Best GPS Mapper

[The Eyeweighman]

What is the best boat mounted GPS Mapping(not sonar)Unit on the market today in the mid price range. Must have WAAS capability.

[Take Em]

Call Matt at Thorne Brothers 763-572-3782

[bob oh]

What is mid price range? The detail on the Garmin 2006 and 2010 and their color counterparts is incredible.

[Thom]

Mid price range: Garmin 182; a little more money, Garmin 232; got a little more cash laying around? Garmin 2006, got lots of room on the boat and a full wallet you need to empty? Garmin 2010.

Garmin makes the best GPS for the money availabe from anyone, and I say that as a fellow who has owned or used them all.

Thom

[Ranger Dave]

Thom,

Is there an issue with G-maps? Limited issues? Not C-map or navionics? Any thoughts?

Dave

[Thom]

Dave,

Well, yes, they don't make them anymore. They also don't update the existing ones anymore. Garmin will, however, give you credit for one of them as a trade in on a new Blue Chart though for the most part you'd be better off selling one if you had it and applying the cash. Actually the G-Charts were just Navtronics data put into Garmin's plastic case, so there wasn't any difference in the actual data. In fact for a long time, before they discontinued the G-Chart lineup, if you went to the Garmin site to get a look at screen shots for the G-Chart cartography it actually linked you to the Navtronics web page to see the pictures.

Anyway the replacement for the G-Charts, the Blue Charts or the simple Map Source series (of which the Blue Chart CD is one) is an interesting breed. The straight Map Source stuff (Road and Recreation, Fish Hot Spots, and all the rest) is nothing to write home about, its OK but no better or worse than anyone elses stuff. The Blue Chart data is on a different plane though. Of course its available at very high cost (and with hard to understand restrictions on data availability and serial-number-linked specific machine capability) but the level of detail is a true delight. That comes from it being simply scanned data directly from the underlying maps/charts of course but what else could you want? The paper charts/maps that are used as the data source are the official word from on high and, as they say, "it don't get any better than that."

Thom

[Ranger Dave]

Thom,

Are the "Blue Charts" becoming more available? It is my understanding they are only available on a limited basis. Is there anything lost in the translations? Will they ever really compete with the big boys or are they just wanting to put their own labels on things. I was looking towards the full LOTW navionics offering ($289 or so). Also, will the higher-end color Garmin's accept the latest lake map one-foot contours of Mille Lacs, Leech etc.?

Thanks for the help,

Dave

[FreeByrd]

This subject has come up many times in the last few months so also do a search of the archives trying a couple key words like "mapping", "bluechart" "Garmin" "C-Map", etc.

The bottom line on the best mapping GPS for YOU depends on WHERE you fish. If you fish the Great Lakes (or most anyplace where there are official NOAA charts), then do yourself a favor and check out the Garmin Bluechart cartridges. The detail is incredible. I have the Garmin 2010 monochrome and 1 Bluechart cartridge that covers all of Lake Erie, and Western LAke Ontario. It also has Detroit River and Lake St Clair, and St Clair River and I think parts of Huron/Sag Bay. Also has Niagara River. This chip was $160 in September. I paid $1600 for the unit also in September. Bought from West Marine. You can find them cheaper now.

I guess the Bluechart data is also available on CD format and you have to mess around with interfacing to a PC and dowloading info. I don't want that extra hassle. With the preprogrammed cartridge, I put in the unit, turn the unit on and go fishing. No hassle.

If you are looking for Inland lakes/rivers then you've got more research to do. It just depends on what system has the best coverage for the area you are fishing. The Navionics / C-Map cartridges and CDs come into play here. There was a chat a week or so ago hosted by Mike Michalic(sp?) who is the President of Fishing Hot Spots. You may want to review that on the chat page.
Good Luck,
Steve