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I have been kicking the idea around for a gps unit in my Montauk. Currently, I haven't really needed one. I haven't ventured far from home, however, I do plan on it in the future. I am heading to Toledo Bend in a few weeks and one would come in handy.

Toledo bend has boat lanes. It is very dangerous to run out of those boat lanes. Many hulls have been destroyed out of those boat lanes.

My father has a Garmin gps, 400 series I think, and the thing will not show the boat lanes. They are marked on the lake, but it is easy to miss a turn. It would be nice to have them visible on a gps.

I talked to the boys at West MArine today and they said that a marine gps will not show boat lanes. I would have to get a chartplotter.

Can anyone shed some light here? I am looking at chartplotters and am considering the Garmin 276c. It is a marine chartplotter but can also be used on land in an automobile. I figure if I am going to spend the money, I could kill 2 birds with one stone. I could pass my Garmin Nuvi in my truck to my wife for her car.

Is anyone on the site experienced with this stuff? I would love some solid information before I spend the money.

Thanks.

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those handheld screens get smaller when viewing them in a moving boat. Go for the garman 545 I think that is the one with preloaded maps. Or price out the 4 series, but consider a fixed mount for the boat. You will find it much easer to focus your eyes on while under way.

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I thought the difference between a GPS is it is coordinates and the chartpotter is it has the map overlays with the coordinates.