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Thanks guys, nice site.
First; is there a search option? Would bet someone has already asked my question.

I am looking for a gps unit which would help with navigation just a few miles offshore in the Pacific NW while in my kayak and occassionally for car travel.
( I have found lately that I cannot follow directions from the gas station attendant when in a new city.)
A salesman recommended a Nuvi 500: waterproof, comes pre-loaded with topo maps and ocean charts. Available now at REI for $299.95.
I can't take strenuous hikes anymore - but if your answer included your thoughts on carrying this with a backpack, it may answer the next persons question
Geo-caching is Not a requirement. My trips are multi-day, so need ability to swap out store-bought batteries.

I am also looking at a Gamin 76S - because a fellow paddler is offering to sell me his.

TIA
Dennis

Near the top of each page there's a line with FAQ, Search, Members and User Control Panel


The nüvi® 500 (link) is listed as having a "user-replaceable, rechargeable lithium-ion" battery but you might want to check how much they cost (link). I'm a fan of units which can use the widely available less expensive rechargeable AA batteries (like the 76 series).


The 76 would be a good choice as it floats. A newer 76Cx or CSx with a color screen and high sensitivity receiver might be a better choice. Note that maps are not included. It will autoroute for driving directions (with the right maps) but only gives prompts on the screen with beebs (no voice prompts)

Lithium-ion battery (replacement)
010-11143-00
$ 39.99 USD
from Garmin or

Or under $30 shipped to a US address from some on-line dealers.:

http://www.e-globalelectronicsnetwork.c ... 0-11143-00

I would have thought a hand-held unit that runs on AAs would be a better choice than a car unit for a kayaking trip - they have MUCH better battery life, and the AAs are a lot cheaper and easier to get hold of than proprietary lithium-ion batteries when your last one goes flat!

The 76 series is probably ideal, because it is the only Garmin hand-held model range which floats. The latest 76 CSx is clearly the best of the range, but they would all be pretty good for your application. If you are confident that you won't drop the unit overboard (e.g. it will be permanently tethered to your boat or jacket), almost any of the Garmin hand-held range would be fine.

E.g. battery life on a nuvi 500 is "up to 8 hours". Battery life on a 76 S is "16 hours", and on a 76 CSx it is "18 hours, typical".

Don't forget to allow for the price of the appropriate marine charts with whichever unit you are going for!

Hope this helps!

How hard is it to build a carbon fiber kayak? I want to build a super light tandem kayak. My choice of materials is carbon fiber. I figured getting a boat plan is easy enough, but didn't want to get in over my head trying to use carbon fiber. I currently paddle a carbon/kevlar single.

How does a kayak on a roof rack effect gas mileage? We are going on a trip from New York to Florida driving a 99 Mercury Villager. How will putting a tandem kayak on the roof rack effect gas mileage?

@ the previous two posters, this is a forum about GPS systems, not a kayakbuilding forum or a kayakmoving forum

You might consider the Oregon... it is waterproof but doesn't float. But it can use Garmin's new "Custom Maps" which you can create yourself with Google Earth and other tools. This allows you to use any sort of image - like a satellite photo or USGS Topo Quad. It is still in beta and has some bugs and limitations. But when all of this gets worked out, it will be a great new feature which the older units probably will never support. It is currently available in the beta software for the Oregon, Dakota and Colorado series.

Here's an example from one of several custom maps I've uploaded to GPSFileDepot.com. I think you will start to see more free maps like this in the future as well.