Quote:
Originally Posted by sailaway21
In a doubtlessly vain attempt to return the thread to rationality, I'd ask what everyone here paid for their GPS units or chartplotters. Since the vast majority of sailing is done in waters covered by Loran C and the OP owns one it would seem that his near-offshore navigation needs are quite well met for the near term future. And he will not have to update the unit periodically as all you conscientious chart-plotter users do, correct?
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I own 2 portable GPS units; 1 x GPSMAP176 + RAM mount for the Pedestal at CDN$145 on Ebay, 1 x Etrex Legend CDN$110 from Radio Shack. 2 x Bluechart license at CDN$150 each. CDN$555 after tax. Gives me redundant charting capabilities. Even without updating, I get accurate LAT/LON readings to transfer to a paper chart as I need to.
I use the same routes on both units, use them on my other boats up north at the cottage and in the car for trips to strange locations. A free Loran would be nice but it's hard to use in the car and is not exactly portable.
Personally I object to paying for the latest and greatest in the electronics world, be it a GPS or a computer. A brand new chartplotter would be roughly 10-25% of what I paid for the boat in the first place. New old stock and Ebay are the way to go. Let some other sucker defer the R&D costs.