GPS recommendations - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

frugalfisher · 04-15-2007, 10:27 PM

I'm looking to purchase a new handheld. Does anyone have a favorite or know of a good deal on a used one? Details would be helpful.

Has anyone used the Bushnell with the satellite photos in the background?

Thanks,
James

Handymansd · 04-16-2007, 11:03 AM

Hey James,

I spent a lot of $ on my Garmin GPSmap76 CSX, but I have a very powerful and useful tool that I can do complete chart plotting, store 1000+ Tracks, check local tide buoys' reports, check lunar and sun phases, mark good fishing areas and even put all of the data together to make a "route" to take for my hottest areas and tracks. The Map information is accurate and very complete down to even the Preserve buoys' locations (or lack of them) in La Jolla. I can also use the NMEA interface with my Ray Marine DX 400 to use it as one complete unit. And if all else fails I can use it after a long day on the water to tell me the way home!

It is a little overkill, but toys are supposed to be fun!

There are many other brands and models on the market. So before you buy one, be sure to go down to West Marine in Point Loma and try them all out first, that way you are happy with what you want from your GPS!

DBITE · 04-16-2007, 12:53 PM

I use a Garmin eTrex Vista C and it works great. It's IPX7 waterproof, it floats, its color, and its relatively small. Walmart sells them for around $250, but you could probably find it cheaper online. It also interfaces with my Raymarine DS400X. If you are looking for a purely marine chartplotting unit you would probably be better off with something else. But if you want something small and convenient, that can autoroute you in your car also, I would go with the eTrex.

ronbo613 · 04-16-2007, 03:37 PM

I've used an eTrex Vista for years, always put us on the fish and brought us back between the jetties from those foggy albacore trips.
The color screen is OK, I guess, but like viewfinders on video cameras, many of us still prefer the old black and white display. I reckon you could get the black and white Vista really cheap(if they still make them). You can use it with mapping software on your computer. I think the "C" version uses a USB interface, the old B&W model uses a serial connection, which is pretty slow.

Aguayak · 04-16-2007, 10:40 PM

Be sure you get one with reverse track crumb following. (I'll write up more later.) The main reason for this is because you could get lost in a fog, set your "goto" to the harbor or wherever you launched from and run yourself straight into a cliff, rock pile, or whatever. If you go back the way you came out you'd be safe. A Magellan 210 could be a good deal for you.

PaHaSaPa · 04-17-2007, 07:39 AM

I've had a Garmin GPS 12 for years. It has all the basic waypoint, route and backtrack features and can still be found, at reasonable prices. It is old school, but it works well with my laptop and TOPO USA as a moving map. I have many waypoints in Dana that were obtained from charts and maps and have been right on.
It's not color or the latest and greatest but is a powerful device. My $.02

04-15-2007, 10:27 PM	#1
frugalfisher Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 190	GPS recommendations I'm looking to purchase a new handheld. Does anyone have a favorite or know of a good deal on a used one? Details would be helpful. Has anyone used the Bushnell with the satellite photos in the background? Thanks, James __________________ James Caldwell Yellow Prowler

04-16-2007, 11:03 AM	#2
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	Hey James, I spent a lot of $ on my Garmin GPSmap76 CSX, but I have a very powerful and useful tool that I can do complete chart plotting, store 1000+ Tracks, check local tide buoys' reports, check lunar and sun phases, mark good fishing areas and even put all of the data together to make a "route" to take for my hottest areas and tracks. The Map information is accurate and very complete down to even the Preserve buoys' locations (or lack of them) in La Jolla. I can also use the NMEA interface with my Ray Marine DX 400 to use it as one complete unit. And if all else fails I can use it after a long day on the water to tell me the way home! It is a little overkill, but toys are supposed to be fun! There are many other brands and models on the market. So before you buy one, be sure to go down to West Marine in Point Loma and try them all out first, that way you are happy with what you want from your GPS! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

04-16-2007, 03:37 PM	#4
ronbo613 Waterman At Large Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 199	I've used an eTrex Vista for years, always put us on the fish and brought us back between the jetties from those foggy albacore trips. The color screen is OK, I guess, but like viewfinders on video cameras, many of us still prefer the old black and white display. I reckon you could get the black and white Vista really cheap(if they still make them). You can use it with mapping software on your computer. I think the "C" version uses a USB interface, the old B&W model uses a serial connection, which is pretty slow. __________________ Kayak Fishing Photos and Video

04-16-2007, 12:53 PM	#3
DBITE Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 36	I use a Garmin eTrex Vista C and it works great. It's IPX7 waterproof, it floats, its color, and its relatively small. Walmart sells them for around $250, but you could probably find it cheaper online. It also interfaces with my Raymarine DS400X. If you are looking for a purely marine chartplotting unit you would probably be better off with something else. But if you want something small and convenient, that can autoroute you in your car also, I would go with the eTrex.

04-16-2007, 10:40 PM	#5
Aguayak Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 16	Be sure you get one with reverse track crumb following. (I'll write up more later.) The main reason for this is because you could get lost in a fog, set your "goto" to the harbor or wherever you launched from and run yourself straight into a cliff, rock pile, or whatever. If you go back the way you came out you'd be safe. A Magellan 210 could be a good deal for you.

04-17-2007, 07:39 AM	#6
PaHaSaPa Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lake Forest Posts: 7	I've had a Garmin GPS 12 for years. It has all the basic waypoint, route and backtrack features and can still be found, at reasonable prices. It is old school, but it works well with my laptop and TOPO USA as a moving map. I have many waypoints in Dana that were obtained from charts and maps and have been right on. It's not color or the latest and greatest but is a powerful device. My $.02