On Oct 28, 12:17*pm, Jim wrote:
Frogwatch wrote:
A few months ago I bought a Garmin GPSmap76s instead of the old GPS76
because it was able to interface with my computer to load chart
software. *I'd never done this before but thought it migh be useful
enough to make me change my Luddite ways. *Well, it won't happen cuz I
am totally unimpressed.
First, the Bluechart plots on my PC are crappy with really badly drawn
outlines of the land. *If real charts were that bad we wouldn't buy
them. *Then, buying charts for more regions are really expensive.
Next, the download onto my GPS is almost useless with tiny things I
need a magnifier to see and an awful interface to change the level of
detail. *It does not display water depth and if it did the display
would be too crowded to read.
Quite frankly, I see no reason for the chartplotting feature of this
small GPS.

Now, some consideration of how i use GPS: *basically as a knotmeter
and rarely using the coordinates, I tend to know where I am without
using the GPS because I always have a chart beside me and my hand
compass around my neck and constantly take bearings. *Out of sight of
land I do use GPS but still find DR to be more useful.
Many people like waypoints on GPS but I do not because i find them to
be too cumbersome. *After all, from the GPS (or compass bearings) I
know where I am and where i want to go so why use waypoints?
One thing I do like about GPS is the use of what I call "danger lines"
meaning, "If my longitude exceeds such and such there is a possibility
I am getting too close to that shoal". *Of course, prior to GPS we did
that with our hand compass but GPS does make it easier but you do not
need waypoints or chartplotters for that.
I do not see GPS plotters replacing paper charts anytime soon.

I have used Garmin Mapsource with various Garmin GPS units for the past
10 years or so. By itself, Mapsource isn't a wonderful mapping program.
But you can use it to save waypoints, tracks and maps. Also you can
download custom sets of waypoints off the WEB. Updates of the program
have always been free. And you might even be able to find sets of marine
data to download to Mapsource and then to your GPS.

It might make sense for a larger display but not for the tiny one on
the 76.