Re: [Paddlewise] Loss of trust in GPS options for kayakers

Ken,

So is this experience you relate; to suggest that one not bother
to invest in a 'GPS' because the techonology is still in it's
infancy stage?
That one is better off to wait a few more years because a 'GPS'
is only reliable under ideal weather conditions? Gosh I can
barely remember as a kid having a crystal set, next the big
box transistor radio and now today we have compact CD's.
GPS techonology may well have a way to go yet with it's
evolutionary developement. I am not comfortable spending
big bucks for such unreliability. Does the Magellan GPS
offer the same effectiveness as the Garmin 38 GPS that you
purchased? This leaves me somewhat convinced that a reliable
deck compass and chart package is still the best system for
navagation.

Best Regards,

Philip Wylie

Dan Volker wrote:

>  I have a Garmin 38 GPS. I use it inside a waterproof "baggy" type enclosure
> boat stores sell for cell phones.  None of the GPS units are "really
> waterproof". The unit has worked perfectly. Since I use mine on my surfski,
> I have to attach it to the top of my thigh, above the knee, where I can read
> it ( using elastic bands).
> The only downside I have had with the GPS is getting bogus GPS numbers form
> others---this has happened once( someone who read me the wrong numbers, had
> me paddling waaay out beyond the reef I was looking for), and one other
> time, I and 5 other kayakers were using my GPS as sole navigation tool to
> find a reef called Horseshoe, about 2 miles out---after freediving it for
> about 3 hours, a horrendous  rain storm ensued, cutting visibility to 30
> feet in any direction, and bringing waves up to about 8 feet and
> bigger.......The GPS would NOT pick up any satelites, so the compass
> function would not work, i.e.,  we did not know what direction shore was.
> We went with the waves, but after 10 minutes found a break in the clouds,
> and discovered the strong west wind had the waves going "OUT" to sea, not
> in.  Just a warning for anyone who may have thought they did not need a
> compass if they got a gps.
> Regards,
> Dan Volker
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kenneth Johnson <kjohnson_at_trip.net>
> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> Date: Saturday, April 18, 1998 10:22 PM
> Subject: [Paddlewise] GPS options for kayakers
>
> >I just recently joined, so may have missed the discussion on this.  Checked
> the archives and saw nothing.  Anyone have any GPS units that they have
> experience with and would recommend?  Sea-Kayaker showed a new Magellan
> Pioneer for under $100 but in the reviews I read, some dealers refuse to
> carry it because it is so limited in channel capacity and took up to 45
> minutes to get its initial reading, and when turned on and off, lost its
> initial reading and required another 45 minutes to get it.  I was interested
> to see that they have CD's with complete maps and charts that can be plugged
> into computer and the GPS; would sure save on purchasing local charts
> everywhere you go.  A gimmick or an asset?  Thanks.  Ken Johnson
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