Choosing a GPS help.

Kracker Jack · #1 02-16-2012, 06:43 PM

Anyone have any advice on what gps units are good and economical?

smokeonthewater · #2 02-16-2012, 06:58 PM

I have an old lowrance lcx-15mt. It isn't fancy, not color, doesn't monitor my engine or mpg's but it just always works.... Maybe not much help but it's all I have for ya.
I'm sure some folks with deeper pockets will post up on the newer stuff soon.

macojoe · #3 02-16-2012, 07:00 PM

I have always use Garmin and they have been great!! I have a 4210 now with radar and fish finder, but they are $$$$

http://wellcraftv20.com/community/sh...ighlight=radar

macojoe · #4 02-16-2012, 07:10 PM

Also I have a good working Standard Horizon Color GPS CP 180 That I used for a year before I bought the new one. I need it for the sea ox when my old one died, I can sell for $150 has att, bracket, owners manual and cover if interested

http://www.standardhorizon.com/index...3&isArchived=0

spareparts · #5 02-16-2012, 07:13 PM

Northstar 951X is the hot ticket, you will not find one better, just so happens, I have one for sale

If you are interested, send me a PM.I tell all my customers to get a Garmin, the 441 and 541 are both nice units, they are color and come with built in charts. I was in West marine yesterday and happended to look at one, i couldn't believe the price, they have gone up quite a bit since hte last time I looked at one. Lowrance is a hit or miss, my friends that install depth finders/gps' for a living tell me all the problems they have with them, but the fishing boards are all about them

PS, I also have an older Ray marine rc320 for sale cheap

reelapeelin · #6 02-16-2012, 08:51 PM

Lotta peeps using an ipad for navigation and I can see why...I put a navionics app on my new iphone and it's fookin' GREAT!!...has all the detail and MORE of the chart functions that my chart plotter has in the boat...arrow follows the course over water, displays speed over ground and the contrast, picture quality is world class...and when not in boat, can be used for laptop computer...so it's a two-fer that's hard to beat...comes in black or marine white and there is a boat mount you can get for it...fo shizzle!!...

smokeonthewater · #7 02-16-2012, 10:05 PM

only downside is that (I THINK) you lose gps when you leave cell service
I know my iphone does but maybe the ipad is different

SkunkBoat · #8 02-16-2012, 10:42 PM

I've been very happy with a small Lowrance M68c color fishfinder/plotter. Compact and more features than any human can ever use. Mounted on helm dash. Internal antenna works fine and I use "shoot thru hull" transducer. Paid $399 for it years ago.

I don't see it in West Marine catalog this year but "Elite-4" model looks like a replacement. $370 You can get a greyscale version for $250.

Whatever you get, I suggest you get something designed to be mounted in a boat.

Destroyer · #9 02-17-2012, 01:06 AM

LOL talk about overkill. I have a Raymarine Radar w/CP and GPS built in, Plus I have a Garmin that I love... Old, funky, but still works beautifully... and lastly, I have an iPhone. But when all is said and done, make sure you have a good compass with you also.

spareparts · #10 02-17-2012, 06:55 AM

A freind of mine has an older pacemaker that has an enclosed cabin, it cruises at about 9 knots, he has a program for his laptop that uses an external gps antenna that plugs into his laptop that runs the equivalent of the navionics platinum with all teh detail and google earth images, he only paid about $350 for the whole set up(not counting the laptop), if you have a slow boat with an enclosed cabin thats not going to get bounced around a lot, this is the way to go