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GPS recommendations #199528
12/26/09 12:43 PM
12/26/09 12:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
Frozen Offline OP
enthusiast
Frozen  Offline OP
enthusiast

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
Season's Greetings!

I am interested in getting a GPS. Not so much for navigation but for being able to record where I have been and speeds (and peak speeds) while enroute. Right now I have a Garmin Nuvi 660 which I love for the car but it doesn't record where I have been. Not sure if other options might be worthwhile. Any suggestions. Also price enters into the mix.


Cheers
Alan F

Tiger
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Frozen] #199529
12/26/09 12:59 PM
12/26/09 12:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 196
Arkansas, USA
C
CaptainKirt Offline
member
CaptainKirt  Offline
member
C

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 196
Arkansas, USA
Velocitek's products are nice- look at the online store here to see. They are kind of pricey but are made specifically for sailing and combine other functions (start timer, shift indicator, etc.). Other options- if you have an iPhone there are several cheap GPS programs, but get a GOOD waterproof case! There are even some specific for sailing- I like GPS MotionX but I only use on my relatively dry keelboat. Another option is the Fortrex wristwatch style GPS units sold primarily for running/biking but work on the boats as well and I have used one of those as well. You can get them pretty cheap on E-bay- battery life is limited though.

Hope this helped!
Kirt


Kirt Simmons
Taipan, Flyer
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: CaptainKirt] #199530
12/26/09 01:10 PM
12/26/09 01:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
John Williams Offline
Carpal Tunnel
John Williams  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
Even though I love new tech, I'm still using my older Garmin eTrex Vista for this application. It is a discontinued model, so it is pretty cheap whenever you find it... has a compass and is pretty darn tough. Easy to use through a waterproof bag 'round my neck.


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.
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: CaptainKirt] #199531
12/26/09 01:13 PM
12/26/09 01:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 756
Newport, RI
wildtsail Offline
old hand
wildtsail  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 756
Newport, RI
We've had great luck with the Garmin 76... but replaced it with the Garmin Colorado 400C and there is no going back! Full color and all the charts already unlocked. We had a couple little quirks with the 400 to start but got them figured out and haven't had any trouble since. Biggest one is to turn the backlight fully off (no need for it during the day) or battery will die really fast, and to use lithium ion batteries.
It's worth buying it at West Marine since they have it at $3-$350 and offer great coverage on them (especially if you become friends with the manager).
You can buy a cheaper one but the fees to unlock the charts adds up fast.
We use a foretrex on each side of our boom, never had the battery die on the water... use more for speed and vmg than navigation though.

Side note.... went to turn on the 76 the other day and it doesn't work! The springs inside the battery case have rusted a little bit. Anyone know where I can send it for service?

Re: GPS recommendations [Re: wildtsail] #199532
12/26/09 02:19 PM
12/26/09 02:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 22
Buzz258 Offline
stranger
Buzz258  Offline
stranger

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 22
Send your Garmin 76 back to the factory for repair. I have sent a couple of the eTrex Legends back with good luck. Easy people to work with.
Buzz

Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Frozen] #199533
12/26/09 02:20 PM
12/26/09 02:20 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,459
Annapolis,MD
Keith Offline
veteran
Keith  Offline
veteran

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,459
Annapolis,MD
Velocitek Speedpuck is a great thing for this application. Simple, large display.

Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Keith] #199534
12/26/09 02:30 PM
12/26/09 02:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
John Williams Offline
Carpal Tunnel
John Williams  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
+1 for Garmin returns for repair. Great service.


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.
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: John Williams] #199537
12/26/09 05:11 PM
12/26/09 05:11 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 951
Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...
ncik Offline
old hand
ncik  Offline
old hand

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 951
Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...
http://www.trackstick.com/index.html

haven't used one but if you're only after data logging and don't need a display...

Re: GPS recommendations [Re: ncik] #199541
12/26/09 08:38 PM
12/26/09 08:38 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
Ocean Springs, MS
Capt_Cardiac Offline
enthusiast
Capt_Cardiac  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
Ocean Springs, MS
i recommend the speedpuck. beautiful simplicity.


Capt Cardiac
Ocean Springs Yacht Club
Sailor
Nacra20 - Flight of Ideas #5
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Capt_Cardiac] #199542
12/26/09 09:07 PM
12/26/09 09:07 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 757
japan
erice Offline
old hand
erice  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 757
japan
hard to get better bang for buck than the garmin etrex line

from $100-$300?

http://cgi.ebay.com/GARMIN-ETREX-LE...evices?hash=item4838be8343#ht_5302wt_962

even the cheapest will log tracks, record top speed, allow vmg calculations to be made, show course, waterproof, download to computer to allow videos to be made etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNAsxV1ltMU


eric e
1982 nacra 5.2 - 2158
2009 weta tri - 294
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: erice] #199544
12/26/09 11:33 PM
12/26/09 11:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
Frozen Offline OP
enthusiast
Frozen  Offline OP
enthusiast

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
This is a bit of a course correction in the thread, but I am wondering how useful the inland lakes charts are for warning of shallow water? Would it be too general for usefulness? I sail on the Ottawa (Ontario Canada) River.

The more I read on options available the more I think of possibilities. A saved daggerboard is a big cost benefit.


Cheers
Alan F

Tiger
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Frozen] #199552
12/27/09 07:59 AM
12/27/09 07:59 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 757
japan
erice Offline
old hand
erice  Offline
old hand

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 757
japan
i wouldn't trust a gps or charts to be +/- 1mtr accuracy

and that's pretty much what they would have to be to save a dagger boards wouldn't they?

the lake i sail on goes up and down about a meter through a typical year due to winter snows melting, a rainy season and the a summer draw down by local farmers for agricultural uses


eric e
1982 nacra 5.2 - 2158
2009 weta tri - 294
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: erice] #199558
12/27/09 09:36 AM
12/27/09 09:36 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
Frozen Offline OP
enthusiast
Frozen  Offline OP
enthusiast

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 270
Nepean (Ottawa) Ontario Canada
Another possibility is to use a fish finder on the cat. I had it on a motor boat I owned. The unit is a Lowrence LMS 520C and it has a gorgeous colour display and has a GPS. The display of the bottom of the lake and the depth is awesome and it takes the worry out of travelling.

This would take a bit of engineering for the probe and mounting the head unit, but after wiping out a set of daggerboards, I am a trifle paranoid bout going to new areas.


Cheers
Alan F

Tiger
Re: GPS recommendations [Re: Frozen] #199565
12/27/09 02:36 PM
12/27/09 02:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
davefarmer Offline
old hand
davefarmer  Offline
old hand

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 713
WA, ID, MT
I'm happy with the Foretrex 201 with rechargeable battery. I can go all day easily on a charge.

Dave

Re: GPS recommendations [Re: davefarmer] #199578
12/28/09 09:25 AM
12/28/09 09:25 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 126
Northern Virginia
SoggyCheetoh Offline
member
SoggyCheetoh  Offline
member

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 126
Northern Virginia
Get the Speed Puck. Simple to use, well built, reliable, and your supporting a great company.


Alec D.
Pirates of the Chesapeake www.teampiratesofthechesapeake.com
Nacra20 1057 - Crew
F16 Viper 152 - Uni

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