Minimum GPS features for modest coastal use?

[jaymoussy]

Should one need to buy a new marine GPS for modest (*) coastal use, what should be the minimal must-have "current" features?
Would all units couple with VHF radio?

What would a slightly used older unit be missing?

(*) tooling around Cape Cod inner bays, inlets, maybe limited offshore peaking down the road.

 

[Boydski]

Older units may not have modern networking features (NMEA 2000), AIS, etc. If you buy a really old unit, it may not be aware of GPS satelite and WAAS changes. However, you can get by with a hand held GPS and paper charts. A modest chart plotter or even an IPAD (cellular version, which has GPS) with Navionics, works. It depends on how much information you want available for navigating offshore?

Not sure what you meant by coupling with VHF? Are you referring to AIS (Automatic Identification System) appearing on your chart plotter or DSC (Digital Select Calling) for calling other boats?

 

[mrmamiller]

In my opinion, having an older GPS and a new GPS, the older GPS had maps that were not current and could not be updated. The older GPS had a slow processor and the map rebuild times were laboriously slow which contributed to erroneous navigational procedures. The new unit has what the old unit didn't. That came with a price. I like the operational points of the old unit versus the new unit. Son-in-law has an iPhone with Navionics app. Loves it. Not good in bright sunlight and is heat sensitive. If you can get by both of these limitations, it may be a good way to go at a minimal cost if you already have that technology. (Navionics maps "may" be better than what Garmin has ...I know...)