Using the Garmin GPS in the boat

[Tail_Gunner]

Last spring break I bought a Garmin nuvi 205w GPS to use on trips.

I got to wondering if I could use it in the boat too. After some reasearch, I found out that lake map software is available for most Garmins that are used primarily in road vehicles. But first I needed to get a SD memory chip. I found a 4GB SD chip on sale for about $12. But the guy there said he'd heard that some Garmins would only take up to 2GB. I looked into it, and found out that a firmware update for Garmins would allow my GPS to take a chip much larger than 4GB.

So I popped the chip in and downloaded the firmware update and the laptop/Garmin communications software, and then bought a lake maps package. I down loaded it straight to the new SD chip in the GPS.

In the next week, Mrs TG and I are planning on going on a "chain o' lakes" cruise in Eagle River, WI. We're taking the Glastron GT-150 I got for my BD last year and re-creating the same "chain o' lakes" cruise we went on 28 years ago with our original Glastron GT-150. The new lake maps on my GPS should come in real handy.

 

[JLDickmon]

have fun, Kent.

 

[WD40]

Sounds like that could be fun, I have a cousin who has the lakes GPS on his laptop and love's it when he is fishing. He has a real nice Deck Boat. Good luck.
Doug

 

[DaveBen]

Have a great time TG!

Dave

 

[hawkdriver]

Tail Gunner- you are saving me some cash! Thank you! I have a GPS in the truck already but have been wanting one for marine use too. I figured I would buy one that was useable for both functions but the cheapest I can find is about $600 and up to $1000. I assume you went to Garmin's website for the lake map info? I'm going to research now. Thanks again!

Have a fun and safe trip!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

I assume you went to Garmin's website for the lake map info?

First off, make sure your Garmin is capable of using the Lakes Maps. It might not be compatable.

Garmin Lakes maps HERE

You'll need a SD memory chip.

You'll probably need to down load the utility that allows your Garmin to talk with your laptop. You may need to upgrade your firmware on your Garmin too. Both those downloads were free. If your Garmin was like mine, you may have a 2GB size limit on the chip. But try finding a 2GB SD chip, they're all bigger than that now days. That firmware upgrade will let you use bigger chips.

 

[hawkdriver]

Well, after some more research I figured out that I still need to spend about $600+ to get one that I can use the Bluecharts for coastal use. The lakes maps will work no problem though. I would eventually get a good, dedicated plotter for the boat but I wanted to get one that was dual use right now. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

 

[Tail_Gunner]

In the next week, Mrs TG and I are planning on going on a "chain o' lakes" cruise in Eagle River, WI. We're taking the Glastron GT-150 I got for my BD last year and re-creating the same "chain o' lakes" cruise we went on 28 years ago with our original Glastron GT-150. The new lake maps on my GPS should come in real handy.

Well, that plan was a bust!
Of all the days to have thundershowers, rain & wind!!

We're shooting for a plan "B" tomorrow, the ship canal between Chassel, MI on the southeastern end, past Houghton & Hancock and on to McCain State park on the northwestern end. Being a sheltered waterway, it's more like an inland lake and isn't like going out on the big water.
View attachment 11178

 

[Tail_Gunner]

We got to go on our cruise yesterday. It was a real nice time, maybe a little breezier than we'd like.

I got to try out the Garmin GPS with the lake maps. It worked pretty well. Besides depth maps of the lakes we crossed, it gave me speed, distance traveled and marked our path traveled. So it made it real easy to get back to the launch.

Once we launched the boat, we asked another guy leaving the launch area to lead us out since we've never been to this area before. Once in the clear, we followed the channel from the south end to the north end and back. According to the GPS we did about 50 miles. I also found out the speedometer in the boat reads about 5 mph low compared to the GPS reading.

I've been working on the boat a lot lately. One of the issues I have been addressing is a bad side-to-side dance or chine walk. I found a lot of free play or slop in the steering. Most likely due to the boat being 30+ years old and the wear on the steering components. By ditching the motor well mounted steering system in favor of a more common tilt tube steering, I was able to reduce the steering slop by about 2/3. But as you can see, I had to make some modifications to make that tilt tube steering work.
View attachment 11179
View attachment 11180

I've also been playing with the props. But yesterday, I had it going 53.3 mph on the GPS with little or no chine walk. With a little more playing with the props and maybe a transom jack/ set back, I should be able to to get well over 55 with it, maybe 60.
View attachment 11181

 

[DaveBen]

That looks just like to boat that the Mythbusters jumped a levy in. The boat lived, barely...

Dave