Marine GPS Systems - Choosing the Best One

by.  Aristalina

Marine global positioning systems help mariners to know exactly where they are while on the water. If you own a boat and currently do not have a marine GPS navigation system in it, you will need to find a place where you can compare marine GPS navigation system prices and features.

The internet has many places where you can compare the differences between systems like the Pioneer GPS navigation system, the Garmin GPS 2620, and the Magellan Sportrak Pro Marine GPS system, to name a few. Each of these marine GPS systems has slightly different features, and the one you choose will depend on your needs.

So remember, don’t just compare GPS navigation system prices, but also compare features. Marine global positioning systems are not just for individual boat owners. Also, fleets that are fishing together can use marine GPS positioning systems that allow individual boats to communicate their positions with the other boats in their fleet.

If you are ready to buy marine global positioning system units, then you have a couple of choices.

How to Compare GPS Systems to Get the Best Unit?

There are basically three main manufacturers of GPS systems, Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom. There are tons of other GPS systems out there–from the completely portable kind you take hiking to GPS software you can add on to your Palm Pilot. This article is about what we normally think of as a GPS system, the kind you see mounted on someone’s dashboard, or stuck to their windshield.

All GPS systems basically do the same thing. Let’s make a list of what virtually all GPS systems have, A database of POI’s (Points of Interest), locations of hospitals, restaurants, etc.

For the purposes of comparing GPS systems, let’s look at what extra features are offered, then talk about who offers them and about what the prices are.

Optional feature include:

• Saying the names of the streets you need to turn on–as opposed to just saying “Turn Right”.
• Getting a larger screen–4.3 inched diagonally compared with 3.5–(I like the 4.3!).
• More maps–Canada, Mexico, Europe!
• Real-time traffic and weather reporting capability.
• Larger POI database (hopefully, in the millions!)

Magellan has teamed up with AAA to offer the AAA Tour Book through their GPS device. Tom Tom is trying out a neat feature that lets users input and change data in their database.

How To Find The Best Marine GPS For Your Boat

Do some comparison shopping, read the many reviews, and shop around a little bit before making up your mind which is the best marine gps navigational receiver for your needs. A marine gps navigational unit needs to use at least 12 of the 24 satellites calculating your position.

Some have alarms for the clock, off-course, anchor drag, too shallow, too deep, proximity, low battery, arrival, waypoint, water temperature and temperature rate of change and there are others, but the best marine gps would have all the alarms for safety reasons.

You will need to decide if you are going to purchase a small, handheld or portable model or a larger, ’stay put’ type model of marine gps unit. The portable marine gps navigational units are smaller and fit in a pocket or a purse.