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GPS Purchase -- What to buy? #92321
12/15/06 05:20 PM
12/15/06 05:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,246
Orlando, FL
tback Offline OP
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tback  Offline OP
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Orlando, FL
My wife purchased a Magellan Explorist 300 for XMAS (came across a big sale -- $99 USD).

Looking at reviews it seems this is a very basic GPS model with no connectivity to export data to the PC.

Before she wraps it ... Will I be happy with this unit (primarily for sailing)?


USA 777
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: tback] #92322
12/15/06 05:33 PM
12/15/06 05:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 806
Toronto, Ontario
pitchpoledave Offline
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Toronto, Ontario
I have been very happy with the Garmin line. Currently I have a Legend C.. Great software to connect to the pc, and there is also other software out there (gartrip etc). And the USB cable is a great change from the older proprietary style cable. I bought the charts for it and they work well also.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: pitchpoledave] #92323
12/15/06 10:30 PM
12/15/06 10:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3
Ontario, Canada
CanI20 Offline
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Ontario, Canada
For those of us in Canada, I noticed in todays Canadian Tire flyer that they are offering a Magellan Explorist 500 is on sale this week for $200 CAD (reg $460). www.canadiantire.ca

Looks like a great deal to me.


N20, F9 Kingston, Canada
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: tback] #92324
12/15/06 11:44 PM
12/15/06 11:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 443
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
bobcat Offline
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Have you considered the Foretrex 201 ?
Built-in rechargeable battery eliminates one source of leaks. The data can be uploaded to the PC after a day of sailing. It doesn't do maps or charts though if you are looking for something to help navigate.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: bobcat] #92325
12/16/06 12:13 AM
12/16/06 12:13 AM

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Bobcat:

I love it!! That has gpt to be the best one for sailors. Distance races will be great next season.

Thanks a lot,

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
"Stress Free" #007
Mystere 4.3 # 149
Sunfish

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: ] #92326
12/16/06 04:30 AM
12/16/06 04:30 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 131
Scotland
George_Malloch Offline
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Scotland
The 201 is a nice bit of kit. I have two minor criticisms. The buttons are hard to push if you're wearing full finger gloves (December is cold in Scotland, even when I'm sailing a J/80 and not a cat!). It connects to a PC by a serial port which meant I had to buy a USB adaptor as my laptop doesn't have a serial port. I haven't had a problem but there have been a few reports on the yachtsandyachting.com forum of people having wrist straps fail - although Garmin seem to have replaced units that have fallen overboard as a result.


Stealth www.peyc.org.uk
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: tback] #92327
12/16/06 11:51 AM
12/16/06 11:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,066
Wellington, FL-Singer Island, ...
cyberspeed Offline
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Wellington, FL-Singer Island, ...
I have a Magellian Maridian Gold and love it. If you are doing distance racing the download capabilities are a must. If you are just using it for basic navigation, it will work fine.


craig van eaton
Supercat 20
TEAM CYBERSPEED
www.TeamCyberspeed.com
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Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: cyberspeed] #92328
12/16/06 03:21 PM
12/16/06 03:21 PM
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Posts: 3,114
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MauganN20 Offline
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my Garmin GPSMAP 76 hasn't failed me yet. Had 17 hours of continuous use during the cocoa leg in the tybee. Can't ask for more than that <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: MauganN20] #92329
12/17/06 06:44 AM
12/17/06 06:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 25
Netherlands
sander Offline
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Netherlands
foretrex 201 - has a starttimer as well!
perhaps you should glue an extra attachment to the body and fix that to the wrist strap to be safe, and get a serial to USB connector from Hongkong, and you'll be fine.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: ] #92330
12/17/06 03:22 PM
12/17/06 03:22 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
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South Carolina
Quote
Bobcat:

I love it!! That has gpt to be the best one for sailors. Distance races will be great next season.

Thanks a lot,

Doug Snell
Hobie 17
"Stress Free" #007
Mystere 4.3 # 149
Sunfish


The fortrex is a great little sailing unit - but the band and attachment pins suck. I've lost two of them.


Jake Kohl
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: sander] #92331
12/17/06 04:33 PM
12/17/06 04:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,584
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Tony_F18 Offline
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Quote
foretrex 201 - has a starttimer as well!
perhaps you should glue an extra attachment to the body and fix that to the wrist strap to be safe, and get a serial to USB connector from Hongkong, and you'll be fine.

The foretrex has an excellent rechargable battery life as well.
ps. why would you need a serial-to-usb connector from Hongkong? You get those everywhere...

