Handheld GPS

Zodiac Spindrift · 24 December 2011, 13:44

Merry xmas fellow "blow ups"

Can anyone give advise on the quality of handheld GPS units that can take maps/charts. I'm not interested in a fitted unit, but I'm wondering if the newer hand held units with mapping ability are any good.

Comments and recommendations will be welcome.

Pikey Dave · 24 December 2011, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiac Spindrift

Merry xmas fellow "blow ups"

Can anyone give advise on the quality of handheld GPS units that can take maps/charts. I'm not interested in a fitted unit, but I'm wondering if the newer hand held units with mapping ability are any good.

Comments and recommendations will be welcome.

I've got a Garmin Montana 650 which can display Garmin Bluecharts, GB os maps & anything else you can chuck at it. Not cheap but a nice bit of kit with a 4" touch screen.

jyasaki · 25 December 2011, 01:49

Personally, I don't think there's a huge difference between HH and fixed units aside from size, and the controls you can fit (due to the former.) I've opened up my old Lowrance fixed unit; it was mostly air inside. I would expect accuracy and such to be about the same between the two types.

jky

thomas · 25 December 2011, 08:47

I have Garmin C60x I bought when I was cat sailing, brilliant unit, has proper buttons and NMEA connector.

Peter_C · 25 December 2011, 17:56

Do you already have a depth finder? That is the big reason to get a fixed mount. We use handhelds for lot of different hobbies and sports. They work excellent! Here in the USA we have some that already have the marine maps loaded in them made by Garmin. Not sure what is available in your country though.

Zodiac Spindrift · 26 December 2011, 17:48

Hi Peter, I don't have any fixed electronics in my Zodiac. This is to keep weight down, leave plenty of space and to spare me from carrying "substantial" batteries on board.

I'd prefer to use handheld kit than can be easily stowed and carried on the Zodiac, and I accept that you'll never get the quality of the type of fixed kit I have on the yacht. So hopefully from the experience on here I may get a heads up as to what is good or not so good before I start begging my wife for some pocket money

.

Merry Xmas and Happy Hogmany.

Peter_C · 26 December 2011, 20:29

Having owned boats with and without depth finders, and boating in murky water, I now have a strong appreciation for a depth finder. Your area may not require one if you can easily see the bottom or do not have rocky shallows to kill props on.

If you ever do want to add a battery I am sure it is much like here in the USA where we are required to use an approved battery box. I use one similar to the one below with an AGM sealed battery. I have a C-tek battery charger for home use, but I also installed a regulator/rectifier for charging while running.
NOCO Group U1 Battery Box: BatteryMart.com

Garmin handhelds work pretty well.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=161

frankc · 27 December 2011, 02:38

A Garmin is very hard to beat. We use them and are very happy with the accuracy. I run the boat at night using the handheld unit.

Bieny · 27 December 2011, 08:33

I use a garmin colorado 300, I have different maps loaded on to SD cards so it also comes in handy for cycling, walking and off roading. Only down side is that it gets through batterys but they are AA so spares are easy to carry and find.

Fenlander · 27 December 2011, 09:11

I have a Garmin Etrex Venture Cx handheld and it is excellent. I've been smallcraft boating again for the past few years after a 15yr gap and it's the thing that's impresed me most in the advance of tech devices.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-eTrex...4977164&sr=8-1

Mine is small but has a colour screen and full Bluechart mapping. To see detail mapping on something that fits in your pocket never ceases to amaze.

It's also useful when arriving home to upload all track data for display on the PC.

My Etrex is waterproof (but not floating) and has been completely reliable despite several years of bumping and splashing about on holiday around Scotland.

It takes ordinary AA batteries and a pair will last a long day out with lots of looking at the screen (screen times out after a selectable period). I'd far rather this battery arrangement as a couple of spare batteries are easily stored in the pocket. I had looked at upgrading to a similar unit with larger screen but that had a fixed internal rechargeable battery which would have rendered the unit useless once it went flat out on the water.

9D280 · 27 December 2011, 11:02

No issueswith handheld accuracy (unless you buy a really old one that doesn't do WAAS / EGNOS).

Bit of sticky velcro on the back of the unit & job done!

Pikey Dave · 27 December 2011, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

It takes ordinary AA batteries and a pair will last a long day out with lots of looking at the screen (screen times out after a selectable period). I'd far rather this battery arrangement as a couple of spare batteries are easily stored in the pocket. I had looked at upgrading to a similar unit with larger screen but that had a fixed internal rechargeable battery which would have rendered the unit useless once it went flat out on the water.

The Montana has a rechargeable Lion battery which gives about 15hr heavy use. If that goes flat, you can remove it & use ordinary AA batteries (x3) The screen is spot on & displays Bluecharts in all their glory

prairie tuber · 27 December 2011, 17:38

I have an older Garmin 76 CS which is a waterproof, floating, handheld GPS which I had bought use for less than 1/2 the new price. It's features are pretty much the same as the 60 series. I have also used the 60 series which has a far more ergonomic design. The 60 series is also waterproof, but doesn't float, so if you go with it be sure to tether it when boating . If I were to choose between the 2 if at the same price, I would go with the 60 series, because the ergonomic advantage is that significant.

The handheld units work well for their intended primary purpose which is non-motorized travel. With the faster speeds of motorized travel, there definitely is a huge advantage to the larger screens of the fixed units which allow you to see a bigger area of the map while at a given magnification.

treerat · 27 December 2011, 21:19

I carry a Garmin Venturer, in a mobile phone holder clipped to the hand rail. Works a treat but only very basic maps.

Any of this range will work fine though. Big advantage is they are small, lightweight and run all day on 2 rechargeable AAs. LImite don maps but soem versions are better.

9D280 · 28 December 2011, 08:29

I'll second Prarie Tuber with the screen size comment.

I was using a Garmin 12 for a while. I generated big waypoint files that mean I can "join the dots" and not hit anything land shaped. It means I can put it in "road mode" and get an "at a glance" view of how far off course I am. Useless for anythng else, but does the job.

GJ0KYZ · 28 December 2011, 12:08

Quote:

I was using a Garmin 12 for a while. I generated big waypoint files that mean I can "join the dots" and not hit anything land shaped. It means I can put it in "road mode" and get an "at a glance" view of how far off course I am. Useless for anythng else, but does the job.

I've still got one of these; they're not bad for what they are.

Zodiac Spindrift · 31 December 2011, 20:15

Thanks for your comments folks.

Best wishes and happy boating for 2012, and Happy Hogmany!