Association Forum - GPS advice

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

GPS advice

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Member Avatar

185 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/16/2005 : 18:21:44

I had a bad experience with anchor slip last weekend (cliff, 1am, adrenaline, you get the picture) So, I am now in the market for a GPS (w/ anchor alarm).

Any salty advice would be much appreciated!

1. internal vs. external antenna? external flush mount location?
2. Mount in cabin or cockpit? Common mounting locations?

This is the one I'm considering based on my initial impression. Your advice is much appreciated! I dont have wheel steering so I was planning on mounting in the cabin near the electrical panel.

http://www.deepblueelectronics.com/Raymarine-C70-P378.aspx

Thanks,
Kurt

#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'

Edited by - Capt. Kurt on 05/16/2005 18:27:34

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 19:36:07

I just got a lowrance I finder. It is pretty low tech. The thing that sold me was the nauticpath chart. It covers the whole US coastal and is on a SD chip. So far I have found it to be very accurate showing depth contours. The chip only costs $80 and the gps around 200. This has everyone beat at this kind of price. And it has an anchor alarm.

www.lowrance.com

check it out.

Tom.

Edited by - on

sterngucker
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
169 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2005 : 20:02:43

There are quite a number of solutions that would meet your needs way below the cost of the unit you are considering. My Garmin gpsmap76 has an anchor alarm at $299, and you can use it in your car as well. It would have no problem picking up satellites through the canvas pop top or you can hook up an external antenna if necessary.
Another option would be using the depth alarm on a fishfinder, such as the one on my $50 Hummingbird. From my experience on Lake Pleasant, if it shows less than 50 feet your getting pretty close to shore

. I think it will do a deep and shallow alarm together so you could bracket your current depth which would fit the bill unless you happen to drift parallel to shore. Lots of options in the price range you are considering.

I just noticed you mentioned cliff, so depth may not be a valid parameter to go by.

Edited by - sterngucker on 05/16/2005 20:04:47

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 07:20:23

I wanted to combine the depth finder and GPS together, so I got the Lowrance M68C. It has the navigation aids built in, shows wrecks, buoys etc. for coastal US and lakes. Its got a color display so you can see it well in the bright sunlight. You can split screen, so to show depth and chart plotter or either full screen depth or chart plotter. You can over lay data, meaning you can show other date on what ever screen you set up. I have mine setup so its on full screen chart plotter and have over laid the depth, time, ground speed, battery voltage all in the top left of the screen. Its pretty cool.

I made a swing mount to put it on. Also ran the transducer forward under the water tank. I secured it in place with toilet bowl wax. The wax holds the transducer in place and its a easy install. I just balled up the wax stuck it on the hull where I wanted to mount the transducer, then just press the transducer into the wax. Your done

Oh yea, its got a anchor alarm and depth alarm. I set them both when anchoring.
<font size="1">http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/electronics/combinations/lowrance_m68c.htm?L+scstore+fhvz4777ff392939+1116355356</font id="size1">

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/17/2005 09:34:15

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 12:13:33

Thanks for the great ideas, I will check out the Lowrance. I like that mounting location!

I wish there was a place that had most of the units on display to play around with.

Kurt

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 14:02:44

Kurt-

I like my Garmin GPS 176C; however, the unit is pricey & the main advantage is the charts (which are also pricey) so if you don't sail in an area with charts there's no advantage to the extra cost.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 15:46:40

We have a Basspro(Outdoors world)near by that have many units setup so you can play around with them.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 16:12:28

I use a Magellan Meridian Marine (hand held). It came in a bundle with electronic charts, memory card, cords (pc and cig. lighter).

It is only the black and white screen. I couldn't justify the added costs for color, based on my usage. So far am very satisfied does what I need. It is nice to have an electronic chart right in your hand. Easy to set way points and can zoom in when needed to see where you are when in unfamiliar water (I do have paper charts for comparison/back up). Memory cards let you download maps from CD. You either have to have several cards or download as needed when sailing in multiple areas of a given region (charts are broken down into small sectors - need to download for the area you will be sailing in).

With this and a depth sounder, it makes going into unknow water less stressful.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2005 : 16:14:01

I would have bought that Lowrance if it accepted charts. The I-finder I picked up is a compromise(aren't they all). I am happy that Lowrance came up with a chart package that puts Garmin to shame.

Lowrance:
1. Nationwide chart including Bahamas $80
2. Chart is on SD chip that can be used in any gps unit I please
3. Gps runs on Batteries
4. Gps also plays MP3's on SD card!

Garmin:
1.Chart for 1 area is a minimum of $100
2.Chart can only be used by one gps.
3. Chart is on crazy,expensive memory chip.

Here is a link to the chart.

http://www.lowrance.com/Mapping/NauticPath/default.asp

And, No, I don't work for them.

On my way to Beer.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2005 : 16:07:57

I found this cool website for different mounting options. They are called RAM, and they make all sorts of ball joint type mounts for just about anything! Very neat! I will take pictures, I plan on doing something similar to Tom's setup but using these because I dont have wood working skills.

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

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2005 : 18:39:07

Capt. Kurt

I have one of these mounts on my solar panel. It works very well - easy to adjust and take off for storage.

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2005 : 19:37:46

Wil,
What's the make/model of solar panel that you have? I would like to use a RAM mount when I get a solar panel.

Thanks,
Kurt
C250WK #818 'Tortuga'

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2005 : 20:02:42

Thanks for the link, Capt Kurt. Now I don't have to try to figure how to rig a mount from scratch.

Steve

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2005 : 10:52:17

Capt Kurt,
I will be at the boat this weekend and get the info for you.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2005 : 17:51:54

Kurt,
Here are some photos of solar panel set up. It is a BP Solar - I didnt' write down the paticulars. I took a photo of back of panel, but it did not come out well. Will try again when at the boat.

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2005 : 13:49:57

Thanks Wil, I will definately go this route when I purchase a solar panel, nice installation!

Kurt
#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.