HAND HELD WATERPROOF GPS PLOTTER - WHICH IS BEST?

[finmitchell]

I am sailing a Hobie Pacific round the UK for charity this summer and want to take a hand held waterproof GPS plotter as a fail safe but know nothing about them whatsoever!
Please can somebody advise on the best device for the purpose
Thanks

 

[Channel Ribs]

I use a Garmin eTrex and cannot recommend it highly enough.

If you can pad out the details of your event I may well be able to get you some help in obtaining one?

 

[Evadne]

Not a plotter, and I'm not regular RIB pilot, but I found the Garmin GPS 60 a good device for programming and finding waypoints, and steering to them, in a RIB in less than ideal sea conditions.

 

[finmitchell]

I can email you an information pack - my email is fin@langhampark.co.uk - if you bang an email through i will send the pack to you
Thanks for the comms!

 

[Channel Ribs]

Thanks for the pack.

Have a look at www.wetwayround.com which is a site I am helping with - for a jetski circumnavigation team.

I will also post your details on www.scuttlebut.org where we have a section to try and match up charities with volunteers and supporters.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Garmin GpsMap 76Cx or 60Cx

The 276C is probably the best portable plotter ever produced by any company.

 

[SnaxMuppet]

Garmin 76Cx... great bit of kit

 

[BrendanS]

Garmin 276c for me anytime. Has everything you need.

 

[rogerdog]

Another vote for the Garmin eTrax - I've dropped it more times than I can remember, tested its waterproofing, and it still works a treat -not the biggest screen is the only slight downside -but its a rugged little blighter

 

[ditchcrawler]

I had a raymarine RC400 hand held which with a navionics chart is first class.If you do not want to pay too much have a look at www.jkmax.co.uk who are selling a Lowrance handheld colour plotter the ifinder H2OC including a Nautic Path chart covering all of the UK for £225.I bought a black & white h/h plotter from them for £60 in which I use the Nautic Path chart & it does the job as a back up & I take it on other boats.

 

[Bradders]

Have a look at the Garmin Colorado 300 !

 

[Lizzie_B]

I have a Lowrance H20 which I have been very happy with indeed.. got it at and excellent price from www.boatbandit.com
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[mixmaster]

Everyone's recommending the 276C. I have it and and it is excellent except it doesn't take disposable batteries so you need to have an ability to charge it. Which you probably won't have on a HobieCat!

 

[KREW2]

I have an RC 400 which is brilliant, the only thing which seems pointless is the alarms are only visual, not much point in having an anchor alarm if it is not audible. For some reason I believe they have stopped production of what I think is a very good piece of kit.

 

[seumask]

Second the E-trex advised by malthouse, after testing it in some pretty difficult coastal conditions in the channel islands last summer, it worked extreamly well and really is handheld / fits in a pocket on your bouyancy aid, intuative to use etc.

 

[EdWingfield]

I wish to support Ditchcrawlers advice. I've recently bought a Lowrance unit fron JKMAX who gave me excellent service. I ordered an H20C with the nauticpath chart. They were temorarily out of stock and gave me the Expedition at the same price. I'm just back from a weeks sail and have used the plotter. The unit performs very well, the best I've seen in handheld. The nauticpath chart covers all uk and near continent and is excellent for coasting (I've yet to test it on a North Sea crossing) It does lack harbour details and would not be your best choice for 'ditchcrawling' work. For that I would buy the more expensive Navionics charts.