[Rhodes22-list] Actual boating question

[Jim Connolly]

I like Garmin.  I have bought a GPS-45 in ~1994, sold it with a boat, and
replaced it with a GPS-48 in 2002.  Still have that.  Been interested in a
mapping GPS for some time.  Played a bit with the Fugawi demo on a Palm
handheld with bluetooth GPS (Fugawi on Palm was unstable, expensive, and now
discontinued) as well as "Active Captain" demo on same hardware (cheap,
limited capability, but works).  Hardware problem with both approaches on
the Palm is poor daylight viewability, and not waterproof.

For the waters I generally play in, mapping capability would be nice.
Waterproof (IMHO) in an open cockpit is necessary, although it can be
managed with various storage bags.  I am slightly troubled that the Nuvi 500
does not float, but that too can be managed.  I store my boat electronics in
a floating waterproof bag that I take with me every time.  I always have a
chart and old-fashioned navigation gear handy.  I used to teach navigation
and have navigated across oceans.  I was once taught how to use a sextant,
although 25+ years later, I have no clue.

To get the dual capability in the Nuvi 500 series, you apparently give up
some calculation/display speed in the unit, and text to speech capability
(e.g., "TURN LEFT 500 FEET" instead of "TURN LEFT ON MAIN STREET" in car
mode)  That's OK by me.  I guess I will have to go play with one in the
store to see what the marine mode does, if nobody has tried one.

Jim Connolly
s/v Inisheer
'85 recycled '03

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of KUHN, LELAND
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 8:59 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Actual boating question

Jim,

Looks interesting:
http://www.gpsmagazine.com/2008/07/garmin_nuvi_500_review.php#1

My wife has one of the cheaper Nuvis in her car.  The larger screen on the
500 will definitely be worth it.  If you're planning a trip, I would
definitely MapQuest it and carry a map along.  I love GPSs, especially on
golf carts, but you may not always agree with their directions.

I have the Garmin GPSMAP 376C for the boat:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=148&pID=325

When my original hand-held was stolen, the 376 was the replacement from my
insurance company.  Had I researched GPSs, I probably would have purchased
something cheaper.  The best feature for me is the large display of the
boat's speed.  I can lean the GPS next to the bulkhead on the galley counter
and easily read the speed from the helm.  I rarely use the other umpteen
million features of the device.

The 500 might be able to enlarge the speed display, but it doesn't look like
it.  It's an interesting GPS for all that it does, but any tool that
performs more than one function usually isn't the best at performing any of
them.  Kind of like a MacGregor power-sailer.

Lee
1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
Kent Island, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Connolly [mailto:jbconnolly at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:48 PM
To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Actual boating question

Does anyone have experience with the Garmin Nuvi 500 series?  I don't really
need a dedicated GPS plotter on the boat and I don't yet have one in my car.

Thanks

Jim Connolly
s/v Inisheer
'85 recycled '03


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