Have a Crestliner 192 with Vexilar Edge sonar on my dash and use an old portable Garmin GPS that's not chip compatible. Want to upgrade to a chip compatible GPS but don't want to get rid of the Edge to make room for a spendy sonar/GPS unit and I don't think I have room to add a stationary full screen GPS and still keep my sonar.

Considering getting a portable GPS, like Lowrance H2O, and adding a Ram mount. Question is am I going to be satisified with the smaller screen on the portable GPS or will I regret not getting a big screen unit? I don't rely heavily on my electronics, but I use them and definitely want a GPS that I can use to track depth contours when walleye fishing or muskie trolling.

Thanks in advance for comments.

Rockpt

Buy the bigger screen and don't look back....................

Do yourself a favor and buy the largest screen you can afford, you will be happy.

I tried the portable thing years ago. Makes perfect sense on paper but in reality it just is way to clumbsy.
Now a days a good stationary unit (in color) are so reasonable price wise its the only way to go.
Dont you have a birthday comming up??

I did just what you are contemplating and bought an H2O this year. Fits nicely on the dash (ram mount) with my Lowrance and I'm a happy camper. In all fairnes, I've not run a combination unite with a large screen so may not know what I'm missing but the combination I have now is serving me well.

I'll agree with the poster of using a portable hand held if that is what you are used to. I ran a Lowrance 100 (monochrome) hand held as my first unit for 7 years. I eventually went to a fixed mount color combo and still carry my hand held with as a backup however, I have never needed it.

SO yeah! If you are used to the small screen it will be OK. However after using the full screen color unit I won't find myself going back to what I used to have unless something goes wrong with the color unit.

And there was a day when I thought I'd never need a GPS on the river here!!

Couple things that are contradictory in your post; you don't rely on your electronics very much, then you may be fine with a hand held GPS

However you are interested in using contour lines from a chip: you would absolutely like a bigger unit for this than using the smaller screen gps. Even on my 5" color combo the contour lines/screen seem small and I'd be happier with a larger unit.

Thanks for the help.

I'm considering a Lowrance GlobalMap 5200c or 5300c. I think I can squeeze this unit on my dash next to my sonar.

Any comments on these units? Should I get the built-in or external antenna?

rockpt,

I had a H2O and never did like it because I always had a hard time seeing/reading the small screen. As I get older, I am in my mid-late 40's, my eyes need more light and bigger print to utilize the equipment properly. Also, need to keep reading glasses on hand for tying knots in bad lighting. I went with the LCX27 and love the gps function and screen size. Would not go any smaller.

I was told the external antenna was best. I put two 27's on with two external antenna's ... the advise I received was if one unit goes down or one antenna goes down I always have the other to use while the one is in for repairs. Hopefully never have to send it in.

Good Luck!

I've been using a Garmin 176C for 6 years now and it provides me with the perfect combination of needs. It is portable meaning it can run off batteries but it's definitely not pocket sized unless your talking cargo pants/shorts pockets. The screen is larger than a portable but not as large as a full sized GPS. I have no problem reading it and the color is excellent. I have several memory chips for it. One specific to midwest waters, a couple Blue Chart chips for Lake Michigan and the Northeast coast, and a large memory chip for most roads in the US. I travel a lot around the US often to locations I've never been before so it's nice to have for the rental cars. My wife and I use it during hiking and bicycling, on the motor cycle, and of course on the boat.

The current models are the 276, 376, and 476 I believe and they have the entire US detail maps already built in. You can still install separate chips for boating, fishing, and topography. One model even has weather radar with a separate XM subscription. Fantastic units in small packages but definitely pricey. The cost was well worth it for my various uses.