any recommendations for a gps system??

[millym]

hi
everytime i post on this site i get fantastic replys from you all so a quick thanks very much ( from a clueless newish boat co- owner!!!)
this time im looking for any recommendations on a gps. one that even an idiot ( like me) can use!!! we have an old handheld thingy but its very outdated & takes an age to get a fix & are looking to buy something newer & better. ideally im looking for something that looks/works like the ones you get for cars we have a navman in my other halfs van but sadly we cant buy software for it that we could use boating around the south coast( nr poole etc)
does anyone have any recommendations??? keeping in mind that we are new boat owners and definately not clued up on complicated navigation stuff ( but willing to learn what we need!!)
ta

 

[Koeketiene]

Furuno GP32

Solid, easy to use.
Can be interfaced with almost anything.

Should be able to get one for approx 230 quid

 

[JonBrooks]

Garmin every time.
Good range of kit.
Easy to use.
Great back up and service.

I have a Garmin 276c.
Easy to use and easy to see.
It is used for car navigation, boat navigation with sounder and also on my mountian bike.

The in car side is very good IMHO, works very well and the voice promts help no end.

Garmin everytime for me would not use anything else.

Regards

 

[BrendanS]

If you want something that looks like what you have in a car, then I presume you want a small plotter

The Garmin 276c is superb, and as well as putting marine charts on it, you can also load street maps and put it in the car

http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap276c/

 

[Mukes]

6 handheld chartplotters are reviewed in April's Yachting Monthly.

 

[BrendanS]

PS, a forumite here runs yachtbits, the online chandlery, and is doing very good prices
http://www.yachtbits.com/garmin/276c_portable_marine_automotive_gps_plotter.php

 

[totopalm]

Fully endorse Yanita, great bit of kit!!
Furuno GP32

 

[Guest]

took me ages to decide .... then ...

Lowrance 3500C incl. Chart Card for covering more than I'll ever need ... Greenland to Gibraltar incl. UK ...
Full colour job ... takes Navionics as well ....

445 quid delivered new ..... got to be one of the best deals going ....

Quite a few on the forums have grabbed one ... must be a reason !!!!!!

Navionics being their own Chart company and unlike Garmin etc., who buy in ... I think chart card availability will not be a problem ... some GPS - ie Garmin changed card system and owners were left holding cards of no use to them ....

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
Garmin every time.
Good range of kit.
Easy to use.
Great back up and service.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree whole heartedly, used to use and fit Lowrance for a while but have now gone back to Garmin. It is true that they made a mess with their old G-Charts, but they still lead the way for ease of use and realiabilty.

 

[gjgm]

give some thought to
how much you want to spend
where you will site it (is there room)
how far from you that will be (size/ease of use/can you read it)
how fast you go (can you actually use those buttons under way)

its worth spending a little time in the stores. Different plotters use different charting software;you may prefer one to another. And some plotters definitely have more logical menus than others. You dont want to scroll through to get to a frequently used menu. And think about screen clarity and brightness. Anyone of the above may be more important to you than someone else...

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Still happy with the Magellan 310 bought off Ebay a couple of years back for a bit under the ton. Tells me where I am if the plotter turns up its toes and in extremis will still interface with the VHF for full DSC.

 

[Channel Ribs]

I have just re-read your original post, I see you may not be after an all purpose plotter but merely one that is as easy to use as your sat nav...

If thats the case, I would recomend Garmin's 172 (or even 178 if you would like depth/fish) as they are dedicated marine units as well as being better value for money.

 

[Sans Bateau]

If I was only going to have one system it would be a Garmin 152 with a Yeoman plotter.

 

[jim99]

Agree the Furuno GP32 is a nice bit, but you can get lots of handhelds for next to nothing. I bought two more etrex handhelds at a out-of-business sale, so now I have three. When the Furuno fades, and it will, as these things will, I have backup.

 

[Channel Ribs]

[ QUOTE ]
...When the Furuno fades, and it will, as these things will, I have backup.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have an 8 year old 'II+' that has been around the world 3 times. It still works but it drains batteries faster than it used to. Not sure if that is relevant, I may just be reminiscing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[geoff93]

The Garmin 276c is quite good from what I have heard.