marine GPS

J

jasonstein

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Nov 10, 2013
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Hi guys, i'm just in the process of buying my first boat. (2006 Stingray 185) and am going to be heading down to cape coral for a good month to get away from the snow and cold here in Ontario.

My question is about a Marine GPS. Is this almost a need when navigating new waters? I was hoping i could just spend a few bucks and get one for my vehicle GPS (garmin nuvi) but searching quickly i don't think that is possible. Also looks like Marine GPS's are not cheap and don't even include maps for Ontario and Florida.

Any suggestion's out there as to an affordable marine GPS that is fairly basic and affordable? I know nothing about them but i'm thinking something that i can put two points in and it will map a safe route between the two. I really don't want to spend $500 at this point. Maybe in the future but not now.

thanks,
jason
 
alldodge

alldodge

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Re: marine GPS

Before marine GPS and being on new waters was the time to make sure to get a map of the water. Most all bodies of water have a maps which can usually be obtained at the local marina. It can take some time to figure out where your at if you loose your location but it still works. The GPS is much better for marine so long as you can at least enter your starting point. So if you get a bit lost at least you could use it to point you in the right direction.

All that said, either get either a simple handheld like the GPS 72H or pick a local map.
 
J

jasonstein

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Re: marine GPS

it's just a cheap one, i think a 255, so it won't. Those handheld GPS just give you reference points and bearings correct? So if i want something that will map out a route (a safe one not a direct line) then i'd have to go to a higher end Marine GPS? I downloaded the Navionics app for my phone, it seems cool but does not seem to map out a safe route like i'm saying even though it does have a spot in the settings to set you "Safe depth"
 
cpubud

cpubud

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Re: marine GPS

they do not map you out a route to take , they do however leave a crumb trail to get you back.
 
hungupthespikes

hungupthespikes

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Re: marine GPS

Yes, at least the few I've seen. Don't know where the money break is, the ones I've seen are integrated with auto pilot and radar. You use a stylus to draw your route and the autopilot takes you there. Very nice and very expensive.

I like others use an old handheld, mark entrance to safe harbor, dock, then move the pointer to where I'm going and mark it. Then turn on backtrack for the crumb trail as cpubud said.

When you mark where your going then you will get a heading and a bearing plus speed, eta. :D

If you can find charts for your area, that's the best. Lots of good info on a chart. They also have lon/lat that you can reference for the GPS.
 
tazrig

tazrig

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Dec 20, 2012
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1,752
Re: marine GPS

jasonstein said:
do the more expensive units that mount map our routes for you?
Click to expand...

Yes. You can pick the spot you want to go to and depending on the GPS it will tell you what heading to take, your speed, current location, depth if you have it hooked up to a depth finder or may show a paper chart like version on the screen so you know where the channels, sandbars and known hazards are located. Before you buy the GPS though, as suggested earlier, you should always have a current set of charts for the area you want to navigate in as a backup especially if your GPS doesn't show a lot of detail on the screen.
 
Alumarine

Alumarine

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Re: marine GPS

tazrig said:
Yes. You can pick the spot you want to go to and depending on the GPS it will tell you what heading to take, your speed, current location, depth if you have it hooked up to a depth finder or may show a paper chart like version on the screen so you know where the channels, sandbars and known hazards are located. Before you buy the GPS though, as suggested earlier, you should always have a current set of charts for the area you want to navigate in as a backup especially if your GPS doesn't show a lot of detail on the screen.
Click to expand...

I don't think any "map" it or "plan" it out for you. They show you the "map"/chart and you have to plan/mark your route accordingly.
On more popular waterways they may show established routes.

Also, most of the charts cost extra. The one for my Humminbird was $300.

I also use the Navionics app on my phone and ipad as a backup

But as others have said paper charts are important. The GPS charts can be wrong as my lower end discovered last year.
 
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Ike-110722

Ike-110722

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Re: marine GPS

Do you have a notebook computer or small laptop. Download Sea Clear. SeaClear GPS Navigation Software It's Free and you can download the charts for free. I have used it and it takes a bit of getting used to but it does everything the regular GPS units do. You can lay out tracks, waypoints and so on. You can buy a gps node (looks like a computer mouse) that plugs in to a USB port and SeaClear will give you GPS coordinates and mark where you are.

