On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:20:27 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

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.

Well, I'm sure it does - you need to expand the zoom level. I'm not
all that familiar with the 76 series handheld, but I'm sure I've seen
it on the same software.

Quite frankly, I see no reason for the chartplotting feature of this
small GPS.

Yes and now. I have an RC-400 Raymarine and it's a full function
handheld chartplotter. The screen is big enough to see though and
that may be the difference.

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.

To each their own. I'm the exact opposite - I use the GPS as the main
tool and keep the charts and hand compass handy in case I don't have
the GPS. I will occasionally turn the GPS off and run into unfamiliar
waters just to keep myself sharp with chart and compass, but it's
foolish to keep using the chart and DR skills when you have the
electronic tool available.

Besides, you never really know where you are with DR - it's always an
approximation.