GPS question

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gramps
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GPS question

#1 Post by gramps » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:27 am

I haven't had to use our Humminbird i365 yet for any trips, just for speed, water temp,depth etc' the question I have is a boat gps when used as a trip or goto destonation similiar to a car gps?
Does it steer you around small islands or large obstructions or is it just a straight line to your objective and you have to watch for depth, obstructions etc'

I hope i'm clear in my question, i don't find this gps, fish finder, depth finder easy to use, but then i'm old also, lol!
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cwag911
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Re: GPS question

#2 Post by cwag911 » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:35 am

You put in the coordinates and it'll keep you safe. Or if you are at a spot you want to go back to you can enter where you are as a waypoint in the memory. You just have to sit there Play with it (bad choice of words :lol3 ) to become familiar with the unit.
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NH Tooner
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Re: GPS question

#3 Post by NH Tooner » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:45 am

Am I missing something with my Humminbird 998?
I set coords. and it will give me a straight line through islands and anything else.
Dave

2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
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1993 24' Forester
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gramps
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Re: GPS question

#4 Post by gramps » Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:32 am

NH Tooner wrote:Am I missing something with my Humminbird 998?
I set coords. and it will give me a straight line through islands and anything else.
I think that is what mine does and I was wondering if any are made to guide you to your destination like a car gps.
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rbiederwolf
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Re: GPS question

#5 Post by rbiederwolf » Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:53 am

Mine gives a straight line, I think. I have never plotted a course across any islands etc, only open ocean such as going back to dive spots, or fishing holes. However I have always thought that similar to a :donno Loran, you would have to plot a course around any islands, shoals, sandbars etc.

Maybe I just havent tried it to find out???
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GregF
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Re: GPS question

#6 Post by GregF » Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:29 pm

The only way a GPS will steer you around obstructions is if you put in all the way points for each course change. They do make some high end chart plotters that will do all of that stuff and even talk to your autopilot but that setup may cost as much as you pay for a pontoon boat.
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Ron Burgundy
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Re: GPS question

#7 Post by Ron Burgundy » Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:08 pm

cwag911 wrote:You just have to sit there Play with it to become familiar with the unit.
Just don't get caught. :nono
-Ron Burgundy, "Stay Classy San Diego"

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cwag911
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Re: GPS question

#8 Post by cwag911 » Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:06 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Carl & Suzi
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pote
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Re: GPS question

#9 Post by pote » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:12 am

The key problem with over the water routing is that the route may go over skinny water, unknow obstructions, etc. that may be a risk to boaters. No GPS company wants to be responsible for groundings.

The couple of ways to do this is to spend the time upfront loading in waypoints and then creating a route, or use and existing track to 'track back'. Tracks can be run forward or backwards so one you have done it once, you can save the track and use it over and over again.

If your chart has bouys on it, then you can create a route out of them. It just takes a little time up front planning them out.

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LocoCoco
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Re: GPS question

#10 Post by LocoCoco » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:14 am

GregF wrote:The only way a GPS will steer you around obstructions is if you put in all the way points for each course change. They do make some high end chart plotters that will do all of that stuff and even talk to your autopilot but that setup may cost as much as you pay for a pontoon boat.

That's not the case anymore. Garmin has the "BlueChart G2 Vision" charts that will show you the most efficient route to your destination based on your boat's dimensions. You just have to watch the screen and keep your boat on the pink line (or let the autopilot do it on the high-end models).

These charts are available for pretty well all Garmin chartplotters, even the cheap ones. It's what sold me on their entry-level GPSMap 421S.


"Enter the World of Auto Guidance
By adding a BlueChart g2 Vision card to your compatible chartplotter, you can take advantage of patented Garmin Auto Guidance technology. Enter the location where you want to go and Auto Guidance instantly searches through relevant charts to create a safe path specifically designed for the dimensions of your boat. Auto Guidance provides a visual path that avoids low bridges, shallow water and other charted obstructions. This allows you to travel to your destination with great peace of mind. But Auto Guidance is even more amazing when it is coupled with a Garmin autopilot system. Engage your compatible autopilot to follow the Auto Guidance route, and it will keep you on route, automatically..."
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=9618


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cwag911
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Re: GPS question

#11 Post by cwag911 » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:03 am

That's good to know LC, thanks.
Carl & Suzi
07 Bennington 2275rl triton w/ strakes
150 Honda 15x15p Enertia prop
Power assisted steering
Denver, NC Lake Norman
Pleiku, Vietnam 1971
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gramps
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Re: GPS question

#12 Post by gramps » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:19 am

LocoCoco wrote:
GregF wrote:The only way a GPS will steer you around obstructions is if you put in all the way points for each course change. They do make some high end chart plotters that will do all of that stuff and even talk to your autopilot but that setup may cost as much as you pay for a pontoon boat.

That's not the case anymore. Garmin has the "BlueChart G2 Vision" charts that will show you the most efficient route to your destination based on your boat's dimensions. You just have to watch the screen and keep your boat on the pink line (or let the autopilot do it on the high-end models).

These charts are available for pretty well all Garmin chartplotters, even the cheap ones. It's what sold me on their entry-level GPSMap 421S.


"Enter the World of Auto Guidance
By adding a BlueChart g2 Vision card to your compatible chartplotter, you can take advantage of patented Garmin Auto Guidance technology. Enter the location where you want to go and Auto Guidance instantly searches through relevant charts to create a safe path specifically designed for the dimensions of your boat. Auto Guidance provides a visual path that avoids low bridges, shallow water and other charted obstructions. This allows you to travel to your destination with great peace of mind. But Auto Guidance is even more amazing when it is coupled with a Garmin autopilot system. Engage your compatible autopilot to follow the Auto Guidance route, and it will keep you on route, automatically..."
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=9618


LC.
Thanks for the info, I probably should have kept my Garmin color chart plotter that went with my old toon when I traded it in.
2012 Berkshire, 230cl Tritoon
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kimbercarry
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GPS question

#13 Post by kimbercarry » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:50 am

As I navigated up and downriver I ran about 25 feet to the riverside of the green buoys ( my marina is on the green buoy side) and marked a waypoint at each one for 20 miles up and downriver and made that a saved route so if we get caught out in a fog, especially after dark, I bring up that route and navigate back to home port out of the main channel where the barge traffic travels.

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Re: GPS question

#14 Post by NH Tooner » Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:48 pm

Wow that Bluechart g2 vision looks awesome. Any one wat to buy a Humminbird 998?
Dave

2012 Homebuilt 28' Tritoon
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1993 24' Forester
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dockholiday
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Re: GPS question

#15 Post by dockholiday » Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:08 pm

loco ......got an uneducated question here. looks like the bluecharts are more for ocean travel and the great lakes. is that about 200 for just the card? not in the market right now but trying to gain a little knowledge for a purchase in the future and sure don't want to make a high dollar mistake then. Oh this is what i was looking at.
g.premiumstore.com/cat/18813/Garmin-Marine-Software.html
oh well the link didn't take..........sorry
thanks doc

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