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GPS Purchase -- What to buy?

Posted By: tback

GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/15/06 10:20 PM

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)?
Posted By: pitchpoledave

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/15/06 10:33 PM

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.
Posted By: CanI20

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 03:30 AM

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.
Posted By: bobcat

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 04:44 AM

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.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 05:13 AM

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
Posted By: George_Malloch

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 09:30 AM

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.
Posted By: cyberspeed

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 04:51 PM

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.
Posted By: MauganN20

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/16/06 08:21 PM

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="" />
Posted By: sander

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/17/06 11:44 AM

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.
Posted By: Jake

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/17/06 08:22 PM

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.
Posted By: Tony_F18

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/17/06 09:33 PM

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...
Posted By: arbo06

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/17/06 11:02 PM

tie wrap those bad boys to the strap..., or, like we do in Davie, Duct tape.
Posted By: Jake

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/18/06 02:12 PM

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.
Posted By: Steve_Kwiksilver

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 11:19 AM

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.
Posted By: Steve_Kwiksilver

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 11:19 AM

pic...

Attached picture 93585-Picture063.jpg
Posted By: _flatlander_

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 12:06 PM

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.
Posted By: Jake

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 01:21 PM

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]
Posted By: Stuart_Douglas

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 01:36 PM

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.
Posted By: mbounds

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 04:30 PM

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.
Posted By: John Williams

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 04:38 PM

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="" />
Posted By: tback

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/19/06 11:17 PM

Quote
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, color or no? does it matter for our needs?
Posted By: John Williams

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 12:27 AM

I have a six-year-old one - there wasn't a color option back then. I understand that the color unit actually has a slightly smaller screen.

If bigger is better, then the latest 76 model had a compass added to it, making it like a larger-screened version of the Vista. The 76 is supposed to float, too. I haven't seen anything yet that I like more than my old Vista - and with on-line updates, the firmware is kept really current.

Happy shopping - check www.gpscity.com for some good deals. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

*edit - the Vista is new for less than $200 with shipping. I paid about $350 back in 2000 or so. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: tback

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 12:52 AM

Quote


*edit - the Vista is new for less than $200 with shipping. I paid about $350 back in 2000 or so. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />


I saw it at Walmart.com for $179.88 and will ship free to a store near you, or ship directly to you for approx. $15.50
Posted By: Steve_Kwiksilver

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 01:30 PM

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

Jake, never used it for catsailing, and I only look at it after each run while windsurfing, I find at over 27knots I can`t find the courage to look at instruments.. But mounted correctly on your forearm you could read it easily while catsailing.
I tie the lanyard to my wetsuit zip tether, so if it slips off the arm in a big swim I won`t lose it. (It mounts on my upper arm for windsurfing)
The Velcro strap is a stretchy material, so you get someone to put it on over your arm where you want it, and close the velcro, I then just pull it off my arm after a sail, never undo and redo the velcro, or it might wear out after a while. Just pull it onto my arm again for the next sail. It is a bit more difficult to fiddle with the buttons in the pouch, but as mentioned I only use it for speed runs, so reset max speed is the only function I use often.
The velcro strip is really wide and has a positive grip, I can`t see it ever coming undone.
PS : top speed run at our pond is now a shade over 47knots (2 sec average)by a Kitesurfer. It`s a far cry from a 500metre run, but DAMN THAT IS FAST...

Cheers
STeve
Posted By: tshan

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 03:43 PM

Jake made a comment a few weeks ago to make sure you can see the screen with polarized sunglasses on. That could be a deal breaker, I'd assume.

Does anyone use these units during buoy racing? or mostly long distance?
Posted By: John Williams

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 03:49 PM

Anything with an LCD is going to be an issue with polorized lenses. The benefits of wearing the glasses far outweight the minor issue of having to adjust the angle at which you are holding the LCD, IMO. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Stein

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/20/06 11:04 PM

We mount the Garmin 201 on the boom (ca 1 meter from the mast) using the unit's strap, and that works just fine as long as we remember to turn the unit over to the other side when tacking (a matter of just touching it). Our boom is a 50 mm diameter tube (Taipan 5.7).
Stein

Stein
Posted By: Jake

Re: GPS Purchase -- What to buy? - 12/21/06 12:05 AM

Quote
Jake made a comment a few weeks ago to make sure you can see the screen with polarized sunglasses on. That could be a deal breaker, I'd assume.

Does anyone use these units during buoy racing? or mostly long distance?


Yeah, I later discovered that I was mistaken about the Tactic not having a polarized lens...it's just oriented properly so you can still see it with most polarized glasses. I think by the very nature of an LCD display, the outer lens has to be polarized.
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