A Marine GPS Unit Offers Safe Navigation to Destinations On- and Off-Shore
Water lover are you? If you are the type of person who can’t seem to stay off of your boat then you probably are used to getting the latest technology available to make sure that you stay afloat as you navigate further away from shore. However, if you don’t keep up with technology then this is your chance to learn about the latest marine GPS systems available in stores and online that can make your experience on the water not only more exciting, but also safer. There are tons to choose from and in this article we will look at a few of your options.
Portable vs. Handheld
The first thing we’ll look at is the difference between portable and handheld units. Overall, the difference isn’t largely significant; as a matter of fact, some portable units can actually be categorized as handheld because you can use them while walking around. But for the sake of sticking to categories we’ll entertain the perceived difference.
The portable unit is typically viewed as one that is not built into a vehicle; or in the case of the marine GPS unit, not built into the boat. With a portable unit, you can move it from one location to another and still operate it the same way. It is not directly linked to any one mode of transportation and can actually help you navigate on foot. The handheld unit on the other hand is beyond portable. It is meant to be held in your hand as you navigate and is a little bit more durable and rugged than the portable device because it is expected to slip out of your hand at some point. Also, most handheld units are waterproof because again they are expected to slip out of your hand.
Keep these ideas in mind when you decide which type of unit you want to purchase for your next trip on the water. You may find that a portable unit is just fine for your purposes because you won’t have the ability to hold the device in your hand. But if you think you’ll need to step off of the boat to hunt or fish then the handheld unit would probably be better.
Portable
Now that we’ve looked at some differences between the portable and handheld marine GPS devices, let’s take time to explore some offered from both style.
EKP-IIIC Color – The first portable unit we’ll look at is the EKP-IIIC Color. It was created for both amateurs and professionals who spend a good amount of their time on the water. With it comes some great features including a high resolution TFT color display, WAAS compatibility, a C-Map C-Card that helps stay connected to databases for the North, Central and South Americas, and AvMap technology. Other features of this device include a large 6.4-inch screen with a 640 x 480 pixel screen resolution, a simulator mode, auto zoom, and a wind and fuel calculator.
Garmin GPSMAP 276C – This marine GPS device is also WAAS-enable and comes with 12 parallel channels and color chart plotting for both land and sea, making it great to use on land or off. Some other features you can take advantage of with this unit include a 3.8-inch, 480 x 320 pixel, 256-color backlit TFT display with sunlight readability, and an adjustable quad helix receiving antenna for superior reception. Also, if you are interested in storing routes, you can manage up to 50 reversible routes and 1,200 waypoints per route, as well as a 10,000-point track log with 15 saved track and 700 saved track points each.
Handheld
Handheld devices, as described above, are more durable than the portable units. Below is one on the market that consumers love.
Lowrance XOG – This handheld marine GPS unit is small enough to fit in your pocket, but still is huge in the number of features it offers. For instance, it comes with 2 GB of built-in memory that allows you to add maps to the already present NAVTEQ turn-by-turn precision data. But that’s not all. Also, you can enjoy over 3.5 million points of interests (POIs) that are already stored in the system. If you need to step off the boat or our of your vehicle, you can still navigate trails and even store waypoints if necessary. In additon, some extras you’ll enjoy include an MP3 player, JPEG picture viewer and 1-watt loudspeaker.
Finding a marine GPS system is pretty easy once you begin your search. The hardest part is honestly singling out the features you want and need. So don’t wait another moment. Get started today, so that tomorrow you can begin playing with all the functions on your new marine GPS system immediately.
