Re: marine GPS
Any GPS will get you back to your starting position.
Most inland boater do not need Radar unless it is very foggy.
You need to give us a lot more information before anyone can really help you.
First do you want a GPS/Chart plotter?
Cheapest GPS units just have numbers and a range and Compass heading to steer by. Most will also have a pointer to show you the right direction.
Chart plotters also have a Map or chart and they put your Boat in the center then as you move the map moves so you can see where you are heading. These units will also have range bearing or compas heading. These units also can draw a line as you move and to get home you just follow the trail back to the launch.
After you have had it for a while you will set waypoints at the launch and at your destination.
Size. When your 18 and can read the bible on the head of a pin you can get by with a small screen. As you get older you wil want a larger brighter screen. As the screen size goes up so does the price.
Lowrance is one company where you can see some units on line. Garmin is another.
If you go to a marine store to look at units and your salesman does not start out by asking questions about you and where you boat then I would go somewhere else. You need to take your time in selecting a unit. there is a lot to learn before you should select a unit.
Hear is a tutorial that will get you started about what GPS is and how it works.
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Support/Tips-and-Tutorials/GPS-Tutorial/
http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/
You can go to Lowrance's site and download an emulator like the Elite 5 then set you screen size to 1024 by 768 or larger and install. With the program you can run the unit from your PC and give it a try.
Your use your mouse to hit the buttons. Hold the power button to exit.
When you turn it on you will be in Oaklahoma so ZOOM out the use the arrow buttons to get to your area then zoom back in and you can see how it works.
http://www.lowrance.com/en/Downloads/Product-Emulators/
