What is the best marine GPS software for a casual boater?
zoomstop asked:
I have a USB based GPS unit and a laptop. So rather than drop $1,000 on a marine GPS , I am hoping to find decent software and just bring the laptop out with me. Who makes good software for this? I am searching the internet but not finding a whole lot.
I have a USB based GPS unit and a laptop. So rather than drop $1,000 on a marine GPS , I am hoping to find decent software and just bring the laptop out with me. Who makes good software for this? I am searching the internet but not finding a whole lot.
you will need a unit that accepts marine chart chips. Garmin has the best choices. will your gps unit accept marine chips? your next choice may be a hand held unit and forget the laptop.
the best software for a casual boater is your brain and a paper chart of where you are and knowledge of how to use it……for 50 bucks….maybe less…….you can get three charts of your area…….and charts don’t fail if they get wet, or you drop them, or the batteries fail……..and if you’re mucking about with a PC, worried about dropping it or trying to read it in the suns glare, you aren’t paying attention to where you are going….
the US Power Squadron and the Coast Guard Auxiliary offer excellent courses in basic boat handling and chart reading………keeps you out of all sorts of dangerous and expensive trouble….
Have to agree with Yankee Sailor’s response. If your pockets aren’t deep enough to purchase the right equipment take the course and learn how to plot your course. Actually, even if you buy the equipment you should still have a chart on board and know how to chart the course and do time/distance calculations for the system could go down and leave you blind on the water. We have the GPS on our boat but we also have a waterproof chart and plotting tools too just in case.
You have to put the information from the GPS on the paper chart for it to be of any use. The chart shows the hazards you have to go around to avoid trouble. Just blindly following a return course from a GPS is a receipe for disaster.
I use my Iphone and it works great for this on big lakes her in Tx…. but you can use any other gps that has color screen for this sorta loc’ing
a laptop will work fine, if you have a net connection to stay up to current time
instead of risking you laptop, just with moisture alone, not to mention rain or splashing, I’d look at an inexpensive marine one. here is the excerpt from one of my previous posts:
I was in your same situation last year, I think this model has been discontinued however if you can find one, its WELL worth the money ~$200. I bought one last year and have been nothing but pleased with it. The GPS chartplotting is outstanding for a unit this size and price, while you can not update the maps on it how often do things really majorly change? It has a good depth / fish finder as well with temp. I really cant say enough about it. It has all the major features, tides, moon, all the markers on the river (where I am atleast), route planning, all the data you could really ever need, and you can overlay the depth and temp data on the chart or the nav info on the depth finder, it does split screen…I could go on. Although I don’t think it shows marinas, check a paper chart, then mark them as a waypoint on the unit, I always have a paper chart as a back up anyway.
Here is a link to a site that looks like they have them in stock and also a feature list. Might also check ebay.
manufacture website, check the manual, it seems kinda overwhelming at first, but its VERY easy to use.
good luck!
yankee s advise is sound. I have similar experience over 45 years on the water, 13 living aboard and cruising the West Coast. remember thinking Loran C was pretty hot stuff! Ha Ha