[Rhodes22-list] Hand held GPS- What unit to get?

[brad haslett]

Bill, this is a cheap shot but I just don't have the
self discipline to resist!  Go to sailingworld.com and
do a search on Nigel Calder.  Mr. Calder is a well
respected author in the cruising world.  Calder
describes his use of GPS, the installation of a
microwave on his boat, and how he stores an extra GPS
in the oven to protect it from lightning strikes. 
Sorry!  Actually, I still have an old Garmin leftover
from the powerboat days.  Most of the "improvements"
that have been made in GPS's seem to be more about
display, mapping "do dahs", etc.  The technology
hasn't changed much and at 5 knots I agree, any entry
level model will do.  (big grin)  Brad.
--- Bill Effros <bill@effros.com> wrote:
> Dan,
> 
> I have been using a bottom of the line Magellan
> handheld GPS for three or 4
> years and have been just thrilled with it.  I doubt
> there's a nickel's worth
> of difference between the accuracy of any of them. 
> Most of the features in
> most of them are silly for what most of us do with
> our boats.
> 
> Defender is selling the next higher model (the 310)
> for $100, and I am
> strongly considering getting a second one:
> 
> http://www.defender.com
> 
> Get the external cable as well.  This tethers the
> unit to the boat, and
> you'll never have to change the batteries--it runs
> off a minuscule amount of
> house current and I turn it on as soon as I board
> and don't turn it off
> until I am once again on my mooring for the night.
> 
> I keep mine in the Ocean Cup Holders, discussed
> earlier this year, mounted
> on the stern rail.  I always sail from Captains
> Seats, and the GPS is either
> next to my right or left hand, depending on which
> side of the boat I'm on.
> I move it back and forth when I tack, and use it so
> frequently that I am
> seriously considering springing for another $100 so
> I won't have to switch
> it back and forth.
> 
> I use it for everything.  It is my watch.  It is my
> steering compass.  It is
> my knot meter.  It maintains my waypoints.   I have
> mechanical back-ups for
> all of these functions, but I use the GPS all the
> time, and the others now
> rarely.
> 
> The most important function, and one for which I
> have no reliable mechanical
> back up (ask my wife), is the accuracy with which it
> allows me to figure out
> how much time it will take me to get home.  I have
> always known I can be in
> our kitchen within an hour of hooking onto my
> mooring.  The hard part, and
> one which I have never done well, is estimating how
> long it will take to get
> from wherever I am to the mooring.
> 
> By simply plugging my mooring and a few waypoints
> into the GPS (They are
> always there) I can steer the shortest course, and,
> more importantly, I can
> see how fast I am traveling over ground, and exactly
> how far I am from the
> waypoint.  If I'm not going to make it on time, I
> know when to lower my
> sails and motor.  Combined with a cell phone the GPS
> has removed a huge
> source of unnecessary friction at home.  If I say
> I'll be back at 7:00, my
> wife knows I'll really be back at 7:00.
> 
> I'm sure any bottom of the line GPS will do the
> trick.  I like the Magellan,
> in part, because I am familiar with it.  It is easy
> to use with one hand,
> which is the way I always use it.
> 
> Bill Effros
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <GARDENBAY1@aol.com>
> To: <Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 9:43 AM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Hand held GPS- What unit to
> get?
> 
> 
> We will be sailing primarily in South Jersey bays
> and rivers, so inland
> navigation markers will be important. Need a unit
> that is easy to operate
> and
> will get us back home after I get us lost. Budget no
> more then $200. Is that
> realistic?                         Does anyone have
> any ideas?
> 
> Thanks
> for your help, Dan in Brigantine
> _________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help?
> www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help?
www.rhodes22.org/list


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus – Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
http://mailplus.yahoo.com