Buying a Marine GPS System

What you should know before you buy...

If you spend a lot of time fishing on a boat, one of the greatest accessories you can own is a Marine Global Positioning (GPS) system.  This new technology makes fishing safer and more productive than ever before.

The Global Positioning System is a worldwide navigation system of 24 satellites launched into orbit by the US Government. GPS works all over the world all the time, regardless of the weather, and costs nothing to use.

GPS Navigation and Receivers

In order to make use of the GPS satellites to determine locations, you need only have a GPS receiver.  This receiver locks onto three GPS satellites to determine your exact longitude and latitude.  Once your location is locked on, GPS can track your movement. 

GPS navigation can also provide you with some great features when you’re locked on, like time, distance, sunrise and sunset. Today, many lake maps offer latitude and longitude grids, as well as providing GPS coordinates for certain areas of the lake. A good GPS system can let you store the coordinates of your favorite fishing spots, so that you never forget them, as well as letting you store the route home.

Many people question the accuracy of GPS, though there’s no need to fear. The most recent GPS receivers can track location accurately to within less than three meters.  However, it is not recommended that a GPS system be used as your only navigation device on your boat.  It is still advisable to have some other system, such as a compass, when you’re out on the water.

There are many options available when choosing your marine GPS system.  The first decision you’ll need to make is whether you want a handheld or mounted device. 

Handheld GPS

Handheld devices are more versatile and more compact.  The greatest thing about a handheld device is that you can use it in other situations, not just boating.  Think how great it would be to have a handheld GPS device the next time you’re backpacking in the mountains.  With a handheld, the GPS receiver can be used anywhere.

In addition, handheld devices are less expensive than permanent mount systems.  And, you can purchase mounting brackets to install in your boat, so that when the handheld unit is on the boat, it operates just like a mounted unit. Plus, you can order a power cord so that the handheld doesn’t need to run on batteries when being used in the boat.

If you know, however, that you will only use your GPS system on your boat, then a mounted system might be your best bet.  A mounted GPS system will be larger and have a larger screen, making it much easier to read, though it won’t be any more accurate than its handheld counterpart.

Many permanently mounted marine GPS systems come with a fish finder.  Fish finders use sonar to detect fish.  These systems provide a great advantage to the fisherman, ensuring that you don’t spend time fishing in an area where no fish are swimming.

If you purchase a combination system, you’ll certainly spend less money, and it will take up less space than having two separate systems.  However, many fishermen still prefer to have their GPS system separate from their fishfinder, because they prefer to be able to monitor the activity on each simultaneously. And, while some combination systems do allow you to monitor both at the same time through a split screen, this feature typically causes both displays to be grainy and hard to read.

GPS systems have a wide price range. You can spend as little as around $100, or as much as a few thousand dollars for a system.  Knowing what features you desire, as well as how you will use your system is critical to making the best decision. 

Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)

Some of the newer and more expensive systems use what is known as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for greater accuracy.  This system is currently being tested for use with the FAA, and while it will be some time before it is used for commercial airliners, the signals are available today.  You can purchase a Raytheon GPS system that uses WAAS and increase your accuracy to within 3.5 feet. 

Another important feature in marine GPS systems is storage memory.  You will want to store the coordinates of favorite fishing spots, as well as, perhaps a safe route home.  The more coordinates, known as waypoints, you need to store, the more expensive your system will be.

A marine GPS system is a valuable tool for fishermen, and other boaters.  It offers great time saving and safety features, and, when combined with a fish finder can make your fishing time more productive than ever.

For detailed information on fishfinders, we have created a specific fish finder section.