I use one of these both on the boat and on land and like the unit a
lot.

Here is the mount I made to keep it handy near the wheel:

Http://home.maine.rr.com/rlma/Strider0601.htm#GPS

--

Roger Long



"Lester Evans" wrote in message
news:82Mfg.6768$o%3.3028@trndny07...
mys Terry ,, I found this one on ebay.
==========================
The GPSMAP 76 is designed to provide precise GPS positioning using
correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System.
This unit features a built-in quad helix antenna for superior
reception and can provide position accuracy to less than three
meters when receiving WAAS corrections.
The GPSMAP 76 has an internal memory capacity of eight megabytes. In
addition, it comes with a built-in basemap of cities, coastlines,
lakes, rivers, interstates, and interstate exit information and a
database of nautical navaids.

This unit has eight megabytes of internal user memory for storing
optional MapSource®- detailed maps, including marine cartography.
This memory is preloaded from the factory with worldwide cities
(populations greater than 200,000) and nautical navigation aids such
as lights, buoys, sound signals and day beacons. The GPSMAP 76 is
also preloaded with tide data for the United States.

An extra-large display measuring 1.6"W x 2.2"H gives users a clear
view of information, while a waterproof case means the GPSMAP 76
will keep working well even if it's been submerged in water. Even
more amazing, this unit will actually float if accidentally dropped
in the water.

==

Is this the same one you use? It says 8 meg of memory. You have 21
meg listed in your reply.. the asking price is $300. But , it is a
"make an offer" item. That means I can offer xxx amount. Whether
the seller accepts? Who knows.

How do you load the charts ( you called them Blue Charts ). If I am
reading this right :: first I buy the unit. The unit will work,
sort of. But, in order for the unit to show good charts on the
screen I must buy some software which is called Blue Charts. I
guess I buy the software for say an area I will be boating in and
load it into the hand held GPS and then the GPS will show a more
detailed chart on the screen. And the unit will show me where I
am..



Is this about it?



Lester



"Mys Terry" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:49:00 GMT, "Lester Evans"
wrote:

I started to look for a GPS, took a look in West Marine. I am
baffled. So
many models.

For a coastal guy, along the coast of New England, what GPS is
good. Is
there a last year model that maybe I can find on ebay.

And what is up with the software.

GPS ,,, ?????????????????

this is for a small sailboat.



You can find better prices than West Marine. Try defender.com. The
prices shown on the website are not the actual discount price they
will cahrge you. To see the real price, you add the item to your
shopping cart, and at the checkout, it shows you the price. You can
do
that without actually buying the item.

I have two Garmin GPS's, and I like both of them. The smaller one
is
the GPSMAP76s, which is a monochrome display handheld unit. It
comes
with basemaps loaded, but it really becomes much more useful when
you
buy the Garmin Blue Charts for it. They have MUCH higher detail and
information. It has 21 MB of memory which means it will hold a
surprising amount of charts. I have the entire Long Island Sound,
plus
a few street maps of places we sail too, so we can find our way
around
on land, too. The street maps take a lot more memory than the blue
charts. runs off two AA size batteries, and you can use NiMH
rechargeables, or plug it into a cigar lighter socket with an
optional
$20 cable. I run mine on rechargable batteries, and I have a
charger
on board that charges 4 batteries at a time in an hour hooked into
the
boat's 12 volt system.

(They also make a model very similar to the 76 but with a color
display.)

The other unit is the GPSMAP276c, which is slightly larger, but
still
small enough to be used as a handheld. It has a really sharp color
display. The display is quite a bit larger, and the unit can be
loaded
with a lot more (mine came with a 128 mb memory card) charts and
street maps too. It's a big step up from the GPSMAP76s. Again, the
bluecharts really are half of the magic. This unit uses seperate
memory cards, so you can have a set of cards covering different
areas
if you want to travel from Maine to South America or whatever.