GPS

[Wood Shampoo]

What GPS do you have and what are the features that you like and dislike about it? I am looking a purchasing a new one soon and want to get some input on what "Fishermen" like in a GPS unit.

[Hook'd]

I have a Raytheon 420 chartplotter with the chip for all of Oregon and it works great.
This costs a little more than just a GPS but I have found it well worth it. I shows where
you are in relationship to buoys, piers, & jetties. It even shows the bottom contours. In the fog you still have to watch out for the ships at the mouth of the Columbia River. Need radar for that. The new model out this year is the 425 with some additional features. My $0.02 worth.

[Grits]

Remeber K.I.S.S: Keep it simple stupid!

I have a really basic Magellion 315 GPS and couldn't be happier with it. A few friends went out and bought the top of the line with all the bells and whistles and to date none of them have been able to make them work. Take a lot of time reading through the manual before buying. If the manual is thicker than "War and Piece" and can't easily be followed I would keep looking. Remeber that you will be trying to operate this thing in the outdoors and won't want to consult a manual everytime you use it.

My only gripe with mine is it can only store one route. So when I load it up with points the night before a trip I can only program the route going out. It would be nice to be able to store several routes.

[Gizmo Man]

Garmin GPS III +. Has built in map. Turn it on and go. Leaves a trail as to where you have been. Follow it home. It is portable so you can take it in the car or other boats. Buy the 12v adaptor to save batteries. This is the third GPS I have owned and it is by far the easiest. Cost about $349.00. You can buy maps if you want more detail.

Giz...

[pirk fan]

A garmin 45 - knows the important stuff - like where the center of the bar is at Newport - just follow the highway home

[boater]

ive been fishing off the coast and had guys come and ask where westport is, they had no compass or gps or any navigational aid, these kind of people have no sense at all, i have a raytheon gps 198 c-map unit, shows detail down to what dock your sitting at in the harbour, a magellan map 330 just in case, still i use a compass to get me started in the rite direction, these gps units are great but you need to be moving to get a reading on what direction you are going.

[Phunybonz]

For what it's worth, GI Joe's Delta Park is having a GPS clinic 7/8 from 11-3. I have an Eagle Explorer that my wife won at the sportsman show a couple years back. I can turn it on, but just can't get comfortable enough to get myself lost and test it. I learn better by watching rather than reading.

[blubeast]

I too have a Raytheon 420. After comparing displays side by side.... liked it best. Waited till model change for price to fall and bought it on sale.

Like Hook'd, I got the chip for the entire state. Like the detail. Still learning all of features: manual and their phone support have been helpful.

Features I like best is map detail, bottom contours, functions and display crispness.