Looking for opinions on GPS

codeman671 · 03-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Standard Horizon all the way. I have the 180I now and have owned the 175C and 155C in the past. Easy to use, great display.

hancoveguy · 03-01-2011, 02:03 PM

I am a fan of the Standard Horizon but if it is feasible, head in to the boat show. I am sure there will be many vendors with both models on display and who would be happy to let you toy with them and advise you on the many nuances of each.

Also, I posted this before, if you can go to the boat show get a price from the West Marine booth. I bought mine there at 60% off.

Good luck, love to know what you decide and why,
HCG

ThePlut · 03-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Actually worked at the show last weekend and again this weekend. Couldn't find the 180/190 or the Garmin on display anywhere, but didn't have time to do a full sweep through the West Marine booth. It was missing from the Voyager Marine booth, where I expected it to be... I'll do a better run through this weekend, but what I would really want to see, the Bizer map on a Garmin unit, I doubt I'll get to.

Probably will end up with the SH, I know I can buy it online for $380, I can't find the Garmin in the same ballpark.

I did see a unit from Si-Tex that was nice, but not much of a dealer network around here.

townsde · 03-03-2011, 12:20 PM

I purchased a Garmin 536 last year with the Bizer map and I am really happly with that setup. I have never used the Standard Horizon GPS so I can not comment on it.

I have also tried using the Garmin map for Winni and I find the Bizer map for the GPS to be much better.

I can tell you that the GPS saved me lots of times from getting into a rocky area or being on the wrong side of a marker.

Last year was my first year on Winnipesaukee and I would still not go far from my camp without a GPS. Not so much as I dont know where I am as that I like having the GPS map right in front of me showing me where the next marker is and where the navigation lanes are.

One more thought, I still carry a paper chart just in case the GPS goes on the blink.

Dave R · 03-03-2011, 08:51 PM

Whatever you do, make sure it has soft keys. That's the one thing I wish mine had. The next model up had them. There's a few menu items that I use all the time and I wish I had soft keys I could program.

03-01-2011, 02:06 PM	#3
ThePlut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 150 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	was there Actually worked at the show last weekend and again this weekend. Couldn't find the 180/190 or the Garmin on display anywhere, but didn't have time to do a full sweep through the West Marine booth. It was missing from the Voyager Marine booth, where I expected it to be... I'll do a better run through this weekend, but what I would really want to see, the Bizer map on a Garmin unit, I doubt I'll get to. Probably will end up with the SH, I know I can buy it online for $380, I can't find the Garmin in the same ballpark. I did see a unit from Si-Tex that was nice, but not much of a dealer network around here.

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03-01-2011, 12:08 PM	#1
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,604 Thanks: 223 Thanked 856 Times in 519 Posts	Standard Horizon all the way. I have the 180I now and have owned the 175C and 155C in the past. Easy to use, great display.

03-01-2011, 02:03 PM	#2
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	I am a fan of the Standard Horizon but if it is feasible, head in to the boat show. I am sure there will be many vendors with both models on display and who would be happy to let you toy with them and advise you on the many nuances of each. Also, I posted this before, if you can go to the boat show get a price from the West Marine booth. I bought mine there at 60% off. Good luck, love to know what you decide and why, HCG

03-03-2011, 12:20 PM	#4
townsde Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hollis NH and Moultonborough Posts: 68 Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	I purchased a Garmin 536 last year with the Bizer map and I am really happly with that setup. I have never used the Standard Horizon GPS so I can not comment on it. I have also tried using the Garmin map for Winni and I find the Bizer map for the GPS to be much better. I can tell you that the GPS saved me lots of times from getting into a rocky area or being on the wrong side of a marker. Last year was my first year on Winnipesaukee and I would still not go far from my camp without a GPS. Not so much as I dont know where I am as that I like having the GPS map right in front of me showing me where the next marker is and where the navigation lanes are. One more thought, I still carry a paper chart just in case the GPS goes on the blink.

03-03-2011, 08:51 PM	#5
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	Whatever you do, make sure it has soft keys. That's the one thing I wish mine had. The next model up had them. There's a few menu items that I use all the time and I wish I had soft keys I could program.