Need to select a GPS........?

[Perithead]

Well, I think it is time for a GPS system on my boat. I have never used GPS before on my sailboat but I have used one to find dive wrecks in the gulf. What I want to do next will be a bit different because I will be cruising from the panhandle of Florida to the Keys and then eventually to the Bahamas.

I am electronic literate and can deal with electronic well. What I believe I want is a handheld GPS with chartplotting capabilities. It would be nice if it was both handheld and could be mounted while on the boat and plugged into the boats powersource.

It was put to me that Garmin is the best brand for my intentions. Price really isnt a major concern but nothing to fancy.

I have looked for a handheld Garmin that has chartplotting capabilities but couldnt seem to find one. I hope the make it.

Thanks for any replys!

[camaraderie]

Here are the relevant garmin GPS handhelds.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare....areProduct=351

For the Bahamas...the Explorer charts which are the only ones that are accurate are available as Garmin Blue charts here:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/b...sp?sku=MUS503L

[gtod25]

GPSMap76 is a great handheld, GPSMap76Cx even better.

If you want to use a handheld with detailed maps you need color (B&W just wont cut it), or maybe I'm getting old.

By the time you have paid for the color handheld and the mapping CD you are pretty close to the price of the new Garmin 440 series. 4in screen and acceptable resolution + all the charts of the US + explorer charts of the Bahamas. You do NOT need to by the Vision chip unless you have $300 you need to get rid of.

Add to the fact that you will need 2 chart regions for the handheld, the 440 will probably be a cheaper option.

[labatt]

If you really truly want a handheld GPS that's good, check out the new Garmin Colorado 400c or 400i (coastal charts, inland charts). You can add a G2 chip to expand their map database. Forget the older 76 series. They should be available over the next few weeks. I'm planning on picking one up as backup to our fixed chartplotter.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=161&pID=11023

[Jim H]

The boat we have the offer on used to have the Garmin 276c, which also the model we used on two charter trips on an Islander 28. We really liked it, including the internal Lith-ion battery.

However, it's been out for several years, and I wonder if there is a better, upgraded model. Also, are there better charts than the ones from Garmin? I saw in an article that some chartplotter charts might be including current atlases, and that would be a big plus for us (if they automatically sync'ed for day and time).

So, does anyone have the inside word on these options?

Over here in the UK, the Standard Horizon CP-180 is a recommended, inexpensive model that uses C-Map MAX or NT+ charts. (Which I believe have real-time tide/current data.)

http://www.yachtbits.com/standard_ho...rtplotters.php

c-map.com/default.asp" target="_blank">http://www. c-map.com/default.asp

(The CP-180 has no internal battery and is a fixed mount, however.)

[sailingdog]

Jim—

The replacement model for the 276C is the 478.. However the 276c is still made and sold AFAIK. But IMHO, the 478 is a bit more versatile, since it has all the coastal charts for the USA pre-loaded and can do XM WX weather, as well as have a depth sounder added.

[Jim H]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Jim—

The replacement model for the 276C is the 478.. However the 276c is still made and sold AFAIK. But IMHO, the 478 is a bit more versatile, since it has all the coastal charts for the USA pre-loaded and can do XM WX weather, as well as have a depth sounder added.

I see that I can get a Mapsource Bluechart chartset (small or large) for it:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/m...rtAtlantic.jsp

However, do you know if the Mapsource Bluecharts have the current atlas function yet? A magazine article said no, and I don't see it listed on the web page. I don't want to make that the deciding factor between Garmin and Standard Horizon, but the currents can be "more than important" in the channel.

Thanks!

[jimmyb116]

I second the (Standard Horizon CP-180 is a recommended, inexpensive model that uses C-Map) and the C-Map i have the older CP-175 and the c-map and it works great.

[radiodude]

There are plenty of Garmin Handhelds with cartography....but we did not
consider one. The screens are just much, much too small for us to be comfortable reading them, especially on a moving boat. The thought of dropping it overboard bothered me, too.....we do have an old handheld, but
only for backup.
The best bang/buck deal we found, is the Garmin 492C, it was 1year-old/discontinued, we paid only $500 for it (new), we can read the chart without our glasses, we love it.....this has a screen that's bigger than a handheld, but smaller than the 'TV' sets they are selling for $$$$$. Preloaded are the entire US, Alaska, Hawaii; updates are simple and cheap with a flash card. Simple to use, but also lots of built in extras like tides, celestial, phone book of marinas&services,...lots of stuff.
It has really changed our sailing for the better. We used to feel like we were prisoners of our pre-plotted courses on the paper charts, which we labored on for an hour or so the night before. Now, if the wind shifts, or we want to "cut a corner" on the course, or simply change destinations at the last minute, we just see where we are, put the helm over, skirt the shoals....and take a short cut, no worries. Nice for gunholing, too.
Go for it, and enjoy the freedom.

[chucklesR]

If you are spending the money for new, and want any hope of interfacing with other instruments make sure you get a NMEA 2000 compliant unit - even if it's just the manufactures version of NMEA 2000 that's better than discontinued units that only talk 0183 standards.
You might save a buck now, but in 2 years or so you'll be upgrading for that MultiFunction Display, AIS, Radar or something and wish you had a NMEA 2000 compatible unit.
For example I have a Lowrance 5200c Chartplotter (not handheld) and my autopilot and it's control head is Raymarine who uses it's version of 2000 called SeaTalk (Furuno uses Navnet etc..) My boat came with a Raymarine Smartpilot to let the RM stuff talk to each other, otherwise my Lowrance would not have been able to interface in with my autohelm 6000 ST60+ tridata and Engine controls Being somewhat literate in geek stuff I can make 'em talk to each other. Sometimes you can't.