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GPS and charts recommendations

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/05/2011 : 12:10:14

Our, ancient, 7 year-old hand-held GPS is failing and would like to replace it with a new Garmin GPS.

As floating "snowbirds", we intend to continue using truck and C250WB boat across our wonderful continent including coastal waters and lakes

On land we use a Garmin Nuvi 255W with regular map updates.

Using the following criteria which unit & charts would you recommend

GPS criteria
1) prefer the price to be around 3 to 500 US/Cdn or spend a little more?
2) to date am familiar with only hand-held battery powered units
3) would like to connect the GPS to my Mac laptop (trip planning and using it in the cabin etc.)
4) should we be looking at more features?

GPS charts
1) west coast Canada and USA
2) great lakes Canada and USA
3) optional east coast

Are any significant GPS changes/breakthroughs expected?

Thank you in advance

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 13:14:49

Not sure about the newer Garmin GPS, but our 2005 Garmin 192C has charts for the entire USA coastal waters and the Bahamas (at least out to Bimini)

Another advantage of the fixed GPS unit is the option to easily connect to the DSC on the VHF.

Paul

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 13:53:33

MacENC is a great charting package, and it includes all US NOAA charts for coastal and navigable waters. The Army Corps of Engineers has charts for many of their inland projects. I think there is a charge for Canadian Hydrographic charts. It can use a number of commercial charts too, but not Garmin's proprietary format. You can download waypoints, routes, and tracks from your handheld to MacENC and upload waypoints and routes to your handheld. There is also an Iphone/Ipod Touch version for an additional charge that is full functioned and will also let the Iphone/Touch act as a repeater for what is displayed on your Mac, but their screens are not as readable in bright sunlight. Bluetooth is a nice feature to let the handheld connect wirelessly to your Mac. I use a bluetooth gps puck for the laptop, but I sometimes connect my ancient Etrex handheld with a serial to USB adapter. Current models will probably have a USB port. If you have a GPS equipped Ipod Touch or Iphone, that will also provide gps input and you could buy a more modest handheld for emergency backup and hiking and add a 12v outlet in the cockpit to keep the I device charged. Garmin's charts for the U.S. west coast and Great Lakes will cost more than MacEnc. Be sure that the GPS unit you get will put out GPS data in NMEA strings, most will.

If I were replacing equipment now, I would seriously consider a first generation Ipad from Apple's Refurbished/Clearance store for $350 - $530, but that wouldn't fit everybody.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 05/05/2011 14:09:01

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2011 : 18:33:33

Thank you for your help... decided to buy the $99.00 US Bad Elf GPS which arrived today. Hopefully it'll work with the charts, my Ipod touch and Mac laptop...

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2011 : 19:04:40

Sorry Henk - I wan't aware of this thread - we just got a Standard Horizon 180i (i180??)

It has both a boat and a land mode. Chart chips are around $120. It is a new toy so i can't comment beyond saying that transferring our waypoints went without a hitch and so far I'm happy with it.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2011 : 20:29:42

Too late, but... So far I like my Garmin 640 (replacing my 276C) with:
- 5.2" touch-screen
- Built-in North American street-level mapping and Nuvi function
- Built-in Blue Charts for US coastal waters with separate boat mode
- Battery
- Car power cable with speaker for directions
- Boat power/data cable for interfacing to VHF, etc...
- Portable dashboard mount and fixed boat mount
- Waterproof

Big for a "hand-held", but the battery offers flexibility (such as taking it with you on the life-raft). I caught it for $800 at WM (of all places) in December--haven't seen that price anywhere since. That'll change in a few months when it's obsolete.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/16/2011 20:31:50

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