GPS in a boat?

[taxidermist]

Ok, I have been looking but still don't see the need for GPS in a boat.

I will fishing TR, BS, Norfork, Beaver,TACOMO and doubtfully nothing else with this boat. So that being that can anyone tell me a reason to justify the added expense?

Thx

John

[Steve Smith]

I’ve had GPS sonar in my boat for several years now. My first was a Lowrance, and I’m installing a new color Hummingbird as a replacement. Personally, I wouldn’t be without GPS, either handheld or built in sonar, but I would insist on having a lake map model. If you have ever been on the water during a storm that forces you to find shelter or sudden heavy fog, they can save your butt. During low water, I would mark structure like humps, drop-offs, tree stands, and hazards like the shallow islands that eat lower units. They make finding that special brush pile or line of cedar trees a snap over and over again without excessive searching. On the negative side, even good handhelds can be really expensive. If they don’t come with lake maps, the chip with the feature adds to the cost of the unit, and not all lake maps are on the chip in detail. There is a small amount of error built into the GPS, so they basically get you close, but not pinpointed. Finally, like all expensive electronics they become obsolete rather quickly. Lowrance no longer manufactures the parts to repair my old unit. That didn’t make me happy, so I’m trying the Hummingbird model. The main reason for me is I spend two weeks a year fishing Lake of the Woods in Ontario. That is a huge lake where all the islands look the same, and there are boulders inches under the water. A $600 GPS/sonar is way cheaper than a lower unit, or worse, the hull of my boat.

[Gavin]

Its a good way to mark underwater structure that you want to come back too and navigate in bad conditions. I like to use one when I float an unfamiliar stretch of river. It helps to space out the day so we dont arrive early or late. It also helps me find caves & geologic features that I want to see...Find it on the map, mark it, and go find it. Cheers.

[skeeter]

Steve, you said it all. Fully agree. If you can afford it, research the different models and go for it. By any chance is the Lowrance unit they won't repair an LMS 350 ? They fixed mine once then said it wouldn't be repaired again. Moved that to the bow and picked-up an LCX15mt which is amazing. When the 350 dies, I'll be moving the 15mt to the bow and picking a unit that uses Navionics new HD map chip.

[Steve Smith]

I don’t remember what model it was, but I’ll check it out tonight and let you know. You might be able to salvage some parts off of it. I was really disappointed with Lawrence after it quit. Not because it broke, but because they wouldn’t fix it. They said it was probably the main circuit board, and they didn’t carry that part anymore due to the cost of manufacturing. Then they added insult to injury by just offering 10% off a new unit. I have had a Hummingbird 3D model [Not GPS] 16 years and they have rebuilt it twice at a very reasonable price. I figured I’d give Hummingbird a try this time to see if I can get some repairable longevity out of my investment.

Skeeter; I bought the Hummingbird 595C and it too can use the new HD Map chip. As soon as I can get over the shock of purchasing the new unit, that will be next.

[Watcher]

Ever been on Northfork at night and a heavy fog settle in on the lake? Thats One Good Reason.

[jdmidwest]

I carry a hand held GPS with me in any boat. I use it to mark access points, boat ramps, hot spots, and to trace routes back on lakes. When I float a stream for the first time, I mark the takeout and take readings along the way to gauge my progress. That way I am not paddling by flashlight. I also mark points of interest and download into my National Geographic TOPO software for future reference. I have also scouted out caves and such on the topo program and uploaded them into the GPS for the daily float to check out along the way. I use a older Magellan 315, but it still performs well.

[taxidermist]

All good reasons.

Yes I was out last night until 2am on Long creek and Yoacum, fog settled in but since I use to know the lake pretty well all was fine.

I see lost of use for bursh pile marking, that area needs some piles now.

We caught lots of short crappie, shad in the net, more short crappie, some males whites, more short crappie. Finally started dragging a night crawler and darn if we did not catch short Walleye!!! You thunk I wus gonna say crappie.

47 fish in 9 hours and one stinkun keeper, oh man I wanted a crappie fillettttts. Then when I got the walllleye, I decided to work that some more and yes plenty of short fish.

Did find one stump that well we ran a bit up on we were trolling so backing off was not a biggie.

NOW, how informed are the sales people at BPS in SGF, MO?

Ganders people in Little Rock suck don't know squat, except how to run a cash reg.

Do you think Hummingbird is the way to go? Some of them look pretty much the same as for keyboard.

Thx

John

[MOFish]

I just like having toys. Mine is a Garmin 176C, which was replaced with the 276C. Some of the Humminbirds, as I understand, require a separate receiver but I could be wrong. The nice thing about them is that you can mount a GPS/Fishfinder combo on that universal mount most of them have. I had to drill holes to mount a stand-alone unit.

The newer GPS units (Garmin) give you the ability to get weather radar information off of a satellite feed! We were on LOZ once when a storm came out of nowhere, so I'd love to be able to switch from the GPS map to the weather radar to see what's coming down the lake - or how bad its going to be.

Can't answer your question about BPS Springfield, but the BPS Warehouse in St. Charles had a guy that knew his stuff. Sold my wife, sold me and sold my father-in-law. Don't remember his name, but he really did know a lot about GPS units.

[Dutch]

Some of the guys in Spfd. MO know their stuff and some only partly. George at Marine Repair knows Lowrance back and forward.