Charlie Morgan wrote:

On Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:16:23 +0100, Ian Malcolm
wrote:

Mika wrote:
On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:09:32 GMT, "Small Sailboat"
wrote:


Small sailboat,,, no GPS. For next season I want to get a
handheld Garmin GPS. I see them all over.

What is a good one? I don't want to spend too much money.




Search eBay for used Garmin 48. I´ve had one such handheld for
three years, and quite happy with it. Large display, easy to use,
can get software to upload/download data such as waypoints and
track to/from your computer.

Mika

Or Garmin GPS 12XL. its a handheld but can be run on ship's 12V
power, has connector for optional external antennae and has
audible alarms for waypoint arrival. This means you CAN use it as a
fixed mount GPS below.

The very similar GPS12 lacks the direct 12V power in (you need a
converter cable as its 8V abs. MAX), the antennae socket and the
audible alarms.

Both are similar in appearance to the GPS48 but are rather more
modern and easier on batteries. ALL THE ABOVE GPSes DONT DO MAPS.
Garmin mapping GPSes only work with maps and charts from Garmin :-(


The Garmin's ability to use Garmin Charts is a major PLUS. They are
very well done.

Before getting an electronic chart plotter, get someone to demo a
Yeoman Plotter. http://www.yeomanuk.co.uk/ You have to carry
the paper charts anyway, Why not make them easy to use with your
GPS? (Ideal companion to any of the above GPSes)

N.B. MOST CHART PLOTTERS ARE FAR FROM WATERPROOF. ESPECIALLY IF
THEY USE REMOVABLE DATA CARDS. Many claim to be water resistant
when new but a couple of years later you are lucky if they've
stayed splashproof.

Garmin GPSMAP76s is not only waterproof - it FLOATS.

CWM

That's what we have and it's great. I've been playing around with ENC
software and I think that the 76S will accept some of it. I know that
it can be used with Garmin's Blue Charts. We took ours to the BVI on
our last charter there and it had the maps built in, no charts, but we
had just gotten it and hadn't much time with it. Learning more about it
been using it with Topo maps. Jim

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