Best color handheld GPS for the money

A

Anita Marie

New member
I am planning to purchase a color handheld chartplotter GPS. I was wondering peoples opinion on the different models on the market. I have always liked Garmin but am open to others models.
 
Hi Fred & Robbin,
In April, I purchased the 76CS by Garmin at West Marine. I'm very pleased with it and have it mounted next to the Raymarine chartplotter while cruising. The only disappointment I've had with it, was that about a month after purchasing it, West Marine had it on sale for $100 less than what I paid.
(Nice having a "back-up" available).

P.S. Not certain if it is "best for the money", but it has made me happy.. :teeth .
 
The Lowrance iFinder H2O C is about $100 less than that Garmin 76CS ($200 less if you don't get the elaborate CD Maps). What we like are the Chips , since Lowrance takes all chips and Garmin seems to only take Garmin Chips, which are pricey. We've sold quite a few and we really like them.
Good Luck!
 
the Garmin 376C looks nice. Checkout http://www.panbo.com for some reviews & interesting articles on the subject. The author of that blog also writes columns in PMY magazine.

I own the Garmin 76CS but now a year later I'd probably spend the extra $$ on a bigger 376. Garmin is a favorite of mine & many others. It's hard to put a finger on useability when comparing units but Garmin really does seem ahead of the pack here.
 
I've got the H20C and really like it. I have a Navionics chip for it and it works well. I just wish the batteries lasted longer! I get about 8 hours out of them before they are toast.
 
Looked to me from a Google search that the basic Lowrance H20 C is about $220...while the Garmin 76C is available presently for $299. The Garmin interface is great, can't comment on the Lowrance interface. The Garmin ability to connect to a computer to download routes and waypoints is a really strong point in its favor, again can't comment on how that works with the Lowrance. Either way, looks like you will spend money on chips or CDs - and the Garmin CDs are awesome. Probably the kind of deal where either way you will be happy, but if I were doing it, I would stick with what I know works great all the way around, which is the Garmin.


New Hampshire Guy":3lw1a8lh said:
The Lowrance iFinder H2O C is about $100 less than that Garmin 76CS ($200 less if you don't get the elaborate CD Maps). What we like are the Chips , since Lowrance takes all chips and Garmin seems to only take Garmin Chips, which are pricey. We've sold quite a few and we really like them.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
 
Pat Anderson":fl4p865l said:
while the Garmin 76C is available presently for $299.
Click to expand...

I recently bought a 76Cx at West Marine on sale for $399 and then got a $100 rebate. Pretty neat device, chip enabled too. Not only that, I had a bunch of $15 off certificates because of previous indiscretions, real cheap after the rebate and those puppies. :lol: Can't afford to save that much very often... :disgust

Charlie
 
I would expect it to work just fine inside the cabin. I have two gps sensors sitting on the shelf above the helm. Raymarine and Lowrance. Both work just fine there as does a handheld Magellan I've had for years. Fiberglass isn't transparent to RF at those frequencies but the attenuation is so slight only a truly anal engineer would lose sleep over it.

Don
 
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