Re: gps hard to use
You get what you pay for. I have a Garmin 128 mounted on the boat and, as back-up, a Garmin 76map. On a recent trip to San Carlos, Mexico, my main GPS went out (have a replacement antenna module on order), forcing me to use the handheld. I had played with the handheld before, but never really used it for open water navigation. I was able to use it within a few minutes of pushing buttons and figuring out where things are on it. It actually has more features than my mounted unit, including a tide function. <br /><br />I also have the Blue Water maps for it. I can plot trips in advance, then download them to the handheld, or upload trips to my computer and analyze in detail the water we covered. It's a neat feature to see what kind of distances you've covered, speeds, and for planning your trips. <br /><br />After using my GPS for awhile, I feel absolutely blind without it out on the water. At least, on the ocean. The local lakes are a different story; I could do without it there. But, we primarily fish a lot of deeper reefs in the Sea of Cortez, some of them 50 miles out. The GPS puts me right back on them anytime I want to go. <br /><br />The GoTo feature on most GPS units is the best thing since sliced bread. You can see how far away the point you're heading to is, how fast your going, and how long it will take you to get there at your current speed. Both of my units have a compass and "highway mode" that are easy to read and keep you on course. As a previous poster mentioned, fuel savings alone from staying on course are worth it. It's also a great decision making tool if the water looks a little iffy. I can see how long it will take me to get to different reefs and choose something a little safer.<br /><br />The reality is that it all depends on how you plan to use it. For the ocean, buy a good one. If you just want one for simple navigation, a cheaper unit will do. They really aren't that hard to use once you understand your basic navigation (lat/longs) and where the different functions are located on your unit.
