portable gps

Katmat

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2016
Messages
221
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Vessel Name
Katmat
Looking to see what portable gps people are carrying on their tug.
I am looking at the Garmin gps 64s. Any comments on this model?
Thanks,
Matt Murphy
 
Ah, my iPhone and iPad both have built in GPS. I'm running assorted marine mapping apps (e.g. Aqua Maps, iBoating, Active Captain, Garmin Blue Charts, etc) on the iPad and Google Earth on the iPhone. The iPad mapping apps work even when I'm out of cell tower range.
 
Most cellphones do everything portable gps does.
 
I also use an iPad Pro with Navionics. As far as a small portable handheld device goes, we just got the Garmin inReach Explorer+. It doubles as a two-way satellite messenger and can be used to initiate a distress call. You can take it with you if you, say, anchor you boat and go hiking in a remote area.
 
Matt,
I’d ask you consider repurposing those portable gps $$ into a EPIRB or PLB. Something like the ACR ResQLink. No monthly fee and a 10 year battery. You can carry the ResQLink in your pocket when away from the boat. I also carry mine when hiking in remote areas, solo mountain biking and occasional river rafting. If in trouble, I want rescue, not search!
 
Very true about the iPhone and iPad apps; we keep the Garmin nee Navionics app on the cellular iPad as a second chartplotter.

But if you're determined to get a handheld GPS as a backup, I'd go with one of the marine GPS 78 series with marine map pre-loaded and able to add different garmin maps. The GPS 64 was designed for hiking/land use.

And good idea to get a PLB regardless of which direction you go.

Have fun on the water and Happy Easter,

Bill
 
I just put the ResQLink on my "Must Have" list. Thank you for informing me of this product.
 
I use a cheap BU-353S4 GPS unit ($25) and a Quark-Elec A021 AIS receiver that both plug into USB ports on either my PC or Mac laptops. They work well with the freeware OpenCPN chart plotter software on my laptops as a backup stand alone system in case the Garmin unit has problems.
 
Like others here, I'm in the Navionics camp for iPhone/iPad charting and backup for my help chartplotter. The difference is I chose not to rely on the cellular antenna system and went with a GPS receiver from Bad Elf. These are great receivers and can connect via Bluetooth to multiple devices simultaneously.

https://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-2300-detail

Cheers,
Mark
 
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