recommendation for handheld gps?

[FoggyBottom]

Anyone have any recommendations for a handheld gps with nav charts? Looked at Garmin Oregon 400C but the site states that the BlueCharts have limited capabilities and not sure what that means. Also it has a touch screen and wondering about the durability?

[WanderingStar]

I have the Garmin Colorado and like it. Not sure if it's still available.

[CaptainForce]

I've a Garmin 76 that has the charts incorporated for the US and Bahamas. Unfortunately you haven't posted your cruising area here or on your profile,- this is a factor. Take care and joy, Aythya crew

[DwayneSpeer]

My personal preference is not to go with Garmin simply they use their Blue charts and I think they are inferior to Navionics charts.

[StPeteSteve]

I've had the Garmin Quest for several years and really like it. It's waterproof and can be loaded with Garmin's Bluechart CD for the cruising areas you want. I've sailed the west coast of Florida and the BVI with it. It suits me because I'm on a lot of different boats, so I can easily take it with me. I have a little case for it that has a velcro strap that will mount it at the helm. They also make a hardwired marine mount for it, or you can use the suction cup / cigarette lighter plug mount.

It's out of production, but still available pretty cheap on ebay. Try to get the original Quest, not the Quest 2. The later version comes pre-loaded with highway maps taking up memory. The original you have to load by hooking it up to your laptop, so you can customize it and load the blue charts. The blue chart software is sold separately. You have to pay for each zone you want to unlock, so it's not cheap.

You can also input the waypoints and routes on your laptop and download them to the gps which is really handy.

[sck5]

I have a garmin 76csx which is a bit expensive but very good as a handheld plotter. i am no expert but i think if you are sailing in US waters there isnt a huge difference in the accuracy of the different charts but if you are in the Bahamas everyone says garmin (which is based on explorer charts) is hands down the best.

[eryka]

We used the Garmin Oregon 400 and found it excellent for US southeast & Bahamas. Touch screen was intuitive and easy to learn; charts were very accurate. We got the 12V cable to use direct from ships power as GPS eats batteries if you're using AA cells. Otherwise, strongly recommend it IF you're cruising in SE US and Bahamas; don't know about other areas. You should be able to find one for $300 or so, or less, at West Marine.

[sigmasailor]

I have a Garmin 60CSx, perfect little GPS. I wouldn't want to trade it for an newer and 'better' one.

[LinekinBayCD]

I have the Garmin Oregon 400c as a backup to the fixed mount Garmin 3006. To have every US coastal chart preloaded is a great deal. I don't Use it a lot but the menu system was easy to pick up.

[Tempest]

I've used the garmin 76csx for several years now and have been very happy. I noticed that West Marine has a sale going on it $179.00

This unit is good for land and sea. You can upload and download routes and charts.

I have the 546 plotter at the helm, so the 76csx is my redundant system and hooks up to my laptop.