I wouldn't mess around if you're talking about the Sac river delta. There
are a thousand miles of waterways in there, and it's easy to get lost if you
aren't familiar with it. A 3.5" screen is hard enough to see on dry land,
let alone in a moving boat. I used to use a handheld, then finally installed
a chart plotter/sounder and couldn't be happier. Yes, it costs a few $$
more, but in my humble opinion, well worth it. I have NO problem navigating
the delta with it, but still have trouble finding the fish with it g.
Plus, if you ever boat at night, there's nothing more re-assuring than a
nice BIG screen directing the way home.

My 2 cents.

--Mike

"Eddie" wrote in message
...
Ok, so I call Garmin and here is what I need for the Nuvi 500 in order
to use it while boating the Delta, it's the:
US021R - California-Mexico - $160.70
So, $200 for the unit and $160 for the card = $360. Now I'm wondering
if it's worth it. A unit made specifically for marine application
will run over $600. But it does have a larger screen.
Any thoughts on this? Good, bad?

Thanks again
Eddie

On Wed, 12 May 2010 20:39:13 -0700, "mgg" wrote:

I wouldn't mess around if you're talking about the Sac river delta. There
are a thousand miles of waterways in there, and it's easy to get lost if you
aren't familiar with it. A 3.5" screen is hard enough to see on dry land,
let alone in a moving boat. I used to use a handheld, then finally installed
a chart plotter/sounder and couldn't be happier. Yes, it costs a few $$
more, but in my humble opinion, well worth it. I have NO problem navigating
the delta with it, but still have trouble finding the fish with it g.
Plus, if you ever boat at night, there's nothing more re-assuring than a
nice BIG screen directing the way home.

My 2 cents.

--Mike
Thanks for the info Mike. I have cancelled my order. I think I'll
check better alternatives. Yours sounds good. I'll check it out.
btw, is it SF Delta? Or SAC river delta? My boat is near Bethel
Island. And yes, it's easy to get lost. That's why I don't venture
far as I currently do not have a marine GPS. If I ever get lost I
plan to follow one those huge freighters going to Stockton. Just
gotta figure out how to get back home, or follow one going the
opposite direction. Problem is I'll end up in the Pacific, lol. Oh
well, I could always tie the boat up in Alviso and take the bus home.
G
Eddie

"Eddie" wrote in message
.. .
Ok, so I call Garmin and here is what I need for the Nuvi 500 in order
to use it while boating the Delta, it's the:
US021R - California-Mexico - $160.70
So, $200 for the unit and $160 for the card = $360. Now I'm wondering
if it's worth it. A unit made specifically for marine application
will run over $600. But it does have a larger screen.
Any thoughts on this? Good, bad?

Thanks again
Eddie

On 5/13/2010 2:20 PM, Eddie wrote:

Thanks for the info Mike. I have cancelled my order. I think I'll
check better alternatives. Yours sounds good. I'll check it out.
btw, is it SF Delta? Or SAC river delta? My boat is near Bethel
Island. And yes, it's easy to get lost. That's why I don't venture
far as I currently do not have a marine GPS. If I ever get lost I
plan to follow one those huge freighters going to Stockton. Just
gotta figure out how to get back home, or follow one going the
opposite direction. Problem is I'll end up in the Pacific, lol. Oh
well, I could always tie the boat up in Alviso and take the bus home.
G
Eddie

Here's what Navtec shows in their land based software 2010 version.


http://i43.tinypic.com/2qnrvk3.jpg

On 5/13/2010 1:01 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 13 May 2010 11:20:36 -0700,
wrote:

My boat is near Bethel
Island. And yes, it's easy to get lost. That's why I don't venture
far as I currently do not have a marine GPS. If I ever get lost I
plan to follow one those huge freighters going to Stockton. Just
gotta figure out how to get back home, or follow one going the
opposite direction. Problem is I'll end up in the Pacific, lol. Oh
well, I could always tie the boat up in Alviso and take the bus home.
G
Eddie

Wouldn't a chart and a compass help you figure out if a freighter was
coming in or going out?

BTW do not underestimate how much good aerial photos help if you are
back in an island maze (I am not sure where you are "getting lost")
We were down in the 10,000 islands below Everglades City a few years
ago and I had a stack of aerials I got from my son in law (SFWMD).
Once we got oriented on the pictures we were moving around the islands
like a native. Compasses and GPS are fairly unless there because you
can be 300 yards from where you want to go but you can't get there
without going the other way. It is handy to know what is around the
next bend.

They do not help as much in the Sac Delta. There are lots of levees,
that all look alike from the water and you may be in a channel that dead
ends, after a mile or so, and you will be 100' from the channel your
really want but a levee is in between. I used a Garmin 45 for years and
paper chart to un-confused at times.