GPS Review

[commanderpete]

The latest issue of Practical Sailor has a review of handheld non-cartographic GPS units.

Prices have levelled out on GPS units lately. There also doesn't appear to be a whole lot of difference between them. They all perform the same basic functions. They're all equally accurate and waterproof.

The ratings were based mainly on ease of use and readability.

The top rated one was the Garmin GPS 76 ($183)

The runner-up was the Magellan SpoTrak Pro Marine ($250)

Of the more inexpensive models, they liked the Cobra GPS100 ($92)

[c_amos]

The top rated one was the Garmin GPS 76 ($183)

I just picked one up at WM, Garmin has a $50 rebate program going on right now.

[commanderpete]

Here we have the Grace command module

[commanderpete]

This is a Garmin 172C. It's a discontinued model and you can find it for about $350. It has a 4.5" screen.

As far as I'm concerned, the choice of chartplotter comes down to screen size vs. cost.

Then you have to consider the mapping software. I bought the 172C because I already had the BlueChart software for my handheld Garmin 76Map. The 76Map is a nice unit, but its black and white and the screen is so small that its hard to read at night.

To make the software run on the 172C I had to buy a cable and SIM card.

If I didn't have the software, I might have bought a Garmin 492C which has a 5" screen and the software built in. Costs about $485. Only problem is that the unit itself is very large.

I mounted the unit on a RAM swing out mount. They told me the GPS would fit on the mount, but I was misinformed. I made it work with some Starboard and suspended a depthsounder from it. Now I have two depthsounders.

Boat is messy as usual

[Tim Mertinooke]

That's a nice setup. I also like the chart table on the port side. Is the chart sitting on top of the table or did you take your local chart and make it part of the table with glass over the top? I saw one where someone did that and it was pretty cool. I've thought about making a coffee table at home like that.

"Boat is messy as usual"
Oh, please! You should have seen A-24 after four days in Maine with a highly mobile, highly curious, highly volatile four-year-old. Yours looks like what ours looked like after we cleaned up. :)

[commanderpete]

That's an old plastic RDF chart of Block Island Sound that I had. I never seem to throw anything out. Glued it on top of the blue laminate for decorative purposes.

Of course, these young whippersnappers don't remember RDF.

GPS is better

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/attachment.php?attachmentid=884&stc=1&d=1052749233

[commanderpete]

Now if you want to see a brilliant sliding/swing mount check out Bill's Ariel 231 Gallery page 4 for more pictures and drawings

[commanderpete]

I figured out how to transfer the tracks to the computer. The GPS saves about 25 of the last tracks.

I go this way pretty often. This is from July 20 to October 8, If I had the machine on.

[commanderpete]

Even with the technology, your esteemed Captain can suffer from a momentary loss of situational awareness

[commanderpete]

Technology has its limits too. Your particular area may not have been surveyed by the government in the last 100 years. This is important if you sail in areas where the bottom contours shift around.

Here is the Fire Island Inlet. The GPS has me sailing over dry ground when I'm in 30 feet of water

[bill@ariel231]

Quote - "Of course, these young whippersnappers don't remember RDF"

Hey, i just bought a RayJefferson RDF last year (to listen to the ball game) ... oh that's right, i'm no longer a "young whippersnapper" :)

[Tim Mertinooke]

Ya know C-Pete, you could always blame the random course deviations on spontaneous beer-overboard drills for when a precious beer falls overboard due to the lack of cupholders. Unfortunately bottled beer is more dense than water so the search is futile, but a worthy venture anyhow.

[commanderpete]

Sure I've talked about installing gimballed cupholders, but it could be years before I get around to it.

Bill is going to have to tackle that project. Whittle us something out of teak while you're listening to the ball game.