanks for the information. How are you guys mounting your GPS units. I have seen some swing out. I have a tiller and want to mount if close to me if possible for a quick referance. Thanks

Don

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2006 : 18:43:14

I have mine setup to swing out. The screen is easy enough to read from the tiller. Also when its folded back and the hatches are shut, you still have access to the unit from inside the cabin. Works good for setting and hearing that anchor alarm when anchored out.

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2006 : 22:34:17

Tom, how do you have your dinghy engine mounted on the aft rail? Closer pic?
Anyone: how do you rate the Garmin GPSmap 76 handheld; a Father's Day present to replace my unreliable Magellan 315/320.

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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 12:07:49

Tom,

I thank you for the picture. That is a nice setup. I noticed that there is a compas under the gps unit. Does the electronics of the gps affect the compas? Thanks

Edited by - on

RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 12:09:37

Found these links from the general forum.

http://gpsinformation.net/

http://www.ram-mount.com/ramcat.htm

There are a lot of different mounts here.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 13:59:41

Hey Don, I was concerned about that too when I installed it. I checked it several times against my hand held compass and there is no deviation. If you noticed I installed a snap on the bracket and the other part of the snap on the bulkhead. I adjusted the compass so its true when the bracket is snapped in place.

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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 15:35:44

Tom what unit do you have? Do you have a transducer attached and an external ant. What about power to the unit.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 17:02:41

Don
I have a Lowrance [url="http://www.lowrance.com/Marine/Products/M68CSMap.asp"]68C depth finder chart plotter[/url] combo. It has a built in antenna so nothing to do there, gets a good signal even with the hatch closed. I mounted the transducer in a wax ball under the fresh water tank in the V-berth and ran the transducer wire back through the bilge area to the head bulkhead up to the unit. I ran power to the GPS from a spare switch on the stock Catalina switch panel under the galley through the bilge area to the head bulkhead up to the unit.

I made the swing arm out of some teak scraps. The whole project was not very hard, I give it a 4 in a scale of 10 in difficulty. The hardest part being running the power to the unit from the switch.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2006 : 17:36:34

Frank,
Here's the only other picture of the motor mount I have handy. Just a teak board about 1.5 thick. I have 2 SS u bolts holding it on the rail. 1 u bolt on the horizontal part of the rail and the other u bolt on the vertical part of the rail. If you look close you can see the SS nuts on the front part of the board. I counter sunk the holes for the nuts so they would fit flush on the front face of the board and not stick out. It sticks over toward the starboard far enough so that my 2hp fits on the board.

(The picture was taken while we were watching the blue angels on the BEER Cruise.)

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2006 : 01:03:21

Thanks, but doesn't the shaft of the outboard interfere with the rudder when you push the tiller to port? BTW, why no lazy jacks for your main? Let me know if you're interested in an el cheapo but very effective jack system I designed and installed for mine.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2006 : 06:53:56

Don,Kim, those RAM mounts are great. Besides allowing moving the GPS to face in virturally any direction, another great feature is the ease with which you can remove the GPS from the mount and stow it. We never leave the GPS in the cockpit at a slip... way to attractive piece of electronics!

Paul.

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