Chart plotter, gps, sonar suggestions

[killyourguitar]

I have a couple of hundred bucks so I know I haven't the luxury to make much of a decision but I am skimming the top of the dumpsters looking for the best bang for my little 200 ducketts. I am planning to get lost on a possible circumnavigation. I don't mind used equipment as it'll likely be my first option but I'll listen to what any of you have to say on the matter.

I was looking at the Garmin handhelds that float but I really need something that's going to give me good chart access and the information I need to stay out of trouble. I'm not sure the handheld has all that and I'm not proud but I don't want to make "that" call in any case. I just want to go about my way safely as possible and not get too lost.

How's this look? I'm green on electronics btw.

Garmin echoMAP™ CHIRP 43cv | Chartplotter w/ CHIRP Sonar
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/576396

Or

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-Mari...YAAOSwtbBe4q8x

Thank you, come again please. D:

[Benz]

So the first one comes with charts for every lake in the US. That will limit your circumnavigation. I couldn't see whether even loading actual ocean sailing charts was possible. Why not buy a reliable handheld unit that tells you lat/long and speed (my used one was $75), and scrounge/photocopy/buy/trade for paper charts as you go. I've only once failed to get adequate chart coverage with this method.
Bottom line is, unless you invest a lot more than your two boat bucks, you're not going to get a screen big enough nor software adequate to keep you out of trouble. But with a good handheld, a pair of drafting triangles, and a paper chart, you can navigate victoriously.

[killyourguitar]

Man these are great lyrics! :-) would you happen to know where I may pick up a piece of used gear like this? I mean is there a popular go to place? I'm near Long Beach by the way

[rslifkin]

Best bet might be a cheap, used, low end fishfinder for depth. And then a used laptop, USB GPS puck and OpenCPN for GPS and charts. Not necessarily the ideal solution, but probably the most functionality per dollar that you can get.

[killyourguitar]

I was looking at the Dual XGPS150A Universal GPS receiver and

I downloaded OpenCPN on my windows 10 laptop and it looks like Japanese to me, or Greek. All the videos appear geared to earlier versions and it feels far above my head... I could get the hang of it with the right instructions

As far as depth I have a depth sounder on the boat...

I also saw the Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder GPS Combo Depth Finder with Transducer for $130

[Mnbear]

I think Ramos the Russian used a car gps to get to Hawaii

[killyourguitar]

Originally Posted by Mnbear

I think Ramos the Russian used a car gps to get to Hawaii

I saw plenty of automotive/marine gps's. I'm hard on electronics so the idea of something that'll stand up to salt water spray is high on my watch list. I'm still looking around...

[barnakiel]

Except that not getting lost (or getting) has nothing to do with having (or not) a chart in the gps.


Most smartphones have gps inside, so if you want a 'plotter' simply set it up with a chart of your area and that's that.


If there are many booby traps where you sail, do get a depth sounder though. And then stay in deep water. Rocks, shoals and other such are best watched from a long mile.


I like handhelds. I can keep one in the pocket, no need to fix it anywhere. I can check what the boat is doing also from my bunk then.



barnakiel

[Benz]

Originally Posted by killyourguitar

Man these are great lyrics! :-) would you happen to know where I may pick up a piece of used gear like this? I mean is there a popular go to place? I'm near Long Beach by the way

In almost every boating-y place there are marine consignment shops; finding a used AA-battery operated Garmin or Magellan handheld should not be too hard. I bought a new Magellan unit as a backup (nice to have redundancy) at Best Buy. It was meant for "Geocaching," which seems to be some game where you find something whose location is exactly known--maybe it's not for the brightest folk--but it was less than $100 new, and it gives the Lat/Long.

The stuff you're looking at seems to be aimed at leisure fishing. Why get a unit that will find fish and map the bottom when all you really want is location?

[killyourguitar]

Originally Posted by Benz

In almost every boating-y place there are marine consignment shops; finding a used AA-battery operated Garmin or Magellan handheld should not be too hard. I bought a new Magellan unit as a backup (nice to have redundancy) at Best Buy. It was meant for "Geocaching," which seems to be some game where you find something whose location is exactly known--maybe it's not for the brightest folk--but it was less than $100 new, and it gives the Lat/Long.

The stuff you're looking at seems to be aimed at leisure fishing. Why get a unit that will find fish and map the bottom when all you really want is location?

As far as mapping the bottom I thought that would be a cool feature near remote Islands and shoals and so forth in case I decide to stick around there I could make my own charts. I suppose that's the way it works anyway, please correct me if I'm wrong. Like I said I'm pretty green when it comes to the electronics. And thank you!

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by killyourguitar

As far as mapping the bottom I thought that would be a full feature near remote Islands in Shoals and so forth case I decide to stick around there I could make my own charts. I suppose that's the way it works anyway, please correct me if I'm wrong. Like I said I'm pretty green when it comes to the electronics. And thank you!

Having at least a basic fishfinder could be handy for knowing what's on the bottom before anchoring in areas with poor charts or unknown bottoms. But on a limited budget, being that you already have a depthsounder, I'd focus on the GPS and charting aspects first, as they'll be the most useful to you. You can always add more or better equipment later when there's extra room in the budget.

[killyourguitar]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

Best bet might be a cheap, used, low end fishfinder for depth. And then a used laptop, USB GPS puck and OpenCPN for GPS and charts. Not necessarily the ideal solution, but probably the most functionality per dollar that you can get.

I've been pretty busy lately. I need to get a handle on instructions specific to the version of OpenCPN that I have which is 5.2.0. I learn best by watching videos.... I'll admit, reading is not my forte. D:

[killyourguitar]

Looks like I found the instructions :-E

[killyourguitar]

Okay, I'm stuck on the catalog thing. The individual charts do not show up under the chart select catalog tab. I think it's probably a glitch in the new version. When I consult the help file to navigate the software the images inside the help file do not look like what I'm working on inside the software. Makes it very confusing. Especially for a first time user.

[rslifkin]

They split the chart downloader into 2 tabs in the newer version. Once you add a catalog and update it, select the catalog you want, then switch to the other tab and it'll show the charts.