Chuck Bollinger wrote:

At the Work Boat Show (Seattle) on Friday I was looking for a fixed
mount GPS to replace my beloved Micrologic Mariner which is showing some
senility. I found the Garmin GPS 152 and the Furuno GP-32 and 37.
They'd probably do the job.

Thing is, though, neither of them has a keypad. So I'd like to know
from a user just how, and how quickly, a waypoint can be entered. Ever
since I had a laptop disaster I've taken to putting waypoints in
manually as I need them rather than storing more than a couple. It
takes less than 10 seconds on my Mariner. How about either of these two
units.

Alternatively, can someone recommend perhaps another unit, like these
two, that does have a keypad entry?

Thanks

Chuck Bollinger wrote:

I appreciate the thoughtful replies. It confirms what I had suspected. As far
as entering info from the laptop: I go through this 'entering numbers' thing on
the GPS to stay aloof from the laptop. I've had a series of evil things happen
at bad times, which is why we have the chart-pack out when in non-home waters.
If the laptop goes I lose a toy, but not my position or ability to navigate.

This is a good group.

I can recommend the Yeoman plotter. It is a specialised digitising tablet
with a NMEA0183 interface designed for marine charts that lets you
quickly and easily read off the current position directly on any normal
paper chart using your GPS, (you just move the puck in the direction of
the illuminated arrow or arrowson it, and your position is under the hole
in the crosshair for the tip of a pencil when all the arrows have gone
out. It also reads off range and bearing to any feature on the chart, and
SENDS WAYPOINTS DIRECT FROM IT TO YOUR GPS with only a few button clicks.

Of course, you have to calibrate it to the chart, but that only takes a
couple of minutes per chart, once off, then its select the reference
number you wrote on the chart margin, and click the three reference points
if you change charts or if the power has been off.

I first met it on a friend's yacht and was sufficiently impressed with the
conveniance, accuracy and reduced risk of error that I treated my self to
one just to pre-enter waypoints in the Garmin GPS12 handheld I use when
dinghy cruising.

--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk [at]=@, [dash]=- &
[dot]=.
*Warning* SPAM TRAP set in header, Use email address in sig. if you must.
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Uffa Fox designed, All varnished hot moulded
wooden racing dinghy circa. 1961