One big downside users may face when using a handheld GPS with charts onboard is the difficulty one can encounter trying to read details. Not all handheld GPS units sold today have marine charts available, so before you buy make sure this is an option. Preloaded or downloadable charts are impressive and add significant value for the mariner. Some units have a track-back feature that allows you to reverse the course you have just run and follow it back. You can create your own maps by setting waypoints along a track, sort of leaving a bread crumb trail. Even if it is your primary GPS, you may not need mapping capabilities. Choosing a Handheld GPS-Chart or Not?ĭo you need cartography or mapping capabilities? Boaters who will use the handheld as a backup may consider buying a less expensive, basic model without cartography. Most units have front-mounted buttons for functional control, while some carry additional buttons on the side. Some newer more sophisticated handhelds even feature touch screen operation. Still no handheld will have a really large screen and reading these units under tough marine conditions can be trying at times.īuttons and controls are important, too. Larger handheld GPS units, which could measure as much as 6-inches tall and 3-inches wide, will have easier-to-read display screens that range in the neighborhood of 3-inches on the diagonal. Will size play a role in your purchase decision? Some units are pocket size, or no larger than some cell phones with screens are only about 1.5 inches by 2 inches. Land-use features should be included in the model you choose. If you hike or hunt, those are factors, too. Choosing a Handheld GPS-Boat Electronics or Multi-UseĪre you going to use the GPS handheld in your car as well as your boat? Most handhelds are tailored more toward land use than marine use so finding a multi-use unit will be fairly easy. Make sure that receptacle is clean and corrosion free. Even when used as a backup it is still a good idea to power the unit via a 12-volt receptacle supplied by ships power. Using a Handheld GPS for Backupīattery life is major consideration for the boater who intends to use the unit as a backup to a fixed-mount primary GPS navigation system. As a last resort you may be able to buy an optional external antenna to improve satellite signal reception. If your boat has a hardtop, signal reception could be an issue, so to preempt any possible issues test your handheld for good satellite reception at its planned location aboard. Using a Handheld GPS for Primary NavigationĪre you going to use your handheld GPS as your primary navigation tool or a backup to a permanently installed marine GPS chartplotter? If the handheld will be your main navigational guide, you will want to mount it in a helm location so you can see, operate it easily, and most importantly-connect it to ships power so you dont have to rely on the unit’s internal batteries. Any unit you choose to buy for the boat should be waterproof. If you’re going to be taking the unit on and off the boat multiple times during the boating season, and you’re a bit clumsy to boot, consider a handheld that floats. Again, how you use the GPS will likely dictate how much you spend. Less expensive models come equipped with monochrome display screens and limited or no cartography. The more expensive units have larger, high resolution color screens, built in cartography or mapping and the ability to add memory. Today’s handheld GPS units range from roughly $100 to $500. Choosing a handheld GPS for your boat, whether as a primary or back up navigation device, amounts to determining how you intend to use this tool and how much you are able and willing to spend to acquire hardware and software.
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