On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 19:59:06 -0500, Bill Rhine wrote:

I now have a small boat (17 ft.) on Lake Oachita in Arkansas. I have
Lowrance Sonar and need to equip this boat with a GPS Mapping unit since
where I have my boat is very close to timber "Stickups". So to navigate into
the clear waterway, I want to be able to have fairly accurate Mapping
information. I have been looking at both the Garmin 168 and the Lowrance
LMS-480M.. I would apprecite any suggestions anyone may be able to
offer.Also is there any major benefit to Color over Greyscale.I would be
using a Laptop to record all of my routes. Thanks for any insight you may be
able to offer.
Hayward

I have a Garmin 168 which I just replaced with a Garmin 188. The old one
is about 1 year old and is available for sale with mapping software and a
computer cable. It works perfectly. However, I would be less than honest
if I didn't tell you that I replaced the 168 because I could not read it
with the sun in front of me. My boat is a Utopia 185, an 18.5' jet boat
with an open cockpit of the "bowrider" design. If I put the top up, it was
easier to read, but I like the sun. I am 63 and have reasonably good eyes
(I wear reading glasses, but not while boating).

The biggest benefit to color is the brightness of the screen. The 188 is
much brighter than the 168.

I don't think the accuracy of ANY GPS device is sufficient to navigate in
close to obstructions. However, you can make notes and place them on the
electronic charts, particularly with the mapping software.

I am gone most of today, but will check email tonight if this interests
you.
--

Larry
email is rapp at lmr dot com
10/18/04 10:49:20 AM