Best GPS for under $300.00

CellNav · #1 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006

I'm looking for a GPS for day sailing. The bay I sail in has many reefs and would like a back-up in poor visibility. I don't mind plotting points off a chart, but the ability to import chart data would be a plus. I'm considering the Garmin 60C any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mike

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006

IMHO, you'd be better off with the 76C rather than the 60C. The controls are setup better and easier to use, and the 76C has more internal memory than the 60C IIRC. Also, the most important part, the 76C floats, the 60C sinks... so if you drop it in the water, you have a much better chance of recovering the 76C.

captnnero · #3 (**permalink**) 09-12-2006

The day sailing factor and your age is important for the screen size that you are working with on the 60C. Daytime was fine but I found that when night sailing those small screen were too much effort for my eyes even with corrected eyeglasses after I hit about age 45. My budget jumped to about $500 fairly quickly so I could get a 172c. I still have a handheld onboard for backup.

mhfowle · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2006

The garmin gpsmap 76 is the way to go. It has good maps, features, etc. It's my 1st gps and I love it for sailing and for driving. You can also upgrade the software. It's only $199. What a deal

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006

The screen size is partially a moot point, since you can change the font size displayed on the screen. It is only really a factor if you are trying to look at a larger area on the screen...like for route planning—but in actual, real-time use, it doesn't mean much at all.

rockDAWG · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnnero

Daytime was fine but I found that when night sailing those small screen were too much effort for my eyes even with corrected eyeglasses after I hit about age 45.

Captain Nero, I hear you..... :;. I don't mind getting old and not able to pick Chicks, but the failing eye sight is the hardest hit to me.

captnnero · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

The screen size is partially a moot point, since you can change the font size displayed on the screen. It is only really a factor if you are trying to look at a larger area on the screen...like for route planning—but in actual, real-time use, it doesn't mean much at all.

Oh I disagree on that. Pumping up the font size still doesn't give you the rest of the information because of the limited pixels and surface area. I'm using it mostly for a realtime chart with my position and heading on it. I want to be able to just glance down and see that the chart and boat cursor on the display correlates with what I can see heads up. With the handheld screen size I couldn't easily see enough of the local surrounding area when I zoomed in close enough to see non-text features without squinting. You can increase font size and still have a hard time seeing the contours and landmarks on the chart.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnnero

Oh I disagree on that. Pumping up the font size still doesn't give you the rest of the information because of the limited pixels and surface area. I'm using it mostly for a realtime chart with my position and heading on it. I want to be able to just glance down and see that the chart and boat cursor on the display correlates with what I can see heads up. With the handheld screen size I couldn't easily see enough of the local surrounding area when I zoomed in close enough to see non-text features without squinting. You can increase font size and still have a hard time seeing the contours and landmarks on the chart.

Oh, I generally just use the GPS as backup. I prefer to use paper charts and more traditional navigation methods. I wouldn't recommend anyone use a handheld GPS as a primary navigation method. It is far too easy to miss important navigation information on a handheld GPS. Also, many handhelds don't hold enough chart information IMHO to really be a safe navigation tool.

captnnero · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Oh, I generally just use the GPS as backup. I prefer to use paper charts and more traditional navigation methods. I wouldn't recommend anyone use a handheld GPS as a primary navigation method. It is far too easy to miss important navigation information on a handheld GPS. Also, many handhelds don't hold enough chart information IMHO to really be a safe navigation tool.

SailingDog, cool your jets. My eyes aren't so bad yet that you need to use boldface font for me to read it.

I've just been saying that as my eyes aged I couldn't easily get enough important info out of the handheld chartplotter anymore. Actually my original handheld used be one of the brick sized units, not the absolute minimal screen size. Way back when I even navigated without a GPS.

Besides the charplotter I've got the heads up view, the compass, an embossed chart page in the cockpit, and the feedback from the crew going for me.

Now I keep a handheld chartplotter aboard as a backup. The backup is also nice to use down below as an overnight anchor alarm with low power consumption.

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 09-15-2006

Neal-

The boldface wasn't specifically for you, but for people who thing that using a handheld GPS as their only navigation tool is okay. I was pretty sure you wouldn't be doing that.

SD