Best handheld GPS for lakes

[Markussupreme]

I live in Austin, Tx and fish several local lakes and was wondering what would be the best handheld gps to get. I have a jon boat with a 15hp motor and would like to look at speeds, mark points in the open part of the lakes as well as look at depths. Good lake software would be a plus. I've been looking at the Lowrance Ifinder h20 c, Garmin Oregon 400i, Garmin etrex vista and the Garmin 60csx with inland lake software. Any suggestions?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

I have two Handheld GPS and they both work perfect.
Units I have are the Garmin GPSMAP 76 and the Lowrance IFinder H2O C.
I like the Lowrance H2O C by far the best but both units do the same thing.

Both will tell you your speed over the ground as all GPS units do.
Both will allow you to set waypoints so you can go back to the same exact spot within about 10 feet if you recieve a WAAS Bird.
Without a WAAS bird then about 30 feet. Since they have rearranged the WAAS birds it is easy to receive the wass birds unless your are in the far North. Waas birds are geostationary over the equator.

Gps units really can not tell you water depth on a lake. For that you really need a Depth Finder or Fish Finder. The Gps can tell you where you are and the high cost details maps may show you a depth reading but most lakes the water level changes.

Most base maps do not give you depth readings and on inland lakes even most high cost detail maps do not give you water depth. They will give you contour maps and show channels and contour lines.
Ocean waters where the water level stays the same except for tide then details maps will show depth.

I personally think when buying a unit you need to go to a store that carries the brands you want to see. Use the units to zoom in to the area you know the best and see what details they show.
Does the unit show the navigation buoys?
How long does the unit take to redraw the maps when you zoom in or out or change course?
How bright is the screen?
How big is the Screen?

All the add will show the unit as extreamly bright, but there are big difference when you go and look at the unit.
Some unit are much faster to redraw than other units because the use a core 2 Dual processor.

Go see the units in a store then shop Price. Iboats has some good prices but it also is important to support your local stores so you can go see the real units not just the adds. Many will also do price matching if you ask and have a web site or sales add.

Good luck and come back and tell us which unit select and why.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

The Global Positioning System covers all of the earth with equal coverage, so being on a lake makes absolutely no difference.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

Agreed -- the cheapest non-mapping GPS works exactly the same on water as it does on land. You mark where you started, mark any waypoints on your route and the only thing you won't see is the outline of the lake on your screen. Hit track back and follow the sugar trail to get back to any way point or your starting point.

 

[lakeorbay]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

If I'm not too late making a suggestion, I would choose the Garmin 478.

http://www.tigergps.com/garmingpsmap478.html

I can only speak from fist hand experience. The 478 is the only GPS I know, but it has performed well for me. I take it from my truck (for drives to unfamiliar territory) to the boat (for navigation into the unknown) to my bike (for long rides into wilderness) and throw it in my luggage (for vacation). It's awsome.

I've been most impressed with it's marine features. It has data base of marine info in it. Switching to marine mode will give you a lot of info like channel markers, bouys, hazard, contours and depths. The features are abundant. You can expand it by purchasing a data card. They have a card of inland lakes (region specific). I also purchase the sonar unit, so it doubles as a fish finder. Accurate speed for trolling or whatever.

It's a couple years older, but for that reason, you can find it even cheaper than the link I posted. Good luck.

 

[67Johnson6HP]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

Go to Wally World and get a Garmin eTrex - I think they're around $90. It'll do everything you need except for depth.

 

[nam6869usmc]

Re: Best handheld GPS for lakes

Go to Wally World and get a Garmin eTrex - I think they're around $90. It'll do everything you need except for depth.

+1 for the eTrex, my Son & tested the speed of my boat last year with mine, they are priced right & they work.