GPS need or waste of $/time

I sail my Revo11 over ocean and creek, and for the last 4 years have managed with 'line of sight' navigation, but my local Ray,s is shutting down and they have Gamin GPS basic for 159.00 - no idea how to use, but obviously could learn, opinions as to use on water, do people find them reliable, useful etc...any comments welcome.

PétaK...

Big advantage for fisherman.

A safety tool when the fog rolls in.

I would recommend GPS as a safety tool alone. All the fishfinders in our catalog, with the exception of the Hook 3x, have built in GPS. Not sure if you'll be doing any kayak fishing, but the Hook 4 is an economical option for providing a fishfinder + gps all-in-one, and they retail for around $300.

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Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

I find the GPS/Navionics combination to be unbelievably useful. Fishing aside, and the ability to mark fish or areas of interest, being able to track distances, chart your course, check bathometry (sp?) really help in making trips more productive. If you are on new water, the piece of mind knowing where you launched and how far you have come or have to go makes things that much more enjoyable. And if your out early or after dark, line of site can be useless. Ever try finding a ruff camp site at the back of a cove after dark? Hell, finding the right cove is tough enough, but where you left your tent, almost impossible at some of the places I have camped and fished.

I was on the Mississippi last weekend. Put in at a spot I have never been to before. Ended up peddling 18 miles, half of that up stream. I would have had no clue how far I went without GPS. Peddling into the Mississippi current, I was lucky to make 2.5mph, peddling downstream, I was making 7.5mph. It took me over two hours to go 5 miles upstream, but less than 45 minutes to return to the creek I started in. Then 4 miles up that creek, and four miles back to my launch point. I got all that information from the GPS. Not to mention, I got to spend my time checking out the awesome views, and watching out for barges and the tidal wave like effect they have long after they pass. A quick glance at the GPS/Charts told me everything I needed to know...like exactly where my trailer was!

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

Navionics phone app is also worth considering as an economical option

I fish the Gulf coast almost every weekend. We normally launch from up in a creek and work our way down to the opening to the Gulf. We then fish the creek mouths along the coast and sometimes peddle out to some deep holes or oyster bars a good ways from shore. Sometimes 2 miles out. When you look back at the shoreline, it all looks the same as we're not fishing off populated coastline. Having a GPS that shows you the track (path) you have taken and the ability to point you right back at the spot you came out of is invaluable. Most of the sonar units on the market with GPS built in work just great. A handheld GPS could work as well.

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Steve Stubbs
USAF (retired)

SeaDek Fishing Team
Unfair Lures Pro Staff
Ziptailz Ambassador

2015 Pro Angler 14 - Papaya
2018 Compass - Sea Grass

If you play in tidal waters a GPS is a huge advantage because it allows you easily to navigate the best route to your destination countering the effects of tidal set as you go; this means covering fewer miles to get to your destination and because kayaks go relatively slowly the effects of tidal streams can be quite large compared with a faster vessel.

You can achieve the same thing with line of sight if you have objects on your track that you can line up and keep aligned but this is not always the case.

Good GPSs also have things like speed, time of arrival etc which are also useful.

Then there's marking points very accurately/chartplotting (for fishing); the ability to pinpoint your position (for safety if you also carry a radio) and the cool factor of being able to answer in the affirmative when people say "oh wow, and you have a GPS as well...?!".

...they are also fun to fiddle with.

So overall I would give mine (albeit a GPS/Chartplotter & Fishfinder) a thumbs up... just make sure you get a waterproof one!!!

On open water going against the conditions with no nearby land marks it can be hard to determine whether you are actually making headway or not. GPS will confirm this before you start to panic

Thanks for the ideas etc. Have bought the EXTREX 10, V basic way points, but will do me. Good try out next week, going to Airlie Beach, & I will be sailing the Revo at Shute Harbour.
Bright Yellow yak with aged lady at the helm...say Hello....


Péta K..

I use a GPS for finding a spot I've had marked. The idea of it for a main navigation tool is fine if you know how to use a compass first. The GPS is only as good if it's working and the battery has life to it. You should always know the direction you started from and though out the day know the direction by heading. Turn off the GPS one day and paddle. Start off by turning around and getting a reference of landmark from the launching area. Look at the compass from time to time and then at end of time find your way back in without use of the electronics.

Compass first, electronics second always.