[Rhodes22-list] New Rodes Owner

[cowie]

Dave
This looks like an old message but I am interested in how you use your gps. 
I will take possesion of a new r22 spring 2009 and am trying to think about
equipment.  Does your handheld suck up the batteries? Can you plug it in
while in the cockpit?  Handheld seems to make sense as technology changes
and it doesn't need to be mounted.  I would be interested in any other new
boat features you think I should consider.

Woten wrote:
> 
> 
> Frazier,    
>  
> With all due respect, I disagree with Bill regarding GPS.
>  
> We have an Iris 100 handheld compass mounted on the bulkhead.  It does 
> the 
> job - it’s job is to  provide a steering guide.  We’ve found that  all the 
> hoopla about triangulating, navigating, etc via  compass that is  covered
> in 
> Power Squadron navigation courses is possible in some circumstances -  but
> not all 
> circumstances.  What is easy and reliable in virtually all  boating 
> circumstances is GPS - it will tell you where you are and how to get to 
> where you want 
> to go.  Virtually all our navigation, apart from piloting in  constrained
> and 
> familiar waterways (e.g. approaches to our marina),  is  done with  GPS. 
> We 
> use a handheld charting GPS that tells us in  virtually real time where we
> are 
> on the chart displayed on the hand held unit -  there’s no need to map the 
> GPS position on to a paper chart.  We know where  we are going when we
> leave the 
> dock - we enter that as a way point on the GPS  chart - and the machine
> plots 
> our course as it is sailed until we get to our  destination or decide to
> turn 
> around or set a new way point.   We  steer by the compass, but we monitor 
> evolution of the track in real time on the  GPS, so we know immediately if
> we're 
> deviating (we often  deviate -  every tack is a deviation)  and where we
> are 
> with respect  to navigation hazards and aids.
>  
> Our handheld charting GPS ( and I think most hand held GPS units) tracks  
> speed, average speed, time on the water, total elapsed distance sailed, 
> etc, 
> etc, - it’s all part of the package.  Also, we can hit a button and it 
> will 
> reverse course to tell us how to find our way back via our previous way 
> points - 
> that may be useful someday in fog or heavy rain.
>  
>  From time-to-time we cross-reference the GPS with our paper charts to 
> get 
> additional info regarding bottom type, correlate hazards, etc but
> generally  
> our hand held GPS map display shows hazards, buoys, etc, virtually 
> everything 
> shown on paper charts.  The GPS chart displays on our unit are  provided
> by 
> MapTech -the same people that provide paper charts.
>  
> I recommend a charting GPS as a safety and convenience item.  It does  not 
> replace a compass, you still need a compass to steer by, but the  charting
> GPS 
> will tell you where you are, what obstacles and nav aids are  nearby, and
> what 
> course to steer to get to your destination.   It  will also function as an 
> anchor alarm if you overnight.
>  
> Additionally, I have found the same handheld charting GPS to be very
> useful  
> for motor trips, hikes, etc, and it’s fun to play with.  
>  
> Dave
>  
>  
> 
> 
> 
> ************************************** See what's free at
> http://www.aol.com.
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> 

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