Garmin handheld GPS/chartpotter

[eddystone]

If I had a Garmin chartplotter with embedded Blue charts and I get a Garmin waterproof handheld to use at the helm, do I have to buy a separate set of charts and at what cost. Could use navionics on my Galaxy S2 phone of course but 10 second battery life is a bit of a problem. Heard Garmin 76csx recommended but looks like old model - I presume any model with a colour screen would do?

 

[FishyInverness]

Hi Eddy,

Yup, you would need to purchase seperate charts - the cost would be the same as the chart for a fixed plotter - That link I gave you in the thread regarding the GPSMAP750 gives you RRP pricing, it's based on chart size, as oppose to the platform it's being used on.

Some Garmin handhelds, like the Montana 600 Marine Pack, come preloaded with charting, but at over £350, you're starting to look at having a 2nd plotter in and of itself. IIRC the GPSMAP78 is the successor to the 76 that can take charting.

 

[eddystone]

Thanks Fishy - so that's a non-starter.

 

[Pye_End]

Try a 276c second hand. They are an excellent plotter, and do come up on ebay relatively cheaply.

This one has a chart with it as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Garmin-GPSMAP-276C-GPS-Receiver-/281193004583

 

[wonkywinch]

An update to an old thread, but I recently bought a GPSMAP78S and baulked at the price of Garmin maps so downloaded those from the free Opensea source - http://www.openseamap.org/index.php?id=kartendownload&L=1

They don’t have depths on them (work in progress) but then I don’t use it for primary nav, that’s done on paper then the Garmin handheld is a useful back up with all sorts of other functions, most can be custom edited on the various screens. Has an anchor alarm and the batteries seem to last much longer than the older Etrex and Colorado I used to have.

Shame it doesn’t seem to charge nimh batteries through the USB port though. Oh, and being an old design, it has a mini, not micro usb but comes with a lead.

The S is the one with the compass.

 

[PaulRainbow]

There are plenty of phone app's now, that do much more than a handheld will do and the phone can be charged from an onboard USB socket.

With todays Garmin plotters and the Active Captain app, you can use your plotter charts on your phone for free. You can also use your charts on any other compatible device or even passage on your PC with Homeport.

 

[wonkywinch]

There are plenty of phone app's now, that do much more than a handheld will do and the phone can be charged from an onboard USB socket.

With todays Garmin plotters and the Active Captain app, you can use your plotter charts on your phone for free. You can also use your charts on any other compatible device or even passage on your PC with Homeport.

I'm a newcomer to sailing and have played with a few apps on my android phone but perhaps I'm still behind the times as I still feel more comfortable with a "made for the job" device. At the moment I'm still chartering and using club boats so no chance to copy plotter maps across.