GPS for 2?

[Boss Hawg]

Any GPS system out there that i could use in my truck & just put in my boat when i wanted too?
Meaning one that came (or availible) with duel hook up's that i could just plug into either one?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: GPS for 2?

I would check the Garmin web site.

 

[rusirius]

Re: GPS for 2?

There are several options actually... Tom Tom makes their "Go" series I think it is that's a portable one... I believe the actual intent is to swap it between cars/motorcycles, but no reason it wouldn't work for your boat too...

As long as you're not going offshore with no cell signal, you could also use one of the GPS packages available for phones... I used to have a garmin in one car, and a Tom Tom in the other (which got swapped to my bike for long trips)... Now I just use my blackberry with the Verizon app... It's like $9 a month, but when you figure what it costs to update maps every year or so, it's well worth it... Not to mention any "real time traffic" or other services that are included but cost a hefty monthly fee on other devices...

 

[rrhodes]

Re: GPS for 2?

Garmin has the NUVI 500 and 550 that are crossover devices.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: GPS for 2?

Be wary..I have a Tom Tom One & a nicer Sony GPS..Both portable, can be suctioned cup to my boat, my truck or my womans SUV..But they are NOT marine GPS by any means..no water/element resistence and more importantly no nav markers info..

I will use the tom tom on my first few runs on my project Starcraft in a week or 2, but just for accurate speed info and generic data. I fully intend to get a marine GPS soon

 

[rusirius]

Re: GPS for 2?

Be wary..I have a Tom Tom One & a nicer Sony GPS..Both portable, can be suctioned cup to my boat, my truck or my womans SUV..But they are NOT marine GPS by any means..no water/element resistence and more importantly no nav markers info..

True... Actually now that you mention it I remember..... yup, here it is... Depends on rather your service/device is supported, but here's "phone" based software specifically for marine use...

http://www.activecaptain.com/GM.php

 

[mphy98]

Re: GPS for 2?

one product for two uses generally won't do either task well. you can get a hummingbird recon very inexpensively that will do your marine job and most will be chip upgradeable for more specific uses. buy a cheap car gps, less chance of hitting a rock or getting lost do to rain in the unit. I have seen decent brands on the recon rack (usually returns) for as low as 65.00.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: GPS for 2?

Thanks for all the good info, I know next to nothing about them but now i have good basics to start looking

 

[special_kaye]

Re: GPS for 2?

Any GPS system out there that i could use in my truck & just put in my boat when i wanted too?
Meaning one that came (or available) with duel hook up's that i could just plug into either one?

For speed and convenience, I use a Garmin GPSmap60cx. It's not a huge unit and can easily be moved from one vehicle to another. It's water resistant, I've gotten caught in a DRIVING southwest Florida thunderstorm more than once. It has expandable memory, just buy another MicroSD card, just picked up a couple 4g's for less than $8 each. Easily replacable batteries, and if you watch your backlight settings, they last a long time. You can also plug it in using a 12v to USB connector. I have a 12v socket on the boat plus cords in the vehicles and one in a travel backpack. Same cord recharges my cell phones too. The receiver is phenomenal. I'll leave the unit in the center console of the Admiral's SUV and it'll pick up everything. Usually, I don't even put it in the mount when in the car. Just hold it in hand and throw it on the seat when I'm not looking at it.

Using the Mapsource software, you can chart all kinds of things but what's really nice is it does have navigation beacons built into the topo maps. Yes, you can also use the actual navigation charts also. Just buy and install them. On mine I have the basic map, the topo maps, and the detail maps. I'll go ahead and get the charts here pretty soon but so far, I haven't needed them and will buy them just to buy them. They show more details than the topos but like I said, so far I haven't needed them.

Bad thing is the preinstalled map is about useless and you'll need to get the more detailed maps. About another $100 per set depending on where you find them. Then the actual marine charts are more on top of that. I bought everything from Newegg.com

I believe the x version has a compass built in. Most reviews say that function really eats up the batteries. I've got a boat compass, one in my watch, one in a backpack, one in a survival pack.... I didn't need another compass.

Actually took the big clunker GPS out of the boat planning to upgrade while doing repair work but just haven't gotten to it. I just grab the Map60cs and somehow forget I need to get another unit for the boat.