Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare-UPDATE & THANKS

[Boss Hawg]

So I need advice on a GPS system to know where the heck i am on a lake & how to get to where i need to go I was on a lake today I've fished before & i thought i knew exackly where i was & where the ramp was---WRONG Somehow i got turned around & BARELY found the ramp before dark!!
The wife said "You now have my blessing to buy a GPS"
So without deep pockets what can I get thats easy to use , don't need to locate hot spots & such fancy things--Just need to find my way around & locate major things like MYSELF & BOAT RAMPS

BTW- I live in East Texas & fish Sam Rayburn & have a good Lowrance Sonar so don't much want a "combo" unit

 

[JB]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Check out the options available in Garmins, Boss. The last time I fished big Sam I used a Garmin GPSMAP 14. That was a lot of years ago and there are much better units for a lot less bux available now.

 

[P3_sailor]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

I have a garmin etrex vista that I got a few years ago. I have the ramp marked and it tells me how far away I am and it shows an arrow on a compass pointing the way how. It also has a track feature so you can just follow the trail you took home. You can find them on ebay for like $50.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Virtually any GPS on the planet can do that for you. You don't even need one with a map capability. Mapless units will leave a sugar trail that looks like a dotted line as you travel. Tell the gps to "track back" and it will point you home along the same outbound path but if you zig-zagged around a great deal you can simply head toward where you started from by following the arrow.

I have an old Garmin GPS 12MAP that is a mapping unit but it is highway oriented. It does have rather crude outline maps of major lakes and rivers but it is not intended for river/lake navigation. To test its ability, I left our cabin for the routine 5.5 mile trip down river to the main lake and kept hitting waypoints along the way. On the way back I told my wife to watch my route but I used only the GPS for the entire 5.5 miles without looking up. It took me down the exact same route without a hitch. You just keep the arrow on the sugar trail and you get home.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

I know what you mean. I'm on connected lakes with over 60,000 acres of water. I have a handheld Garmin GPS Vista Hcx. It's probably overkill, but I like it. This one has a built in compass. What I need and you as well is one with tracking and waypoint capability and an SD slot to insert a map chip for what ever lakes you want. Check craigslist. You can probably get a vista or legend for under $100.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Thanks to all- I found a Garmin eTrex Vista Cx

I think it'll do more than i need

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Thanks to all- I found a Garmin eTrex Vista Cx

I think it'll do more than i need

Good pick!
Just a note though, keep an extra set of batteries on board. It's no good without power. Been there, done that.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Not trying to scare you but take a glance at this recent article http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=3783

 

[HONKER1]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

My question is..."Was he following the breadcrumbs back home, or did he use the GOTO button." GOTO is not the safes way, as it provides a straight line, and doesn't warn you about the rock or tree in the way.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Good pick!
Just a note though, keep an extra set of batteries on board. It's no good without power. Been there, done that.

Good thought, also ordered a 12 volt cigerette lighter adapter thing

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Not trying to scare you but take a glance at this recent article http://www.boattest.com/Resources/view_news.aspx?NewsID=3783

DANG

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Re: Need GPS Advice-Had a Bit Of A Scare

Just a thanks for all the good advice!
I tryed out my Garmin eTrex Vista Cx today out on Sam Rayburn & was happy with it
Kind of primitive by todays $1,000 units but it got me back to the right ramp
BTW- caught some good cats too