Last spring I purchased my first GPS, a Garmin eTrex. I got the silver one that has the charting. I highly recommend the charting. It includes all the navigational markers in the US. You can plot a course by selecting a marker. You do not need to translate the Lat-Long from your paper chart to the GPS. Just scroll around till you find where you want to go and say "GO TO". Entering coordinates is fine as long as you plan ahead and enter every possible way-point you might need. Personally, I am not that organized. With the chart I can change my plans on the water quickly and accurately. The chart also serves as another good idiot check. If you don't trust your compass or the course given by the GPS, you can check the charting to see if you are actually moving in the right direction. The charts in my GPS are crude. Small islands are missing, but most towns are identified and any thing over a mile is diameter generally shows up. Plus, as I say nav markers are there whether or not the harbor shows up realistically. You can down load more accurate charts if neccessary, but the crude chart is good enough for most purposes especially since you will be carrying a paper chart as well. Garmin offers a variety of price points in the eTrex line. They all appear good. More $$$ gives a better display, more satellite channels, more memory for waypoints, and then charting. They are water resistant. I use mine in a waterproof bag. I can manipulate the controls fairly well through the plastic. Nick -- Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Nov 07 2001 - 10:31:17 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:45 PDT