Small handheld GPS Question

[lamajama]

Hi everyone,

Just starting out with 2 seadoos and are planning several trips on some
large lakes. I'm in need of some advice on what GPS unit to carry so I
can get back to where I started. Don't need anything really fancy and
would like to keep the price under $300 if possible.

I have read the other thread but the answers seemed to not really
suit what I am looking for. Any advice out there from someone who
carries one? I would probably only refer to it periodically or when it's time
to head back to camp.

 

[voodoo]

I have used a garmin 76 for several years, it lasts me 2 days on batteries because I turn it off for the longer part of the day, I use it to return to camp/home - there is a color model out that is popular looks the same as my black/grey/light green screen. They can get really fancy and costly, shop slowly, or wait till you see one you like that someone else uses and ask the model. Fish/depth finders are like this also, you can store a lot of useless information in the fancy ones and carry the book the first year or go simple.

 

[lamajama]

I have used a garmin 76 for several years, it lasts me 2 days on batteries because I turn it off for the longer part of the day, I use it to return to camp/home - there is a color model out that is popular looks the same as my black/grey/light green screen. They can get really fancy and costly, shop slowly, or wait till you see one you like that someone else uses and ask the model. Fish/depth finders are like this also, you can store a lot of useless information in the fancy ones and carry the book the first year or go simple.

Thanks for the reply. I did check the garmin site last night looking at whether maps are even available for BC Canada and at this point it looks like Garmin
does not have maps for BC Lakes. Maybe I'm looking for something that does not exist...but that would seem hard to believe. On reflection maybe "mapping" to Garmin etc means depth etc. I don't care about that - I just want the darn thing to tell me "this is where I am - eg middle of lake" and "this is where I need to go to get back to camp". I would hope that's possible...

 

[voodoo]

I have had the world map 3.02 disk about 5 years, wish I had it the first time I was in Asia - it was useful in india, europe, russia and china when I became lost as it loads the areas you want but not the whole world into memory. I have a freind in NY who has the color model 76, maybe a spin thru ebay can help you find something?

 

[lamajama]

Thanks again! I think you know what I need - and from what I see out there most is way overkill. Am I correct in saying that Marine Maps from Garmin (eg)
contain info that I wouldn't need? That the basic maps would show the
lake(s) themselves and I can plot my way back to camp with these basic maps? Sorry for the extra questions. I just prefer to not get lost...

 

[hkr4444]

Garman 76

I use the color Garman 76 and really like it. it is completely waterproof which is a big plus on a boat. The inland lakes is nice for showing depth and danger areas but I think it will work well for you without it. this unit has a good feature that allows you to backtrack along your outbound path, or give you a direct line back to your starting point, it keeps several tracks of history so once you have gone somewhere and followed channels etc. it is a breese to follow that path next time for a while then go off in new directions when exploding.
The screen is small but big enough to get the job done
Good luck

 

[lamajama]

Thanks for the reply! The 76 sounds exactly what I'm looking for!