Which GPS?

[FlyingDutchman]

I am planning to buy my (first) GPS.
Which one would you prefer: the Garmin 72 or the Garmin 126?
Or another GPS in the same price range?

 

[DJE]

I've been using a Furuno GP-32 for the last season. Very happy with it.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Thanks, the Furuno is a very nice one, but a little too expensive (for me)

 

[Guest]

Garmin 152, very little more expensive and it repeats nmea.
Therefore, easy to have depth, etc. at the chart table.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Second that, it is also EGNOS ready. Only a little more expensive than the 126, you will also find that Garmin backup is very good, several threads have praised the aftersales of the company. They also have a good website for software updates.

Yes go for a 152

 

[trouville]

I also am looking for a new GPS to replace my very old garmin 120 and decided as its to be for a Folkboat it should be a garmin 12 which has 12v adapter and can have another "display" addon? Its also removable.(hopefully by me)
Is this a good choise??? im not really current and there are millions of them by now-my Garmin has been in use since 1989? and never given a problem other than coroded contacts that give the back lite sometimes yes sometimes no!! that was my fault for leaving it with the cables off in the cockpit for almost a whole winter!!

 

[Sans Bateau]

I cannot comment on Garmin products that I have not owned. I do also own though a Garmin 45, which I believe is similar to a Garmin 12, the 45 is a great little water proof unit, shame they dont make it any more.

I have no association with Garmin and these are only my opinions.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Hmmm, things are going more expensive...
I will use the GPS in my 7,2 meter mobo, so I don't need a repeater.
Most navigating is visual in lakes and canals...

 

[gjgm]

garmin 72 is far better than the old 12 -screen size, resolution,easy of use, and semi-waterproof. You can get away with a car phone holder instead of a garmin mount, and batteries last well, so you dont have to use a power lead. mind you, if you can find a good bundle price...
Just have a think about screen size on a handheld. Id say its ok for calmer waters, but if you are bouncing about at 40 knts, you wont be able to read it. Forget about the garmin inbuilt maps and points of features..useless unless you want a tacobell while in florida !
Its a good unit though...other than pointers above, you wont ne displeased

 

[FlyingDutchman]

I will hardly be bouncing araound at 40 knts as the boat is a displacement vessel. With this length the max speed will be something like 11-12 knots flat out (60 hp)!

 

[SparkyLeisure]

I have both a Garmin 72 and a 126. The 126 is hard wired for power however as I run a single battery set up I bought the 72 in case of battery failure(It will run on 4 AA Batteries). I have found both of them to be very good.
I also run a Fishfinder 100 as a depth sounder but also it has a fairly accurate voltage meter on its display.
Both the 126 and the Fishfinder fit in the same bracketry if required.
The 126 also linked to a raymarine 3000 autohelm with very little wiring or compilations. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[pvb]

Do you do this every month?

In December you asked about the Garmin 72 and said you would buy one. Now you're asking again. Same advice holds this time - for not much more money you can get a 152 which is infinitely better than the out-of-date 126.

 

[stevebirch2002]

As stated by most teh Garmin 126, 128 or 152 are all fine sets and are easily readable. The GPS152 was on offer at the Boatshow for £180 at MEL and I am sure they will carry on that price. Has NMEA in/out, large characters - a great GPS. I have nothing to do with Garmin by can cooment on their excellent after sales service when I took a GPS45 to Gambia, got very damp when dropped in the river. They fixed it free of charge by replacing with a Garmin 48.

 

[surekandoo]

If you don't want anything fancy, try Ebay.

I bought a very good Garmin GPS 48 on there.

Lots of bargains esp if you only want a handheld

 

[sailorman]

make sure u know what the new price is first as its very easy to pay over the top
on ebay.
a lot of NASA products fetch very near discounted retail price.
i have a Furuno GP 32 & its very good

 

[trouville]

I wouldent buy anything on ebay, i got a broken printer a rough camera with a broken meter, And a replacement bios for an old laptop paid for but not sent, i had to contact ebay before i got something, and now i get almost spam from them wanting me to sell on ebay between the tons of spam from people or companies that somehow got my email address on top of that when i make a search ebays everywhere and mostly hasent got what im looking for.
Now im off to look at the current range --and then prices!

 

[sailorman]

i have bought & sold on ebay with no props ( so far )

 

[discovery2]

[ QUOTE ]
The GPS152 was on offer at the Boatshow for £180 at MEL and I am sure they will carry on that price.

[/ QUOTE ]

Could you please enlightem me who/what MEL is? I presume they are chandlers somewhere, but have failed to locate them on a web search. If they are still able to maintain that price - it certainly appears to be very competitive.

Thanks
David

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Thanks all for yor comments!
I have been puzzling over this for some time, and came to the conclusion to go for the 72. Then I also saw the 126 which looks better because the 72 fits into some sort of a phone holder. Also the 72 has a smaller display. However, from your comments I see the 126 is not the way to go. The alternative would be the 152. Here in the Netherlands the 72 with the so called Marine Pack (holder and cables) is € 229,- and the 152 is € 329,-. If it would be available here for GBP 180 (= € 253,-) I would probably go for it but now I find the price difference too much.
Thanks again,
Jan

 

[trouville]

Ive been looking as well and ive found that amazingly Switzerlands the least expensive place to buy http://www.electronic-shop.ch/ this is just one shop, and has a good range. the 152 costs less than£180 at 420 swiss Francs.
For myself i agree the 152s the way to go.
For my folkboat im looking at the 72 instead of the 12, not to be able to add note! but it runs on 12v which means i dont need an inverter and 6v transformer as i would with the 12.
For my Hillyard im going to see if its possiable to get a 172 cost $315 !!!! in the USA and in the uk£420!! $420 being the RRP in the US?? seems to be a doubling of the price for Europe--but dont we have free trade???
In fact im going to buy the 72 this morning as i spent so much yesterday i might as well continue!! the bank gave me a "credit"card for christmas i just have to pay 40 euros each month what ever i spend???
Now what about anew depth sounder--------------------------