Speed measurement

[lightning]

Can I get a low priced device just to tell me how fast I am travelling in my SIB? I assume I would be looking at a GPS device but they all seem to have a lot more features than I need.

[Leapy]

If it's just for speed and not much else try looking on eBay for a second hand Garmin eTrex or similar. They've been around for years now and there must be good working units available for not too much money.

You might a response from someone on here who has an old unit kicking around that they no longer want.

[Poly]

It depends what you mean by low cost!

Originally Posted by Leapy

If it's just for speed and not much else try looking on eBay for a second hand Garmin eTrex or similar. They've been around for years now and there must be good working units available for not too much money.

You might a response from someone on here who has an old unit kicking around that they no longer want.

As Leapy says an old second hard Garmin or a Lowrance iFinder (the "Go"/"Go2" range were the cheapest - but some of their other range are sometimes available as new old (i,e, discontinued) stock). You should be able to pick up something new for £60-100. Will also mean you can fix your position etc too.

[Jizm]

Put an ad in the bits and pieces, I expect some one has an old H/H garmin GPS12 or similar for a few beer tokens.
Just remember though that some of the older GPS units take for ever to acquire the satelites!

[9D280]

Originally Posted by Jizm

Just remember though that some of the older GPS units take for ever to acquire the satelites!

Even if it's particularly slow, if you switch it on before you launch it'll know where it is before you start the engine. Ihave an old Garmin 12 & it usually knows where it is within 30s of switching on, always <1 min.

If you want really cheap and don't mind scrificing a bit of accuracy, could you get a pitot transom mount dial type? I've seen them go 2nd hand for under a tenner.

[PeteH]

I use a Garmin GPS 3,old machine take loads (4 AA) batteries does the job it got off ebay a few years ago for £20 beer tokens and its still going strong,out in the open picks ups sats within 60 seconds.

[Jizm]

My GPS38 sometimes takes forvever to acquire location, 30mins etc.....

[jyasaki]

A lot of GPS units remember the last location (where they were when they were shut down.) If it's a close match to the location as they're locking in to the satellites, it cuts down the acquisition time dramatically, from many minutes (over 30 in some instances) to seconds (or perhaps a couple of minutes, depending on your satellite coverage.)

Couple of weeks ago, I headed up north to do some abalone diving. My buddy's GPS locked on in about 30 seconds, whereas mine took about 20 minutes (same unit, same antennas.) Dunno. Was fine for the weekend after acquisition.

jky

[codprawn]

Remember a lot of phones have GPS now - if you have a suitable bit of software on it. Just remember to put the phone into a freezer bag first...........

[codprawn]

You could of course get a knotted piece of string and a log and time how fast the knots pass through your hand!!!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by codprawn

You could of course get a knotted piece of string and a log and time how fast the knots pass through your hand!!!

Cod - you've just reminded me what I did when I got my boat and wanted to see how fast it went. I had an anaemometer (sort of thing sailors use) and on a flat calm day used it to measure "air speed". Having now gone GPS I would say it was pretty accurate!

[lightning]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll look for a secondhand unit on ebay first, if no luck the dealer who sold me the boat has some at under £100, as suggested.

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Remember a lot of phones have GPS now - if you have a suitable bit of software on it. Just remember to put the phone into a freezer bag first...........

Forgot about that! My Nokia N series has it, will try that later....