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Jake] #92332
12/17/06 06:02 PM
12/17/06 06:02 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,911
South Florida & the Keys
arbo06 Offline
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South Florida & the Keys
tie wrap those bad boys to the strap..., or, like we do in Davie, Duct tape.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: arbo06] #92333
12/18/06 09:12 AM
12/18/06 09:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
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South Carolina
there's not really a good place to do that on that unit - but I plan on getting a third one for the Tybee and building a fiberglass shell for it that I can attach firmly.


Jake Kohl
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Jake] #92334
12/19/06 06:19 AM
12/19/06 06:19 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 612
Cape Town, South Africa
Steve_Kwiksilver Offline
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Cape Town, South Africa
The Foretrex 201 fits in an Aquapac, it`s a waterproof pouch that has a strong wide velcro strap, so you are not relying on the watch-style pins to hold it on if you have a big wipeout, as we often do while windsurfing (most guys use this unit for speedsailing). Attached is a pic...
Also many have commented on windsurfing forums that it`s necessary to keep it in this pouch as high impact wipeouts can force water into the unit under high pressure, while it was designed to operate underwater to a reasonable depth, the pressure exerted on it is far higher when attached to your wrist or upper arm and you are flung into the water at high speed. Added bonus is that the Aquapac seals in air and floats if you do lose it, something the unit won`t do alone.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Steve_Kwiksilver] #92335
12/19/06 06:19 AM
12/19/06 06:19 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 612
Cape Town, South Africa
Steve_Kwiksilver Offline
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Cape Town, South Africa
pic...

Attached Files
93585-Picture063.jpg (99 downloads)
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Steve_Kwiksilver] #92336
12/19/06 07:06 AM
12/19/06 07:06 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,187
38.912, -95.37
_flatlander_ Offline
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We got a sweet deal on a Garmin III from eBay. It is an old model that has many features such as VMG <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> and is PC compatible. Unless you need something in the original wrapper or to wear on your wrist (seems like I'm too busy sailing for that) you may consider used, more bang for the buck. It goes in a waterproof bag and we look at the results apre sail.


John H16, H14
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Steve_Kwiksilver] #92337
12/19/06 08:21 AM
12/19/06 08:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Quote
The Foretrex 201 fits in an Aquapac, it`s a waterproof pouch that has a strong wide velcro strap, so you are not relying on the watch-style pins to hold it on if you have a big wipeout, as we often do while windsurfing (most guys use this unit for speedsailing). Attached is a pic...
Also many have commented on windsurfing forums that it`s necessary to keep it in this pouch as high impact wipeouts can force water into the unit under high pressure, while it was designed to operate underwater to a reasonable depth, the pressure exerted on it is far higher when attached to your wrist or upper arm and you are flung into the water at high speed. Added bonus is that the Aquapac seals in air and floats if you do lose it, something the unit won`t do alone.


No problems with the Velcro coming undone? (or do you use the lanyard as a backup safety around the arm)

[Linked Image]


Jake Kohl
Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: tback] #92338
12/19/06 08:36 AM
12/19/06 08:36 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 116
41.32 N, 81.35 W
Stuart_Douglas Offline
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Stuart_Douglas  Offline
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Posts: 116
41.32 N, 81.35 W
What about GPS mounts? Do you mount them, and if so where, or do you just leave 'em in a protective bag?

My Garmin unit would be practically useless mounted anywhere but on my person, as the screen text in most modes is too small to read from any distance. Still, it might be useful to have it more readily accessible than stowed away in a dry bag.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: Stuart_Douglas] #92339
12/19/06 11:30 AM
12/19/06 11:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,884
Detroit, MI
mbounds Offline
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Detroit, MI
I have a Garmin e-Trex Vista that I use on distance racing. I attach the lanyard to the ring that's inside the front pocket of my Extrasport PFD and it fits nicely in that pocket.

Whenever I need to check my course, it's right there on my chest - just pull it out, check the map and tuck it back in.

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? [Re: mbounds] #92340
12/19/06 11:38 AM
12/19/06 11:38 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
John Williams Offline
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John Williams  Offline
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Long Beach, California
Ditto, Matt - 'cept mine hangs in a waterproof bag on a lanyard around my neck for quicker access (my lifejacket pocket is a little tight).

I know I have posted a couple of times before about the Vista - compass, lots of memory, very tough, handy size and good software from Garmin. You can change font size and customize content on any of the screens. I love my Vista. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


John Williams

- The harder you practice, the luckier you get -
Gary Player, pro golfer

After watching Lionel Messi play, I realize I need to sail harder.
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