Advice on handheld GPS unit.

[joyride]

Hi I'm looking for a new marine handheld GPS unit and am not sure which one to get. I'm looking for a unit that has built in detailed maps of the great lakes region especially Lake Erie and St.Clair. I would like to avoid buying the extra map software; I hear it's pretty pricey. Can anyone give me any opinions? <br /><br />Thanks for all your help,<br /><br />Jerry

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

I use the Etrex Legend about $135 on sale and it's good enough. Comes with map. Get the RAM mount for about $45. It has the main buoys but no depth information which isn't needed on those soft bottom lakes unless you have a sailboat or real deep draft boat. It's very good on days when visibility is too poor or too good to see where you're going. That's not a misprint. When the visibility is too good you can't tell your destination point 4 miles away since it gets lost in the background shoreline which may be 8 miles away.

 

[JB]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

Electronics topipc

 

[Shepherds Ride]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

I would have to agree with SeaHorse. I also have a Etrex Legend and love it. Garmin now makes it also with a color display, it's a little more but should be a little easier to read.

 

[reka12]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

I have the Magellan Sportrak Pro Color and love it. I can download either topos, general maps or BlueNav for marine use. It is light, easy on batteries (or can be connected to an auxillary source), locks quickly, can track and download the tracks, has tides, barometer, weather, compass and it is waterproof and floats! (Note: For some strange reason, Magellan eliminated the tide function during later firmware updates. I have kept the original firmware so that it includes the tides. I am not sure if that has been corrected as I have not kept up with their revisions.)

 

[whofan]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

A coworker of mine has the Lowrance I finder Pro. It works with a Navionics map that is sold seperatly. The down side is that the map cost as much as the unit $199 pallbark. The up side is in my opinion the best Ive seen. Its pretty much plug and play. Unit does have a built in base map. Once you have seen a good map you will see that they are worth it. I was very impressed with Navionics. Im sure other comparable maps and units are just as good. I would save and pay a little extra to get something user friendly. I had a cheaper Gps years ago had so much monkeying to do with it I just said screw it and ended up giving it away. I still havent replaced it yet. I know which way Im going when I do.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

I would check Lowrance IFINDER GO2 if you have great eyes, 2 inch screen but comes with detailed us map and 16 channel GPS WAAS, list for $109.<br /><br />If your eyes are more like mine try the Lowrance IFINDER PHD or H20, 3 inch display with 12 channel GPS WAAS Comes with high detailed maps with navigation aids. If get the plus package cost is $100 more but has all the software to build detailed mapps for your area. H2O is waterproof.<br />H2O list for $239 and comes with a cigarette lighter plug. Plus package $339 same unit with extra custom mapping.<br /><br />Lowrance IFINDER PHD Same but also has MP3 player and also has stereo headphones. Also has built in electronic compass and Barometric Altimeter.<br />Color unit list $459 with extra mapping $559.<br />Black and white unit list for $309 with extra mapping $409<br /><br /> http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/default.asp <br /><br />Garmin GPSMAP 76 is unit I have. Mine came with low detailed map but does have navigation aids (lights and Buoys}. 12 channel WAAS GPS and screen size is 2.6 inches. Web site again says has base mape with navigation aids, but check closely when buying as for a couple of years only the color unit had the navigation aids. Since I own this unit I will give a short reveiw. Unit works very well and only takes about 1 minute to find your position when turned on. 2000mah rechargable batteries will run all day. Unit has no electronic compass or barometric altimeter so to get a compass headding must take about 2 steps. GPS altimeter good to about 100 ft accuracy any time you have 4 satelites. My only real dislike is display is hard to read in dim light and even in daylight not real bright. When driving with the small size and dim display and old eyes some times can not take eyes off the road long enough to see where your are. When riding it is fine or on the boat is fine. List $342.<br /><br />GPSMAP 76S same unit with the electronic compass and Barometric altimeter. List $431<br /><br />GPSMAP 76CS same as 76S but color and a smaller screen but eaiser to read in dim light.<br />list $590.<br /><br /> http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76/ <br /><br /> http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76cs/ <br /><br />Even thou I own the Garmin GPSMAP 76 today I think I would go with one of the Lowrance units as they are eaiser to see and have better base maps in my opinion.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Advice on handheld GPS unit.

I have the Lowrance iFinder H20. It is great. It will take Navionics ($199) or Lowrance ($99) map chips. The built in map is decent. It shows nav aids, wrecks and some inshore underwater features (location and names, no detailed contours). <br /><br />The screen is easy to read and, with 2 processors, it is quick with screen updates.