RIP Garmin Etrex Summit - Replacement?

[trouty]

During a recent foray away to new fishing climes - I was caught out in a bigish estuary in a big squall and the lil Garmin Etrex summit (waterprooof model) up on my centre console got rained on a lot and copped some slop over the side.

I noticed when I got back and got it inside that there was some "fogging" in the screen and it was looping thru it's startup protocol, and wouldn't get past it.

I removed th4e batterys and hung her off a shelf above the oil radiator overnight, next morning she was back to normal...

Put her away after the holiday for a week or so - and when I next went to use her, she no work at all - not even with new batterys. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

So much for waterproof! (and the best part of $800 bucks!) [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]

She's just going 2 years old, so out of warranty meaning I gues I'll have to eat the loss.

The problem I think, is the replacement battery cover they give you with the dashmount slide in fitting integrated into it. I think the flexing of the dash mount unit as you drive the boat over waves, flexes this replacement battery cover, and if theres any spray / slop about it gets past the rubber seal..of the battery cover into the unit.

So - to my question...

If I was looking for a reliable waterproof mounted unit to stay affixed to my Console, what would you folks recommend?

I kinda liked the way the Garmin was intuitive menu compared to some other brands I've seen, wouldn't mind a bigger screen than the little Garmin Etrex handheld, and some kind of chart capability...even if I have to scan and create my own...on the PC for my areas.

I guess if they can repair the garmin Etrex, I'll keep it as a backup....depending on what that costs.

Anyway - a word to the wise, the Garmin Etrex waterproof models aren't waterproof as I've just found out!.

Replacement recomendations pls?

Cheers!

[Tyee 2]

I've got the map 176 with the bluechart chip. I'ts a "reasonably" inexpensive little unit, that can be hardwired in you're boat, and will run on 4 AA cells. It's portable so you can carry it around the outback with you and always be able to find you're way back to Olive Oyls house [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Perfect for going on "walkabout" with [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Check it out.

Cheers Tyee.

[trouty]

Map 176 - I'll look it up!
Funny - I hardly ever use a GPS when I go walkabout, usually the damn forest here won't let it get a signal. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]

Course I work on the principal of landmarks mostly, and then you have the reliable "all roads lead to China" maxim for further guidance - somehow - like a bad ol bent penny I always just keep showin up back at el ponderosa trouty!

No - the GPS is my only way of telling how fast I'm going in the boat hence how long I'll take to get there and to asses if I have enough fuel left for the trip usually.

Amazing how often folks on fishing trips just wanna blast down the river and check it all out for the thrill of the ride and photgraph the scenery, birdlife etc, and I like to oblige em....course, it's always good to be able to answer questions like "how far to the rivermouth from here", with a reliable answer "Ohh only another 4 miles - we'll be there in 8 - 10 minutes". It make folks comfortable that you know exactly where you are, how fast your going, how long it will take to get where your going etc.
(I know I'm goin fast when my eyes water and the bugs git stuck in my teeth!) [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Also - I might be fishing a certain spot upriver and know that the tides going to turn at the rivermouth at a certain time, and time my run to get there when the fishings just starting to fire.

Lots a reasons I've found I tend to "rely upon" the GPS, small as it is..

This is what makes me think maybe I should invest more $ into a better one.

Cheers n thanks!

[Mumblerone]

Trouty...the only way to go, if you gonna do a little walk'en too, is the Garmin GPSMAP 76S. See "coachal" below this post. Have a good day! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]PS This unit is waterproof! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[kence]

I am pretty sure that Garmin has a set price for repair of each unit. I would check with there customer service or check there website. As for a suggestion, you mentioned a bigger screen, I just purchased a Standard Horizon CP160 chartplotter for $399.99 with no tax or shipping at Boatersworld.com. I have only used it for two weeks but so far I like it. Nice large screen for aging eyes and the c-map chip for the great lakes is fantastic.