GPS Wanted what are the better units?

[A Pirate]

HI SFF,

Im looking at a new GPS for my tinny. My budget is about $300-$400 I want basic GPS functions ie position, speed, directions to waypoints if i can get a chart plotter all the best but not essential.

Ive had a Garmin EMap but when my old electrical system suffered a spike it cooked my GPS,Radio and sounder (GPS only item not fixed)

The whole boat has been rewired from stem to stern, so now im looking at a new GPS

Ive been looking on good old EBAY and have seen the Garmin 126 or 130 or even the hand held Garmin 72.

What do you suggest for a cheaper GPS?

Thanks
Andy

[xtosea]

Go the Garmin 72 or 76 even if you can get them at the right price. They are top little units and are very capable of everything out of Sydney.
I would get a chartplotter if you had the money, they are truly tops but the handhelds still do the job pretty well.
Kamil

[Bees Knees]

HI SFF,

Im looking at a new GPS for my tinny. My budget is about $300-$400 I want basic GPS functions ie position, speed, directions to waypoints if i can get a chart plotter all the best but not essential.

Ive had a Garmin EMap but when my old electrical system suffered a spike it cooked my GPS,Radio and sounder (GPS only item not fixed)

The whole boat has been rewired from stem to stern, so now im looking at a new GPS

Ive been looking on good old EBAY and have seen the Garmin 126 or 130 or even the hand held Garmin 72.

What do you suggest for a cheaper GPS?

Thanks
Andy

I have the garmin 72 and i like it.. Hope that helps

[A Pirate]

Okies portable is the way to go then....ill see if my eMap can be repaired then i might look at a 72.

[A Pirate]

heaps on ebay...

[imnotafish]

make sure you get the connections to hook it up to the boats power and get a bracket to mount it on the dash. the garmins mentioned above are sweet. i have a e trex which is pretty good too......

[storms72]

Pirate from my experience with things electronic with circuit boards most portables like that have fusible resistors around the main power input circuitry, these work like a fuse in a car and once voltage hits them thats too high they short out or blow like a normal fuse preventing damage to expensive components!
hopefully you will find the repair won't bee too expensive....Probably well worth getting a quote on the repair first if possible just in case that a very high a voltage hit and passed into the more important components on the board and has effectively cooked it!

Jason

[A Pirate]

well that in theory in my case it did not happen, spike killed everything.

I will take it to the repaireds in ryde next month see what happens.

[storms72]

Pirate, what was the result mate...Was your handheld repairable?

Hey Stef, I'v been having a look around....whats your little e-trex like, does it have all the features you need or do you believe the 72 is the better option???

[Mr Potato Head]

Im looking at the for Use in the Boat and in the 4x4...

GPSMAP 76Cx
GPSMAP® 76Cx is a refreshing upgrade of the GPSMAP 76C, one of our most popular models for outdoor and marine use. This unit features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory and a waterproof, rugged housing. The microSD card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment. Users can load map data and transfer routes and waypoints through the unit’s fast USB connection. In addition, this unit features a new, highly sensitive GPS receiver that acquires satellites faster and lets users track their location in challenging conditions, such as heavy foliage or deep canyons.
Considered the mainstay among serious outdoor enthusiasts, the GPSMAP 76Cx and GPSMAP 76CSx offer a large colour TFT display and turn-by-turn routing capability. These units also float when dropped in the water. Owners of these new x-series handhelds can also purchase new microSD cards that are pre-loaded with MapSource® BlueChart® marine cartography, and City Navigator™ street maps.

[Dog Catcher]

Depends whether you intend fushing offshore or not ??

If not your prob wasting your money, I dont bother with a GPS on the smaller boat which is same size as yours, think any of the marks I fush in close are just as easy to find by feel & landmarks & I'd rather have a good sounder to find drops & structure than a GPS.

I did have a wittle Garmin on the bigger goat for a few years untill I replaced it with a muther furuno & the Garmin did the job just fine.

Nothing flash, didn't have a C Map etc & to be honest alot bloody easier to use, to many options on this new one & I may have to go get a uni degree to master it :rolling laughter: :rolling laughter:

I actually pulled it out of the garage last night & wired it to a battery to dig out some old marks.

Only because it's sitting there doing nothing I'll prob get around to fitting it to the tinny today moreso as a speedo than a GPS system.

Those hand helds are ok I suppose but they've got teeny weeny wittle screens if a fly lands on then you'll be in trouble & wont see a bloody thing.

Pirate I'd go a fixed to the boat GPS if I were you you dont have to worry about batteries etc going flat

And the screen is MUCH BIGGER

[storms72]

Thanks Rum & DC, not in a rush just having a little looky around! I'm obviously not going to be going wide but will head out to the reefs I consider within reach of my little boat when conditions allow....Already have my eye on a couple of spots to start with once I'v got to the stage where I can consistently catch fish there then will start looking more seriously but for now inside will be my place!:cool-smiley:

[A Pirate]

ive been so busy with TAFE ATM ive not taken it in yet, Monday ill take it to the repairer to see if it can be fixed