need some advice on gps

[ortonville]

would the h2oc and the navionics chip be a good open water gps? or should i invest in a permanant model. any help would be great

[wplatehunter]

The H20c is a great unit and works good both on open water and ice, but I would spend a little more and buy a permanant model. I started out with only the hand held H20 with the lake master chip, and thought that was great. So than I bought a lowrance gps color unit for the back of my boat, and put my old one in the front of the boat. After using the unit in the back and liking so much I had to buy another one for the front. I now have two color gps units in my boat, but I still carry my H20.

[PerchJerker]

You asked if it'd be a "good" open water gps. My answer is no, not if you're comparing it to a permanent mount, because the screen is too small -- especially for all the detail you get on the map chips.

I have an H2O and really like it for what it is, but for open water I bring it along as a backup unit only.

[Metzie]

I agree with the last two posts. I have a H2OC and the screen is too small and it is Very Hard to see in the sun. I think it will be great for Ice Fishing but not the open water.

[ortonville]

so what would be a good unit? i would like to stay with a unit that is navinoics compatable. and under $500

[PerchJerker]

Look at the Lowrance 500 /5000 series, or the comparable Eagle (Intellimap 500).

You can look at gps only, or look at a combo unit that you can buy without the transducer, to see if there's better pricing one way or another. A combo unit you can add a transducer to later (if desired) might be a good way to go.

[wplatehunter]

Reeds has Lowrance 334C-I for $500. It is a very good unit. It has the GPS built into the unit. For the price u could not go wrong.

[PierBridge]

Lots of problems with the 334C.

I agree those that are lucky enough to have one that works are happy.

[wplatehunter]

My dad and I each bought one this year. We have not had any problems.

[Muddog]

I have an I-Finder in my boat and it works very well! I myself do not see how color can be an advantage. Maybe someone could explain this. Different colored Icons? Then again most of the lakes they have the maps for are the lakes I avoid.

[MuleShack]

I bought one last fall.

Did the software update.

As long as you dont have the WAAS turned on it works like a charm.

AS soon as WAAS is enabled, it wont hold a position lock.

[GBSorenson]

Reeds also has the Lowrance 3600 igps on sale for $399. It is a stand alone gps with a color 5 inch screen. If you are mounting it in an open location it(mine) works fine, same as the 334 if WAAS is not set as "required" mine never has lost signal. As far as I can tell it is identical to the new model (5300), there is a software update available at Lowrance's website that I did to mine.