GPS or digital compass?

[lakefr]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I think a compass and a map should do for the jet ski. I found out that the boat has some sort of GPS. I just have to learn how to use it along with a map of course. Does anybody know where to find a small map of the lake? The one that I have used is quite big and a pain to pull out all the time on a jet ski.

I also think that I will ask an experienced neighbor for a guided tour of the tricky parts. I was up once last year and navigated the buoys exactly opposite! It is a good thing that the lake was high! (I have my boating license, but sometimes loose my bearings.)

[Phantom]

The lake charts can be found at just about any Marina. Better yet, as you still have time before boating season, you could order a Bizer Chart through this website (thus helping support the website). I believe it's a "pay per click" set up, so simply link to the Bizer site through this site (find the Bizer logo/advertisement).

I'm glad you took my advise -- a neighbor is a good way to go. You'll be amazed at how relatively easy it is if your watching not concentrating on driving. I give you an open invitation -- If you are on the Lake for Memorial Day week-end, I would be happy to take you for a spin as well (gives me an excuse to "ride") as we routinely pass your area it would not be an inconvience. Should you decide PM me.

A final thought -- if you can't get the pass/color scheme down in your head ........ many of us use a "catch phrase" to remember ...... also, many years ago we use to have a homemade sticker taped below the compass -- with simply N E in Black letters & SW in Red letters.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Phantom

.... A final thought -- if you can't get the pass/color scheme down in your head ........ many of us use a "catch phrase" to remember ...... also, many years ago we use to have a homemade sticker taped below the compass -- with simply N E in Black letters & SW in Red letters.

And I'll add that old trick/phrase, remember that BEN is your friend. That is for a Black tipped marker stay East or North. Thus the red tipped is the opposite, stay West or South. There are a few places where this isn't fully adequate but for the most part it works.

[Island Girl]

I study the chart a lot... if I am going somewhere new, I study the chart first, then venture out. I turn on the GPS only when I am comfortable with the route. The GPS tracks the route that I can use on future trips... just follow it on the GPS. This works well for night trips as well (in a boat of course). I put the handheld GPS in a ziplock bag in the little compartment in front of me in the jetski. This way if I am really lost the
GPS can tell me my location and I can then use the chart to determine my safe course home. I did enter all of the waypoints from the back of Bizer's chart into my GPS which is an old Garmin III+. It does not take Bizer's chip. Someday I will get a new GPS that takes the c-map chip. I lust after the huge GPS in the wheelhouse on the Mount Washington.

IG

[4Fun]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I study the chart a lot... if I am going somewhere new, I study the chart first, then venture out. I turn on the GPS only when I am comfortable with the route. The GPS tracks the route that I can use on future trips... just follow it on the GPS. This works well for night trips as well (in a boat of course). I put the handheld GPS in a ziplock bag in the little compartment in front of me in the jetski. This way if I am really lost the
GPS can tell me my location and I can then use the chart to determine my safe course home. I did enter all of the waypoints from the back of Bizer's chart into my GPS which is an old Garmin III+. It does not take Bizer's chip. Someday I will get a new GPS that takes the c-map chip. I lust after the huge GPS in the wheelhouse on the Mount Washington.

IG

Don't worry about the baggie with your GPSIII. It's waterproof. I tested mine thoroughly on a trip in NY harbor a couple years ago. 4'-5' waves and 25MPH winds up the Hudson river for 40 miles made for a very wet ride. I felt like a submarine driver for 3 hours!!!

[JMR]

Does anyone have a specific model of Garmin that does or does not work well on the lake? Handheld or mounted?

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

And I'll add that old trick/phrase, remember that BEN is your friend. That is for a Black tipped marker stay East or North. Thus the red tipped is the opposite, stay West or South. There are a few places where this isn't fully adequate but for the most part it works.

The other way to remember this (courtesy of the NH Boating Course):

Black Tip (cold) - North and East
Red Tip (hot) - South and West

Jetskier