Expected Life Of GPS/Chartplotter

[Woodnaut]

In 1999 I bought a Garmin 185 GPS Chartplotter/Sounder and for the past 11 years it has worked great. The only negative thing I can say about it is that occasionally the chart re-load times can be a little long. However, one day it will probably acquire its last satellite and plot its last waypoint.

I'm thinking about upgrading to a newer unit before this one croaks, but that's hard to do when it just keeps humming along. What sort of life span have you guys been getting out of your GPS or Chartplotter units? 5 years? 10 years?

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Expected Life Of GPS/Chartplotter

Absent some calamity, what's to stop a decent unit from just going on and on like the Energizer bunny. Mine always have. I can tell you want to upgrade your unit, not because there's anything wrong with it, just because you want to. I vote yes. Why? Why not? Don't try to justify it. If you do that, pretty soon you'll sell your boat. Boating is fun, boat electronics make it more fun, and NEW boating electronics make it way more fun. At least that's how I look at it. There I go again, spending someone else's money.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Expected Life Of GPS/Chartplotter

My depth finder and Loran C were installed in 1981 and still working good.
Any unit can fail at any time weather in 1 month old or 30 years.
I find that people who take good care of their equipment that the equipment is usually out dated before it fails.

People who leave the equip on the boat out in the sun's heat and the cold of winter I would not expect the gear to last near as long.
Like in my boat durning summer the boat gets 140 degrees everyday in the direct sun under the boat's cover.
I take my Electronics inside the house to prevent theft and control it's enviroment.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Expected Life Of GPS/Chartplotter

I have no idea long long they live. They never last more than 3-4 years on my boat before I sell them and upgrade my technology.

When the 185 came out it was the cats meow. Now you can get the same functionally for 1/2 what you paid for the 185 back then. The technology available today is mind boggling in comparison.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Expected Life Of GPS/Chartplotter

Thanks for the replies. I take good care of my electronics and bring them inside after every excursion. They've all proven highly reliable and will probably remain that way. It's also true that the new units are faster, more capabile, and are downright awesome. And as it turns out, I've got a buddy who would love to put an old Garmin on that rig of his. I guess one new GPS could bring happiness to two captains at once. I wonder how many other lame excuses I'll have to come up with before I go out and buy a new unit. Probably not very many.