In article ,
says...

On Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:30:51 -0400, BAR wrote:

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:18:15 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I'm thinking on the idea of ditching the harts and going with a
Garmin.

I'm think of going with something like this...

I don't really feel like spending huge dollars and this would be about
my limit, I Don't know anything about them, does this seem like a good
model? and are the charts automatically renewable, or do you have to
buy an update?

BTW, This 2owuld be used for running on the Ohio, Tennessee, and
Cumberland rivers, including lake Barclay and Ky. Lakes.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200-Rebate-G...item231b9453ab

Thanks!

===

I'm not familiar with that particular model of Garmin chart plotter
but most Garmin products rank fairly well for ease of use. The
downside is that you need to buy one or more Garmin chart chips, and
before you do that, you should check to make sure they have chips for
your area. That particular model uses something called BlueChart® g2
Vision cards that I am not familiar with.

If you already have a laptop computer you may not need anything but a
small handheld GPS for backup and use in a dinghy. With the addition
of a $30 USB GPS, an inexpensive inverter, a free software download,
and free chart downloads, you are on the air with a full featured
navigation package with route planning, waypoint setting, track
plotting, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/GlobalSat-BU-353-Waterproof-USB-Receiver/dp/B000PKX2KA

http://opencpn.org/ocpn/

http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/download_agreement.htm

There are other Garmins that you might consider. Here's an EBAY
listing for a used 192C which is an older unit but has good features:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-GPSMAP-192C-GPS-Receiver-/160785717540?pt=GPS_Devices&hash=item256f935924

It uses chart chips that cost about $100 or so. You should check on
chart availability for your area before buying any plotter.

Looks like a nice little unit. But, you can purchase it from Garmin for
$499.99

No. It RETAILS for only $439.99, but that assumes you caught the "no
transponder" note, which I am guessing is the hook.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=150&pID=28746

Part Number: 010-00764-01
Suggested Retail Price: $ 499.99 USD

You must have missed the part where I said "...you can purchase it from
Garmin for $499.99"

I don't think I would go the "computer" route, since it requires an
inverter and a Rube Goldberg setup and still doesn't give you anything
but GPS. You can do GPS (only) for a LOT less and carry it with you
off the boat with street map capability.

The computer route would be ok if you kept it inside the cabin and you
had an SSD instead of spinning media.