GPS Recommendations

[sdhawk]

I thought I saw somewhere somebody talking about a GPS for marine use that shows buoy locations on lake and rivers. I've searched and can find nothing. Anybody heard of such and would also appreciate suggestions on what you would recommend buying.

[badmoonrising]

I use an old dinosaur Lowrance Globalmap 100 that show buoys, shipwrecks, navigation hazards, etc.

[mikeherb]

Here are dozens of chartplotters with prices and reviews:

http://www.nextag.com/GPS-Systems--a-GP ... 6z5---html

[MrGadget]

All chartplotters display their information based on GPS location and some sort of corresponding data media you insert in the device, generally a cartridge or memory card of some sort. Map media are sold by region of coverage area. When selecting a chart plotter, see which kind of media it takes, and then Google that type to see what coverage areas are available. You're looking for a media item that's titled "inland waterways" or "inland rivers" or something similar.

Note that media will only cover water bodies that are actually maintained by the Corps of Engineers and/or for which NOAA has actually produced navigation charts, as the media is simply a digitized version of those published charts. The better media usually has local data added in like nearby roads, points of interest, etc.

Also note that no media is exhaustive when it comes to inland coverage. Generally major rivers and bodies are covered, but tributaries may not be. An example is C-Map. I have their fullest coverage media of inland waterways, and while it does include the Ohio River, it doesn't include Green River at all, even though Green River is a decent sized tributary and is maintained with markers and dredging and is managed for commercial transit up to the third lock from the Ohio.

Check before you buy with the company that produces the media to see if the bodies of water you're interested in are available.

[sdhawk]

Thanks guys for the info. Looks like I might be going foe a Lowrance unit since they utilize the Navionics Maps. I still have to do some more research though. Not many of these units on display here in this area to see what they can do.