But I have to agree that you first need to familiarize yourself with paper charts and coastal navigation. Why? Because when the battery dies or the GPS chart lies (yes they do), you need to use your own eyes and knowledge to know where you are and where you are going. Especially on the ICW. Get a copy of the latest BOATUS magazine and read the article about navigating the ICW. You cannot just follow the purple line. It will get you in serious trouble. BoatUS: Magazine
 
K

kahuna123

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Messages
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Re: marine GPS

Translation.
My first boat and I have no idea.
I have no idea what a plotter is and really need to buy one.
I have no idea what a chart is and how to read it
I have no idea this is the WRONG boat to bring down here
Any idea what channel markers are?

I have seen people get really hurt like this. Including kids who went out with grandpa who didn't know any better
 
hungupthespikes

hungupthespikes

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Re: marine GPS

here's a download link for NOAA,

PDF Nautical Charts (Trial)

11427.pdf looks good for your area.


It will take you some time to familiarize yourself to charts, but you have the time now. :D
If you can find/order a paper chart, it becomes much, much easier to understand them.

Florida has some of the worlds best FRESH WATER FISHING, so get the charts and a GPS. Plan your trip. :eagerness:
Be safe.......

huts
 
Ike-110722

Ike-110722

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Messages
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Re: marine GPS

I strongly recommend taking a boating course. Here's a link for courses given all over Canada Boating Courses It is vital you at least know the basics before even attempting such a trip. I have been on the water all my life and served 20 years in the Coast Guard, and I would considered such a trip difficult for me. You're going to need more than charts. You are going to need Waterway Guides that tell you where marinas, marine service stations, restaurants, etc are, all the stuff you will need on sucha trip.
 
J

jasonstein

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Nov 10, 2013
Messages
19
Re: marine GPS

Thanks guys for your input even though some of you think i'm just an idiot i can assure you i was not just about to head out without looking into things at all. And I do know an I/O is not the ideal boat for salt water. The thing is i'm in cape coral for a month. I want to do a bit of fishing and boating, probably on some of the freshwater canal's and lakes also, and I'll be taking the boat out of the water and flushing it if I do use it in the salt water. Back home there is no salt water within 1000 km so this boat will work fine.

HUTS, do you know of any online boating courses that cover navigation that i could take? Thanks for the link but i live out in the boonies and it's about an hour to the closest course. I do have my ontario boat licence but I realize that does not mean much. I would like to learn more about navigating.

Thanks for the links to the charts. I'm going to print them and study them. I'm amazed how shallow the water is in the ICW off of cape coral.
 
hungupthespikes

hungupthespikes

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Re: marine GPS

Here's a couple links. The first is better for a quick reference, and the boatus has the safety course.

Boating Handbook

BoatUS Foundation Courses Homepage

Your going to need a big printer to blowup the charts. :laugh: Office Max like others have print service that can do them for you.

I'm amazed how shallow the water is in the ICW off of cape coral.
Click to expand...

West coast of Florida reminds me of Lake Erie in a lot of ways. The shallow waters help the wind build the waves in a hurry. The worst is a big storm will move the sandbars, then there is always the tides to keep an eye on.

Moving close to Lake Erie I found my learning curve needed some serious upgrades. When we moved to Tampa it was time to get very serious about going out. Back in Ohio now, but have a son in Fort Lauderdale. I have not taken his boat out, I just go along for the ride now to learn the area better and get the curve back up to be comfortable.

You'll be fine, taking YOUR boat helps a ton. No learning curve for the boat, so your focus will be on everything else.
And yes they drive as crazy in their boats as the cars. :facepalm:

huts
 
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Ike-110722

Ike-110722

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Messages
408
Re: marine GPS

Just in case you can't find a classroom course near you, there are on-line courses. Some of them are very good, but nothing substitutes for hands on, on the water training. But at least you can get a good start. One of best basic online courses is:
BoatSafe:? Boating Calculators They have Basic boating and Coastal Navigation I have used this one just as a refresher from time to time and it is a good course on the basics.

Another a little more advanced is at Advanced navigation courses - sailing schools Greece and the Greek islands Yes it deal with sailing, and is based in the Med, but all the principles are the same.

American Sail Association Coastal Navigation Course - ASA 105 Certification - American Sailing Association Standard Same comment as the previous. I am told this is an excellent course.

And last but by no means least the Royal Yacht Association as a course Essential Navigation & Seamanship course | Navigation & Seamanship Theory | Courses | Learning | Courses & Training | RYA

There are others, just search on navigation courses. The are some free, some not.

Now: in addition to learning to navigate you need to know the Navigation Rules. (The rules of the Road) You can find them at
Nautical Rules of the Road -- Canadian Safe Boating Course

Canada has an excellent Safe Boating Guide at Safe Boating Guide - TP 511 E (2011) - Transport Canada

The USCG has the International and inland rules posted online at Navigation Rules Online
 
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