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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

GPS Garmin or Magellan

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Mark Maxwell
Captain

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USA
329 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/25/2004 : 02:30:34

I'm looking at a few different handheld GPS units. Both have mapping programs, built in 8-16MB memory (upgradeable), water-proof (will float) etc. The main difference is not in features but in brand. Magellan and Garmin. I'm hoping that someone may have used both brands and found some pros and cons I should know about, ie: user friendly software, durability issues, support. Thanks for any info.

Mark-
'Impulse...�
1978 C25 #533 SR/DIN/FIN ~_/)~
Bakersfield, CA.

Edited by - on

barmstro
1st Mate

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34 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 04:50:05

I use the Magellan SporTrak Pro and love it. I do find the map contrast a little weak. But I like all the other features. Includeing being able to get updates on line.It is suposed to be able to use BlueNav cd's but I am too cheap to buy them. I have had a lot of fun playing back the track data in map quest to re-live a race or cruise. I haven't used my compass since I got the gps. (Of course I didn't have one compass untill I bought this boat) I'm not so sure the mapping feature is necesary because I like to use the charts to really tell me where I am.

Good Luck

0

Edited by - barmstro on 08/25/2004 04:51:31

RoofRoof
Navigator

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USA
186 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 11:41:35

I have only used Garmin GPS's. So, I can't discuss the Magellan.

I have the Garmin 176C color chartplotter. The new 276C is the same model, with maybe something added.

It gives you very easy to use keypad. You could figure out what to do even without the operational manual.

It gives you a color (176, and 276 black and white are also available)(C means color)map of your whereabouts, shows all chanel markers, deapths, obstructions.

Has a built in anchor alarm to alert you that your anchor is coming loose.

Great piece of equipment that has saved me on a few occasions. I'd highly recommend it. I have a nearly identical aviation model I use in my airplane too. Both, also offer land data, for use in your car. That makes it a business expense for me.

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 15:24:40

Mark,

I have the cheeeeepest Magellan made, I think. It was a gift from my brother and I think he paid $90. Its name is the pioneer. It is a few years old and they call this model something else now. A little hand held. No maps, basic. Very easy to load waypoint coords. Single button storage of now-here coords. One hand operation. BW display.

It stores about a hundred waypoints. Gives me North, LatLon, speed. With waypoints it gives me bearing, heading, distance to go. All I need for where I sail. I velcro it next to the companionway.

It takes a long time to find the satellites. Sometimes it will lose'em for five minutes or so. When that happens the speed, LatLon gets a little crazy, but it comes back. Still, gute genucht.

I lust after a small unit that rapidly finds the satellites, does not lose the lock. Map or not is not that important. I would keep my pioneer as a back up. But I really don't need a new one.

My daughter is a GeoCacheing nut. She has a $250 Garmin with mapping, BW display and stuff. Her display is a little bigger, but not much. The maps kind of interfere with the TSD and coords data that I want to see. I do like the time-to-destination feature. It hooks up quick and I have not seen it lose lock.

Electronics fail, and will. IMNSHO, we should all be able to keep a dead reckoning, plot courses time-speed-distance-leeway, use a steering and bearing compass and a chart. I recommend the Coast Guard Auxiliary Coastal Navigation course. Its free, you buy the materials ($90).

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 20:20:29

I've had a very basic Magellan (got it free for test driving a Cadilac 7 years ago - think it was $90 new & I later ebayed it for $50), a basic garmin with routes (now my backup) & I love my Garmin 176c. I've never had a problem with my 176c, but Garmin did have to service my other one due to a battery issue. No problem! I've heard lots of good things about Garmin service.

I highly recommend the 176c (now 276c). My only complaint is that if I disconnect the 12-V power the default is to shut off in 10 seconds unless you hit a button. How stupid! Hopefully, they've changed that default in the 276 model.

Hope this helps.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 21:12:00

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">It takes a long time to find the satellites. Sometimes it will lose'em for five minutes or so. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

That may be one of the older ones -- prior to the 12-channel models. The older ones had to lock on 3-4 satellites in series (one at a time). The 12-channel ones lock on up to 12 satellites simultaneously, thus are much quicker to fix position and less likely to lose position.

My old Lowrance unit was one of the basic, earlier 12-channel models, without mapping, but provides every piece of information I need and has had zero service issues (I originally got it because it came with a free cigarette lighter plug for backup power).

I got in a little hot water with it once, though. My wife was resting on a pillow on a cockpit seat, with the pillow laying on top of the GPS unit. I didn't choose my words well when I asked, "could you please move a little...you're blocking the satellites."

Edited by - RichardG on 08/25/2004 21:17:42

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 22:28:06

I use the Garmin GPSmap 76C and love it. I use it mostly for nighttime sailing and mainly use the Map page and Compass page. On the Compass page I use the large display showing Speed, Time, and Bearing as well as Compass heading. I highly recommend it. Good, readable display even in the daylight.

Edited by - frogger on 08/25/2004 22:29:24

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 08/25/2004 : 23:22:08

You might want to take a look at the Garmin "8" series (168, 178, 188). The model numbers that end with a "8" have a depth sounder/fishfinder function built in (of course you also have to install a sonar transducer). I have the 168 and love it. It is a basic monochrome chartplotter, with not a lot of memory, but having the GPS and Depth function in one instrument is really nice. If you want more memory, or color display, the 178 and 188 give you that, but are more expensive. The 168 is under $500.

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JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2004 : 16:54:22

I went to my corner WM and the electronics guy there seemed very knowledgeable on the subject of GPS. He recommended the Garmin, and advised that I wait for the GPSMAP 76C or 76CS. It is a relatively new color handheld and has an amazing 115 MB internal memory.

I recently purchased it and am just starting to play. You can find them on the internet for under $500.

Edited by - on

rglennchap
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2004 : 19:41:10

I have the Magellan Sport Trac Pro and love it. My sailing buddies have a couple of versions of Garmin. They seem to think mine is great. To tell you the truth, I think they're pretty comparable.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/27/2004 : 21:48:15

Timely topic... I'm planning a cruise in a few weeks, and my old Garmin 48 tells me its memory battery is low. I think Garmin has to replace it--a design sin in my book...

Anyway, approaching a "big" birthday, I'm thinking it's time to come into the 21st Century and get a mapping/plotting unit. I'd really like it to be good for the car as well as the boat, (I drive in some strange places) and am attracted to the screens at least slightly larger than the Garmin 76C. At this point, I'm thinking about the Garmin 276C. It bugs me just a little that in about two years, something much better will be on the market for half the price, but that's the history of electronics. I suspect that if I pay almost as much for less, I'll be dissatisfied that much sooner.

Whaddaya think?

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 20:43:45

That's the other Garmin I have - the 48!

The memory battery low was a problem with 48s. Garmin replaced mine & a friends in short order. If you go to their web site you can report the problem, get an RMA number, ship it off & you'll have it back in no time. I'm not sure if I had to pay outbound postage or not.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2004 : 21:40:16

I looked at a Garmin 276C with a BlueChart chip installed... Incredible! You used to have to have a big fixed-mount unit to see charting detail like that. Add to that its ability to handle street-level maps for the car and I might not be able to resist it! I might even end up using its voice directions ("Turn left at the next intersection"), since I lost my navigator/Admiral. Of course, next year there'll be something better and something cheaper, but that will always be the case.

To Mark's original question, everyone I've talked to has emphasized Garmin's great customer service. They appear to be legends in their own time.

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