I am looking into getting a GPS, don't know anything about them. My wife won't go to the Sound or the San Juans without one.

Do you think a GPS is necessary for those applications or a waste of money?

What brands are recommended?

Dash mount or handheld with mount?

Sorry for all the questions, any help would be appreciated including input on any other questions you think should be asked about a GPS.

Thanks.

Sincerely, Doubletake

Love mine. Any of the major brands are fine. Mine is hooked up to the auto-pilot and allows me to leaf through charts, tie hooks, etc. while I keep a look out. As long as you've made sure that there are no islands in the way, mine will steer to five waypoints hands off.

Great for logging in bites, observed bottom structure as well as a safety feature.

Remember though that unless you have a DGPS, they are only accurate to a "neighborhood" figure.

John

I just baught one of the hand held GPS. I got the Garmin 12. I looked at several and this one was the best all around for the money. I got mine at Sportco but just a few weeks later a buddy got his (same make and model) at Wallmart for like 30 bucks less. don't know if you want a hand held or the one described above.

dcrzfitter

I have a GPS 12 like dcrzfitter, it paid for itself the first time out. I bought it before we went to Sekiu last August which was my Dad and my first trip there. We set the waypoints for the dock, the middle of Clallam Bay and a return mark straight out from there past Slip Point. The first day out the fishin' was fast and furious and we really weren't paying attention to where we were so when we were ready to come in and just for the heck of took a visual guess as to where Sekiu, well we were only 5 miles off (to the west). The GPS brought us right back home. The last day there was a pretty thick fog and it worked like a champ. Also have been back up there this year for hali and have waypoints for them and for a ling hole we stumbled across. Wouldn't be without one now. Hope this helps ya out
Tight lines, Jeff

Double
I have had Garmin GPS III for 2+ years and it is without question a valuable piece of equipment. When you turn this unit on as you launch your boat, it will acquire satelites and show you an overhead view(map) of where you are. If you do nothing else, as you leave the port it will follow you and create a "bread crumb" trail showing where you've been. If the fog rolls in or you get lost, just follow the bread crumb trail back to the harbor. No numbers to read or track, though it has all those features, too. It sits on the dash or can be hand held. Operates on battery's or 12volt plug-in. Would also be great for hiking and hunting.
Good Luck.


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B

The restrictions have been lifted on the GPS and all of the units now should be able to get you really close to the spots that are programmed. The selective availability feature has been turned off for about 2 months.
Good luck
Rick

Thanks gentlemen for all the great info. It is much appreciated, sounds like Garmin it is!

Doulbetake