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wrote:
Karen, thanks for the info ...

btw. you still owe me some ETec info

I havent ruled out that motor yet, no maintenance, light, little fuel
use, quiet and lotsa power is just soooo tempting

...

Would you please email me (real addy posted)? ( I think your posted
email here is eithr fake or not checked)...

Matt

Thanks Matt, as for the other GPS replies I mostly agree but they all
assume you know the direction & quantum of set/drift etc (believe it or
not most smaller boats don't even track true through the water & it
varies with speed, sea state, etc), then there's a further assumption
that the quantum AND direction of off track forces will remain constant
throughout the leg; both rarely happen.

All assumptions are a big ask & pretty much negate the perfect beauty
of the GPS itself because you still end up with a ded reckon element in
your navigation (much reduced yes but why have any???) Given how easy it
is to put a series of points along your displayed track it's easy enough
to avoid. I have assumed you are using the GPS to drive an autopilot???
but if you're standing there at the wheel then the highway display can
help & most you can even set the width of that highway so it doesn't
drive you mad by being too sensitive.

Someone said you might not get to your destination but alas that's not
right & indeed the essence of the problem:-) the GPS & autopilot will
"always" get you there, but you might be approaching a long off waypoint
from the wrong & possibly a dangerous direction:-)

Sorry about the Ficht E-Tec thing Matt:-) I think you can safely buy an
E-Tec as you could most any other brand & certainly you shouldn't be
influenced by just one voice (no matter how loud:-))

I'm certainly a bit touchy on the subject, particularly when before I
even enter the subject I get personally denigrated by "believers" who
are nothing more than that & will not even try to address the technical
issues when raised. Since 98 we've pretty much been on our own against
the Ficht & Optimax technology & sadly it's always degenerated into a NG
personal slinging match, mostly me against the selling dealers (do they
have a motive to silence me??) & the usual NG suspects (owners or dealer
spruikers, do they have a motive in silencing me??; see below:-)). I
have to say since OMC rolled into a ditch under a pile of dead Fichts I
see lots of people now who suddenly "knew" they would fail & even can
tell you exactly why:-)

Other, than noting every answer & maybe the grounds for it, you should
always balance the pros & cons to your own satisfaction.

K