Need recommendation on a hand held GPS

petemos · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:32 am Post subject:

Sorry guys I have been traveling and have not had a chance to respond and thank everyone for their comments. I'm starting to look at this Garmin 78SC as a possible unit. Anyone have any comments on it. Also will it have the maps for North East Canada on it, or do you think that will be an additional buy?

Thanks again.
Jim

blackfish · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 10:38 am Post subject:

I think you have pay extra for any Canadian marine charts

Aurelia · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 11:30 am Post subject:

Just a note. The 76CSX and the 76CX are nearly the same with the exception of a barometer/altimeter sensor on the CSX version. You decide if that is important to you on a boat.

Greg

wesshaw · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: Handheld GPS

I own 7 or 8 Garmins (3 hand-helds and the rest fixed) and the DeLorme Earthmate PN 20 handheld. It is by far the best and most accurate of them all. The charting/mapping software is superior, satellite view excellent, and it is extremely user friendly... Waterproof/resistant I take it with me in the small skiffs with no worry whatsoever. Also use it in all my vehicles... It's fast (and I believe the new PN 30 or 60 is even faster) and other than the 'usual' problem of a small screen on 'older' eyes I consider it my "best" GPS. Very rugged & extremely intuitive/user friendly. A great product from the nation's leading Map company right here in Maine...

dave · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject:

I have a Garmin 76CS Plus, a Garmin Colorado, and the Navionics app on my iphone. They do some things better than the other. For $10 the Navionics app is as good or better than the Garmins. If you want waterproof/resistant get an Otterbox for your iphone

REBEMUP · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject: GPS iPhone waterproof bag

West Marine, and I am sure others, sell a waterproof bag for iPhone and other smart phones. It allows you to use the full function of the phone through the cover of the bag. Works well for me with iNavx.

nimrod · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject:

With the GPSMap 76 C(s)x, do folks feel the need to purchase the bluechart chips, or are the factory installed charts sufficient for navigating coastal (e.g, Puget sound) waters?

jd

OceanFare · Joined: 24 May 2011 Posts: 4

My Dad has the Garmin eTrex. My brother and I have the Garmin Rino which is a little more expensive but it has the cool FRS functionality among other improvements. I've always considered Garmin to be the King of handheld GPS.

Aurelia · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:09 pm Post subject:

The additional Garmin G2 bluechart chips are really important if you want to have cartography on the screen. I use a 76cx as a second (always running) on the boat with G2 charts for our area and If it wasn't for Radar and Sounder additions to the big unit, I could run the 76 only and be fine. I also use it on kayak trips and the charts are great for that as well. The factory map built into the unit is useless unless crude shorelines and points for cities is all you need.

Aurelia · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 10:08 pm Post subject:

They currently have that 76Cx handheld unit I was talking about on sale at West Marine for $149 and also the G2 chartcard for the US on sale for $99. Thats $250 for an actual backup or secondary chartplotter with charts which is a great deal. Plug it into 12v power and run it all the time. It even has backlit buttons for night use. Can you tell I am happy with my two.....

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=435018&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50157&subdeptNum=50177&classNum=50179

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=435889&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50157&subdeptNum=50177&classNum=50182

boscoj

I have a Garmin GPSmap 60 CSx as well . . . vg

I'm not sure of the map data for Eastern Canada but the Western coast seems good to me . . . it helped me to find a pretty gnarly geocache the "Mouth of Peril" apparently I'm the only one that has ever found it and this was back in 2007 . . .

N 57° 28.853 W 134° 50.076

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC13Y1T

I love the altimeter and barometer, plays nicely with the PC.

The remote antenna connection is cool because I also have 2 GPS time standards in my house and I can use the HP GPS antennas on my roof for a sweet connection.

I love mine

breausaw · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject:

Garmin, make it so and be done with this thread.
Find the one that meets your needs, pre-loaded with charts is best.

boscoj · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:17 am Post subject:

well if you have more than one Garmin device it's nice to have the map data on a cd or on a local pc . . .

Aurelia · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

Or a micro-sd card that you can swap between the two which is more common in later units. My 76 and 740 can use the same chart card if needed.