boat GPS
A boat GPS is a bit like a return to the beginning, for it was old time navigators in sailing wooden ships that first started the field of navigation, using the stars as their reference points. A boat GPS uses “artificial stars” to determine location in much the same way, except the computer does all the work. In addition the boat GPS is programed with the location of potential hazards such as rocks and reefs that old time navigators could only get from harsh experience.
Boat GPS Uses Artificial Stars
The “artificial stars” that the GPS uses is a system of 24 satellites that the US military put up in an effort to solve that age old question, “where the heck am I”.
A GPS unit triangulates its position using 3 of the satellites and this can allow a unit to pinpoint its position to within a centimeter depending on the quality of the unit. So a boat GPS is far more accurate than old time navigation when sailors used the stars.
Garmin GPSMAP 541s
Fishfinders Sometimes Compliment a Boat GPS
Some of these GPSs come equipped with sonar which can be used monitor depth or to spot the location of fish. Because of the frequent use of these units to aid in fishing they are called fishfinders. It is a bit controversial whether it is better to have separate GPS and fishfinder units or have a combo unit that performs both functions.
marine gps units (a more formal term for a boat GPS) come in a wide variety of models from dozens of manufactuers and range in price from less than $100.00 to in excess of $4000.00. The major manufacturers are Garmin, Hummingbird, Lowrance Electronics, Furuno, Standard Horizon, and Raymarine, just to name a few. These are the primary brands that we will be reviewing. We will review high end models but will focus on models in the price range between $100 and $500. Furuno makes models ranging to the $10,000.00 range but they also make a few in the $400.00 range. Garmin makes GPSs for just about anything that moves and they make a wide variety of boat GPS units.
Here are some of the units we bill be reviewing in the next few months:
Hummingbird 161
- The Humminbird 161
- The Lowrance HDS-5m
- The Humminbird 365i
- The GPSMAP 421S
- Garmin’s GPSMAP 76
- THE FURUNO LS4100
- The Garmin Fishfinder 140
Whenever possible we will search out user reviews so that you can get a some what unbiased viewpoint of the pros and cons of each model. A boat GPS unit is far more of a necessity a car GPS because on open water there is no road to follow or land mark to tell you where you are. It is in the tradition of the early sailors so know where you are and know how to get where you are going with a boat GPS.
