Good Backup Handheld GPS

M

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
One of the last things on our safety checklist is a backup hand held GPS. This will only be used in emergencies.

I went to West Marine and saw some Garmins in the $300 price range.

What's a good, basic, bare bones one that will serve well as a backup? I am not looking for the latest and greatest gidget/gadget/gizmo/do all thing. The simpler the better. I do not care if will integrate with this and that or if it has blue tooth, gold tooth, yellow tooth, loose tooth or wireless this and that. I don't care if my friends/dockmates are not impressed with it.

This thing will sit in a drawer until it's needed, which I hope is never. So what's a good one?

Any "must haves" on a back up hand held GPS?

Thanks,
 
I have a little Garmin Legend. It was about $200 for the one with a color screen. If you want B&W only, it's about $150. You won't impress anyone at the dock with it but it works.
 
I've used a GPS76 as my primary for 6 years. it's never failed me, use's both DC plug and batteries. Highly recommend it. I just wasn't willing to part with the bones for the price of a real one until Uncle Sam sent me the Check.....

Don't tell the wife....
 
on Nehalennia III I used Garmin's eMap as my primary. It was discontinued for several years, but that 76 looks much better.
 
I have a Lowrance iFinder Expedition C. Great color screen TFT. Plenty on E-Bay that are reasonable. Easy to use and easy to see even in bright light. Definitely worth a look.
 
I keep seeing antenna as an accessory. I know little to nothing about GPS hand helds. I assumed they were as simple as charge them up, download any maps and away you go.

Do/will I need to purchase and antenna?
 
I don't have any maps on my handheld... It's a "charge and go" thing for me. It actually resides in my ditch bag. But then again, I don't use it for navigation. I just want something to give me Lat/Lon in case I'm really screwed and all I got left are my paper charts.
 
Four Suns said:
I don't have any maps on my handheld... It's a "charge and go" thing for me. It actually resides in my ditch bag. But then again, I don't use it for navigation. I just want something to give me Lat/Lon in case I'm really screwed and all I got left are my paper charts.
Click to expand...

Perfect...exactly what we are looking for..another goodie for the ditch bag.
 
Ok... you can actually use things in the "ditch bag" in other "emergencies" than just ditching. For example, getting struck by lightning with 12 gazillion volts and frying your electronics (but not sinking the boat) would be a reason to pull out the handheld from said ditch bag. This, of course, assumes the ditch bag didn't melt. Heck.. I might even turn the EPIRB on at that point.
 
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You should check out the Garmin Colorado series...I think the 400C comes pre-loaded with the G2 coastal charts.
 
Weave said:
You should check out the Garmin Colorado series...I think the 400C comes pre-loaded with the G2 coastal charts.
Click to expand...

That's an appropriate hand held BACKUP GPS? You referring to the big one with a 4" screen and doubles as a fishfinder?

Edit: Nevermind... I was thinking of the wrong one. 400C looks nice... a little pricey for a backup though.
 
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Gary,
Yeah the new colorado series does look nice and is a bit pricey.
I am not sure if the chips he has will work with the smaller unit but they have the same unit in a 300 series without any preloaded charts....
 
the nice thing about the gps76 is there is no charge and go. it's a stick the battery in and go. runs off AA's or or cig lighter plug. it has road maps and channel markers no Nav charts no external antenna. pure and simple.

other thing is you should be able to pick one up for about $100 fpr the black and white.
 
I have been trying to give all of my boating $$$ to WM. They use to match internet pricing. Today when I went in the guy listed off 5 or 6 stores, which are the only ones they will internet price match with now. I was going to pick up a ditch bag and life ring too, but they would not price match. Oh well. So I bought some marine tex cause I felt bad.
 
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