looking to buy........

MOJON · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 12:55 PM

I'm looking to buy a GPS. I dont know if I need to get a GPS?fishfinder or a good hand held. I've been looking at the 520c GPS and the Garmin Map 60cxs. I need to be able to run the boat in fog or night, fishin, duckhuntin or whatever the case may be. I've got a buddy of mines lil Garmin Vista and dont really rthink I coulod run at all with it (plained out). Ya im sure it would get there, I just wanna be able to run 20-25mph with it. I would also be getting the mapping for it, to were the Vista doesnt do that. I dont know a darn thing about any of this GPS stuff, just learning.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Jon

crappie cowboy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 02:26 PM

It's none of my business, but there is no way I would run 20 to 25 mph on any body of water in fogg using ANY kind of gps.
I read a terrible story not long ago about somepeople doing that same thing, and someone got killed when they run ashore using the gps, I think the gps map was not correct.
Use caution and common sense my friend.

crappie cowboy

frank lawhead · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 04:11 PM

CC is prooly right---who,s to know if theres not someone else doing the same thing ?
BUT I have done that at a slower speed --using a 5300c chart plotter and following a trail I had already put on the unit---any system that you can save a trail on would work

SteveJ · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 04:50 PM

I use a Eagle 480 and a Garmin GPSMap 76Cx, some like combo units but not me, I like having a full screen on my DF. With a handheld you can move from boat to boat with no trouble like when you go with someone else plus during deep drawdowns you can walk the dry lake bed and mark spots. Just my way to do it.

Bluegilll · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 05:19 PM

I'd watch them maps for sure.Someone was just on here other day saying there map had there honeyhole way in the woods.

Now just think if you was them traveling 20-25 mph & used that,you would end up dry docked or dead.

Theres nothn ever or will ever be made to make it safe to travel that fast in the fog & dark.GPS doesnt know the waters depth nor does it know whats floating in the water

Good luck on whatever you decide to use.

MOJON · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 05:25 PM

Sorry, thought thats what these bad a$$ GPS's were for. Geuss I wont be runnin in the dark or fog with one of dem, a loss of life is not worth fish or waterfowl of any kind. I really thank those whove replied. Jon

justforfun · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:24 AM

glad it didn't take a wreck to explain that. I use both. 997 to motor to waypoint and hand held to pinpoint it with troll motor.

speckfinder · #8 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:04 PM

the maps can be off some, but if you plot a trail and navigate by it you'll be ok, just don't run too fast for conditions

LBM · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 10:04 PM

I started out using a Garmin 76S and recently got a Lowrance LMS-522c iGPS and continue to use both to mark and find waypoints.
Its my understanding that if I would ever do a reset on the Lowrance I will be loosing my waypoints. I use the Garmin to get the waypoints onto my computer saved into EasyGPS so that if need be I could get the waypoints back onto a handheld if I ever loose the points on both the Lowrance and Garmin.
The other day on the water I really noticed a difference in the refresh rate between the Lowrance and the Garmin 76S. I have been mainly using the Garmin to work the brush piles since I was more familiar with that unit. The Lowrance seems to have a much faster refresh rate and after noticing that fact I realized why at times in the past I would have problems finding and staying on a brush pile with just the Garmin.
I have been using the Garmin zoomed in the max and left the Lowrance zoomed further out while locating and fishing brush piles.
The next time I'm fishing brush piles I plan on zooming the Lowrance into the max and letting the Garmin stay zoomed out further and see if it is easier to stay on the brush mainly using the Lowrance.

DonG · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBM

I started out using a Garmin 76S and recently got a Lowrance LMS-522c iGPS and continue to use both to mark and find waypoints.
Its my understanding that if I would ever do a reset on the Lowrance I will be loosing my waypoints. I use the Garmin to get the waypoints onto my computer saved into EasyGPS so that if need be I could get the waypoints back onto a handheld if I ever loose the points on both the Lowrance and Garmin.
The other day on the water I really noticed a difference in the refresh rate between the Lowrance and the Garmin 76S. I have been mainly using the Garmin to work the brush piles since I was more familiar with that unit. The Lowrance seems to have a much faster refresh rate and after noticing that fact I realized why at times in the past I would have problems finding and staying on a brush pile with just the Garmin.
I have been using the Garmin zoomed in the max and left the Lowrance zoomed further out while locating and fishing brush piles.
The next time I'm fishing brush piles I plan on zooming the Lowrance into the max and letting the Garmin stay zoomed out further and see if it is easier to stay on the brush mainly using the Lowrance.

LBM, please keep us posted on what you find...I have had the opposite results..While at Kerr Res. my Garmin 76s has time and again proved to be a "lot" more accurate than my brother in law's Lowrance..I really like the Lowrance DFs but unless I see a big improvement with their GPSs I will stick with Garmin...I wish there was some way to use my 76s with the Lowrance 522c..That would be a good setup for me..Maybe Tom will figure out how to do that...