RE: [Paddlewise] Garmin eTrex GPS.

>>
I do have a Garmin 12xl and I'd offer the following.   I initially liked the
idea
of having the ability to put in route info.  However, I find I only use that
for
driving (I miss exits on long trips - I need the one minute warning of an
approaching
turnoff).  For kayaking, I've never used it, though I always take it with
me.
Chart and compass navigation does all I need.  The one time I could have
used it, in very dense fog in Nova Scotia, I didn't have it.  It was a
guided
trip and you never want to offend a guide by pulling out a GPS*.  For
navigating
in fog a GPS would be useful, as it will tell you the bearing to your
destination.
I like to have mine as a backup, just in case, and then mainly to establish
position.
>>

For the GPS unit to tell you the bearing and distance to your destination,
you have to have previously entered the destination waypoint into it. Before
a trip, I like to enter waypoints for put-ins, takeouts, and prominent
geographical features, such as headlands and islands. It sure beats having
to figure them out from a map while bouncing around in waves. That's why I
prefer a GPS with a computer link: It enables me to create a library of
waypoints for different areas that can be quickly downloaded before a trip,
and it saves me a heck of a lot of tedious manual waypoint entry and
reentry. Note, however, that I still use a map and compass for most of my
navigation.

Chuck Holst


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