don't forget "portablilty" of your GPS unit...as I discovered
many other uses than "one spot" for a good GPS unit...I
use my garmin on the boat, plane, car, hiking, and some
GPG treasure hunts....Make sure you can "take it w/ya"
in a small bag or sack......a major feature Iimho...I like the
garmins, i have always had good luck w/them....and the cust
service folks...



Lee Haefele wrote:
If this is for boat navigation, Get a bigger screen, 192Cs have been on sale
at $499. Even this screen size is quite small, you need to keep either a
paper chart or computer chart at hand, detail on the small screen and big
picture of your general location on big screen and/or paper. I have a new
boat, will be adding Garmin 10" screen. I also keep Cap'n running on
laptop. This is a whole other idea, Cap'n pirate copies are everywhere and
free electronic charts are avail from other sailors, all an next to no cost.
However, laptops are not totally reliable at sea due to salt spray, windows
quirks, etc. You can feed info from cheapest Garmin GPS. I cannot see tiny
2-3" screen being very useful with maps. I sail 3-6000 miles a year,
cruising sailors are not using that setup, either a bigger screen fixed
mount GPS/plotter, or a PC are what I see. I have the 192C + Cap'n on a PC.
Usually the PC charts have more detail than the chartplotters, it varies by
the area, in the BVIs, the Garmin was the best chart set. Other brands of
chartplotters I have seen had charts without enough detail to enter a
harbor.
Lee Haefele
"Lester Evans" wrote in message
news:2%ihg.3914$LN1.3191@trndny01...
Thanks for the info from those who answered my earlier post. Couple more
questions.

The Garmin MAP76 or the Garmin MAP76s .

If I have this right; first buy the GPS unit, then get the Blue Charts.
Load the Blue Charts ,,, off and running.

How do the Blue Charts load? Is there a software program which I must
buy?

I am looking at a picture of the GPS unit and it doesn't look very big.
So, I got to thinking that there must be some trick to loading info into
the device.

Also,,, where is a good store, outlet, online store, whatever which would
be good to shop for the GPS and the Blue Charts?

I looked on Ebay and didn't really see any deals.

Do you think I could get out of this for under $300?

Anymore info on GPS, handheld, whatever ????

Thanks all.