Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

[LMM1967]

Tried searching, seems the search function isn't functioning.

Wondering about experiences with very basic GPS units - looking for sub $500 units that can be used on an open bow on inland lakes. Just want to be sure we can always find the right launch ramp.

Would like to be able to easily set a waypoint when we launch and have the GPS lead us back to that waypoint when it's time to go.

Any suggestions?

 

[sdride]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

It does not get much simpler or cheaper than this:

Do a search for a Bushnell-BackTrack-Personal-Locator.

I have one and it works great.

 

[JB]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

Not nice to recommend the competition, sdride. Patronize your host.

This is the right place: http://www.iboats.com/Marine-GPS-Ch...0632098--**********.176758888--view_id.248087

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

I am also looking for something similar. But I would also like to find one that will work on the Florida intercoastals and St Johns river.

Your link, JB, brings us to all the GPSs. Which is fine, but I think the OP is looking for some recomendations on which ones will work best for lakes etc. Maybe some pros and cons from each. Someone that maybe has had or still has one. Is there anyone that could say, this one works great for this and here is the good and bad.

I have been thinking about them for a while too, but have no idea which one to buy. They all look the same and all have very similar descriptions. What should we be looking for and avoiding?

 

[relocyo]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

Try googling "gps reviews" there are tons, and THEN follow JBs link and get it off of iboats, great customer service, and fast shipping! Not to mention this glorious FREE forum...


Not bad eh JB...

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

That is a great idea, but isnt that kind of like telling someone that is looking for boat recomendations, or trailer recomendations to skip the forums and gooogle it? We value the knowlege of the folks here because we know they have used and actually own these things in the real world, not some lab with a bunch of folks that have never actually been on a boat writing articles on thousands of items a year.

Hopefully someone here has some advice. I would hate to buy something that wont do what I want it to.

 

[LMM1967]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

That is a great idea, but isnt that kind of like telling someone that is looking for boat recomendations, or trailer recomendations to skip the forums and gooogle it? We value the knowlege of the folks here because we know they have used and actually own these things in the real world, not some lab with a bunch of folks that have never actually been on a boat writing articles on thousands of items a year.

Hopefully someone here has some advice. I would hate to buy something that wont do what I want it to.

Exactly.

I'll try to be more specific with my question and of course iboats will be the first place I look to purchase.

So below is a link to specific product (on iboats) that I'm curious about.

http://www.iboats.com/Sitex-Marine-...9378873--**********.829783719--view_id.365983

Useful for inland waterways? or primarily for ocean/ICW boating? reliable? easy to view on a bowrider (not much shade on bright days on most bowriders)

 

[Ibl0wstuffup]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

I use a magellan triton. 150 at walmart and you can load nat geo superquads to it ifrom your.pc. Its small buf will get you back to where you started. Mine has a barometer built in which is handy. I think i have the 400 model.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

$10 for the Navionics app on your iPhone or Android & a car charger. Will give you everything a basic chart plotter gives you for cheap. I love that app!

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

I will second the Navionics app for Android. I paid $12 for all the lakes in Texas, AR, OK, LA, and several other southern states. It keeps waypoints, has gps speed built in, and has many other functions.

Also, if you get a new phone, your old phone will lose its phone and internet capabilities, but GPS still works, and so does the app. So I have Navionics on an old droid that I use only for the boat, and I also have it (for free, transferred over from the old phone) on my new Thunderbolt.

This is a zoomed in pic, showing all the bottom contours, etc.

When on the lake, it shows your boat, your heading, and your speed. This picture was taken from home, without GPS on, so no boat symbol.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

The one for i-phone is $15 and covers the entire US.

TerryMSU

 

[superbenk]

Re: Basic GPS unit for inland lakes

The one for i-phone is $15 and covers the entire US.

TerryMSU

US Lakes is only $9.99: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marine-lakes-usa/id377908737?mt=8

US+Canada Lakes is $14.99: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/marine-lakes-us-canada/id382815123?mt=8