GPS Frustration

Sorry, bit of a rant but.... I used an old Garmin GPSmap 76 vanilla model. Never really found it very intuitive, but it was waterproof and the screen was semi-reasonably big-ish. Fast forward to yesterday when I started messing with a new GPSmap 78. I just don't get it... The screen is smaller. smaller. The unit itself does not seem that much smaller than the old model. I have zero confidence in the new rubber "flaps" protecting the USB and antenna. I cannot see how they make a good seal, and stay that way. They are just too shallow and it seems they can easily be dislodged from normal handling on a boat.

The buttons are the same as the previous model, but this new menu system is even less intuitive than the last. Why scroll through a ribbon that shows you what page you will be going to next, sit there, and then go to the page? Why not just go to the page?

There appears to be no way to create a waypoint that is somewhere other than you currently are. You can hit mark, and create a waypoint, but unless you know that lat/long of where you want it, there appears to be no way to move it. I don't need a pinpoint waypoint. I just want to throw one in the vicinity of my boat launch...while I'm at home. With the 76, you could at least drop a waypoint at your current location, and then visually move it elsewhere. A pain, but doable. I cannot see how this is possible with the new model.

I'm not usually one to complain about something without reading the literature...but it seems like the literature on this GPS is lacking. I almost think that I am just reading the wrong stuff, or not looking close enough, or that my brain just isn't on the same page as whomever designed the menu system etc... Like I'm a right brained person and the designers were left brained people...

Regardless, I am not a huge fan. Are there any folks using the larger GPS/Chartplotters Garmin offers? Are they water resistant enough to use on an Island?

Are you certain you want a hand held unit? They tend to be over priced, hard to read, and with far less features than console units which you can easily mount to the TI. Additionally, chartplotter consoles offer amazing navigation and sonar capabilities which I find invaluable and would never be without. The 2015-16 TI is already rigged for a depthfinder transducer and pre-2015's can be retrofitted. They are definitely waterproofed enough to use on the TI, most are submersible up to a depth of 3 meters for 30 minutes.

If you're willing to consider a chartplotter console let me know and I can tell you where to find some excellent units right now at closeout prices. I just purchased an eight inch screen console at an incredible savings over last year's price.

Hey pro10is,

Do the chartplotters that you are referencing include a GPS with heading and speed? I am looking for a all-in-one (chart, speed, heading, depth, and fish finder) type of mountable unit for a TI.

Thanks.
Ted

I have a 2012 vintage Lowrance Elite4 DSI fish finder/chart plotter, and can select various parameters to display. My normal combination is Depth, GPS (ground) speed, battery voltage, water temperature and time (I think). I have four individual background displays, and can split the screen to show any two.

One is overhead zoomable chart, showing vessel's heading with an arrowhead, plus course to date. There is a compass showing course being taken. There is a fish finder, with many many different viewing options (depth scale, colour etc). Can't remember the fourth screen

You can store something like 400 waypoints, and can add one by moving the cursor to a point on the chart and saving it as a waypoint.

You have 10 levels of brightness as well as different colour schemes for the plotter screen as well (eg night etc)

I could go on, but really the extra expense is so little compared to a hand-held GPS that I tend to think the latter are really designed for hikers etc rather than waterborne users. I do agree that the USB card slot is vulnerable, and cover mine with duct tape rather than rely on the rubber flap.

Hope this helps. I called my unit "vintage" because since I bought mine, the newer technology has blown it away.....I believe the new Garmin units offer similar functionality.

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Tony answered this question above but yes they include all of that and much, much more. I have a Humminbird 999 which even includes side sonar which displays photographic-like images of what's under the boat. On days where the wind is very light this provides a great deal of entertainment value and makes even going slow enjoyable. There's an entire new world under the boat to explore.

The combination of navigation and speed features allows me to optimize all my sailing to the max. I can easily and safely judge exactly how far I can go given the conditions and time available. The depth finder and depth chart available on the screen allow me to safely venture into shallower waters I would normally avoid. I can now easily approach shores to sight see.

Chart plotters provide so many advantages to anyone with a TI or AI and greatly improve the experience. You should really think about getting one. You can get an excellent unit starting at only about $250.

Thanks Tony and pro10is.

I am looking for a unit that can show the speed by GPS, so I can stash the transponder in the hull of the TI and not need to install the little wheel thing at the back of the boat (and have it snap off when I beach, etc).

Thanks!

Ted

I have the newer gpsmap hand held model.

I believe that if you are on the map screen, you can use the arrow pad to move to a location and set a waypoint, but I don't use it that way.

The newer models can also be plugged directly into a pc and you can navigate to the waypoint files. They can be easily copied, modified, replaced, etc.

_________________
-Chris

If you let me know what price range works for you I can recommend a model.

Tony how difficult is it to put custom maps on a Lowrance? I tried googling it and it looked kind of complicated. Garmin, in comparison, is relatively easy to do, so you don't really need to purchase extra maps for inland lakes etc.

I see GPS devices and GPS/Fishfinder "combo" devices. Is the GPS on these combo devices sub par compared to the same model that is only GPS?

pro10is, why so guarded about this source of yours? Is it a website or something?

Source is not guarded at all. Cabelas is having a great sale on chart plotters, especially the pre-Helix Humminbird 800-900 series units at closeout prices. If you're interested take a look.

FWIW I mounted a Lowrance 4 on our TI after seeing one on another TI. I also have GPS on my VHF, an eTrex 30, and a ZUMO from my bikes that I played around with. I am just learning to use the Lowrance, but I am very happy with it after one season. It's far better than the others because of the larger screen. Reasonably priced on sale at West Marine, great graphics, speed, direction and more information about the bottom structure and fish than I can figure. The transducer would have been a snap to install had I planned ahead and had the right hardware (available from Hobie).