Inland Boater Forum

I won’t cruise without a hand held radio and GPS unit. My fixed mount radio and Chart plotter work just fine, but a back-up to all navigation and safety equipment can go a long way when you’re on the water.  On one occasion I was returning to port from a short cruise when the winds and waves picked up rather abruptly. A wave broke over the bow and drenched the cockpit. My fixed mount radio went out.  Fortunately I had a water proof hand held back-up. Five miles of rough weather is no joke, so it made all the difference in the world to know that I could still call for help.

I’ve got radar and chart plotter combined so the radar works over the charts on my display. It’s no substitute for having a hand held gps with charts though.  Once on the way to Baltimore a connection came loose and my radar and chart plotter went out.  Good old hand held battery power saved the day.

HAND HELD OR FIXED MOUNTED YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH NAVAGATION WHEN YOU NEED IT

Salt - 17 April 2008 07:38 PM

you should never rely on electronics for navigation.. Good old paper charts are the best form of navigation.. If you don’t know how to plot a course on a paper chart you should learn.

SALT I AM SURE YOUR RIGHT BUT FOR ME I DON’T THINK THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN

I try to do it all.  I have the latest edition of the Chesapeake Bay charts and I print out the local notices to Mariners before I go on a trip. Paper charts arre har dwhen you have to draw lines yourself but they are a good back-up to electronics and Dead reconning is a good way to get home when al else fails. I gotta go with salt on this one, but I still use my electronics as long as they boot up.

Salt - 18 April 2008 07:58 AM

INSANITY50 - 17 April 2008 10:18 PM

Salt - 17 April 2008 07:38 PM

you should never rely on electronics for navigation.. Good old paper charts are the best form of navigation.. If you don’t know how to plot a course on a paper chart you should learn.

SALT I AM SURE YOUR RIGHT BUT FOR ME I DON’T THINK THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN

From what I understand GPS signals are controlled by goverment satellites and they control who gets what signals.. There are 2 signals sent out by the Satellites. L1 signal is for civilian use and L2 is for non civilian and military use.. If for what ever reason they decide to shut down the L1 signal our GPS units would quit working.. So don’t ever say ever.  I would learn how to read a paper chart. 

GOOD POINT

It seems to me the GPS signals are controlled by Aliens. LOL.  On the Chesapeake Bay there are a lot of military zones and bases so sometimes the signals get jammed.  it’s like all of a sudden you’re blind.  But it never lasts long.  Charts here are a must.

I’m interested but only if I can get it for less that $190 plus shipping. I’ve found local suppliers that will sell for 210$ retail. I also saw a few when they first came out on e-bay where they sold for $189. so I’m thinking the mark up is astronomical. These are probably about 50% less in bulk.

I just gave away one of my older, trustier HT’s in preparation for buying a new one. If I wake up one of these mornings and I’ve forgotten how much that VX-8 costs, or I forget that I’m supposed to be watching pennies very closely right now, I just might get one to replace that old HT.