JollyGreen wrote:
garmin colorado 400c...
Easy to read screen...
lasts about 10 hours on 2 NiMH double A batteries.
Are you kidding? If you think that's an easy to read screen, then you really should try the 76 series. I own both a GPSMap 76Cx, and a Colorado 400c. I can't see the screen on my 400c unless the light it just perfect! And as for batteries, I'm getting about 4 hours out of a set of Duracells or Energizers (76Cx gives me about 18-22 hours on the same batteries). After using my Garmin 76Cx for two seasons, I bought the 400c when it was on a Black Friday sale at West Marine. Only looked because my 76 had leaked salt water into the battery cover, and the terminals were all corroded. After using the 400c a few times I paid to get the 76 repaired by Garmin, and the 400c has sat in the gear bag ever since. I tried using both of them a few times, just to compare, but I don't even bother with it anymore. There was no comparison. This was discussed in a GPS thread sometime around March of this year. The only reason I haven't tried to sell the 400c is that I want to do a distance trip, and I'll want a second GPS to take along as a spare. If I didn't have that trip planned, I'd take the first reasonable offer just to get rid of it. I've owned several handheld GPS units over the years, both Magellan and Garmin, and I swear by the Garmin. Given Garmin's reputation, and my own previous experience with Garmin units, I found the 400c to be a major disappointment. My research after the fact found numerous outdoors related sites that mentioned the same complaints. One other thing I like about the 76 is that I can operate it with gloves on. Important if you use the unit for activities other than warm weather sailing (such as winter sailing in a dry suit and waterproof gloves).
If you want an excellent GPS value, I highly recommend the Garmin 76Cx or 76CSx. Only difference between these two is that the CSx has a magnetic compass and a barometric altimeter (as does the 400c). I like to take my GPS with me on airliners, and the barometric altimeter won't give you true altitude in a pressurized cabin.
My $300.02. That's $0.02 for the opinion, and $300 for the sale price on the 400c.
Happy Sailing,
- Jim L