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> I have a Magellan GPS ...
Tracker. I like it and am a confessed gadget freak. The GPS came with a free set of tires for my truck. (refer to Shawn's free yogurt deal), so the price was reaaallly right.
> it is waterproof (actually more like highly water resistant) and cheap
> (relatively.)
> As to waterproofness, there has been some discussion of that here, and
> they really aren't totally waterproof.
Ditto here. Cheap or not, give the thing a chance in a marine environment by adding a little protection. Some kind of bag will keep you both happier in the long run.
> The Blazer 12 has the standard navigation aids such as waypoints with GoTo
> functions, etc. It also has spedometer and odometer readings that are kind
> of handy.
I have used my unit for over a year now, and I am still getting used to it. I have not perfected a way to let the machine tell me how to get to my destination, unless my destination is back to where I turned on the receiver. I have only recently gotten DeLorme's Topo USA, some mapping software that communicates with the GPS. Oh yeah, if you want it to communicate with the computer, make sure you choose a model that has some kind of I/O port. Keying in all the data for a route would be maddening if your only option was the button set on the front of the machine.
> But a GPS unit by itself will not save your life. As George would likely
> say: 'good way to let your brother know the coordinates of where he's
> dying.'
ROTFLMAO. Yes, yes, yes. Very funny and very very true. Another immensely valuable accessory for the GPS (or is it th other way round?) would be Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation, by David Burch, Third Ed. ISBN # 0-7627-0473-X. It has a wealth of valuable information in it and includes discussions of GPS usage in a kayking context. Highly recommended.
Ed Valley
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Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
