OK Mike,

Sorry if I sounded a little severe, but I have run into a number of
people that think that a GPS is all they need.

Now that I also know that the discussion will be primaily West Basin
with someone that is getting toward bifocal age, let me offer some
direct experience.

IME - The screen of most the handheld chartplotters that I have used are
too small for me to read easily. Things like this really matter when
you get near 40. These days I either work with my Garmin 48 and known
(previously loaded) waypoints on my own or other's boats or the big
screen units installed in the larger boats that I sail on.

I have used a friends GPS 76. It was effective, and I could find my way
around in it. I did try to use a GPSMAP76 and found the chart difficult
to read (I am a little farsighted). It does not have a function that I
use. I like the capability to set a waypoint relative to an existing
waypoint (valuable for both windward/leeward races and setting approach
points for channel entrances, All the newer units are so good at getting
a lock and have so much user memory that it is difficult to compare them
to the older units.

But Really, get the manuals off the website and go through them. I bet
you find something that you think is a deciding factor. The other good
thing to do is go to Peter Bennett's
http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/index.html
and look around. As I recall he had a linke there to a couple of guys
that used to regularly publish reviews of GPS units.

You also might consider signing into the Sailnet - Lake Erie group.
They are also builder specific groups that peovide a great deal of good
information.

What do you sail?

Fair Wind and Smooth Sea
Matt Colie


Mike_H wrote:
Thank you for all the responses. I agree that having charts and being
able to use them is a foundational point. Let me expand a bit on why I
think a GPS would be helpful, along with some of my experience, and
anyone who would like to offer additional insight into these GPS units
is very welcome!

I've been sailing small boats since I was 12 (about 32 years now),
Sunfish to Lightnings, S 2's and C-scows. My experience, however, has
been limited to rivers (the Maumee River near Toledo is where I'm moored
now), small inland lakes and bays. I've always been in sight of land.

To sail from Toledo to the islands in Lake Erie, such as the Bass
islands, Kelley's, etc., I've got to sail out of sight of land for a
good portion of the trip. I can plot my course on my charts using my
boat speed indicator and compass to calculate distance and direction,
but as backup and confirmation I thought a GPS that displayed
navigational aids and coastal information would be helpful.

All that said, I was looking at the eTrex (or the GPSMAP 76c) and the
Magellan Meridian Marine as possibilities.

Anyone have any comments or constructive criticisms regarding those
models, or a better suggestion?
Thanks!
Mike
Perrysburg, Ohio

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 19:21:35 -0400, Matt Colie
wrote:


Mike,

You do not need a GPS.
You do need to know how to navigate and have a current set of charts
on board. GPS or NO. (Stories by request only) That said....



Yes. The GPS will tell you where you are, but without the chart that
won't tell you anything.

A GPS should be thought of as another form of bearing compass.


That's a stretch. It takes both bearings and ranges on a few
satellites and does the calculations, all in one second.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

"Happy is he that taketh thy little ones and dasheth them upon the
stones." __Psalm 137