Practical Sailor's gear and boat reviews take the guesswork out of your buying decisions.

Volume 30
Number 20
October 15, 2004

Handheld GPS Test

Among the eight units evaluated, the venerable Garmin GPS 76 bests the competition with its large, easy-to-read screen, intuitive software, and moderate price.

Our test specimens: top row (l. to r.): Magellan eXplorist 200, Garmin's GPS 76, the Brunton Multi-Navigator, and the Cobra GPS 100; bottom row (l. to r.): Garmin's eTrex, Garmin's Geko 301, Garmin's Fortrex 201, Magellan's SporTrak Pro Marine, and a prototype of Garmin's new GPS 60, which we will review in an upcoming issue.

Today, inexpensive handheld GPS receivers are marketed to a wide-range of users, not just sailors and power boaters. Most carry generic software of little specific value to mariners. Even marine designations are more marketing than content it seems. Still they do one thing very well and that is track GPS satellites.

For the mariner, they can serve as a viable backup to a permanently installed onboard navigation system, with a sextant safely on board, but tucked away. Accurate position, speed, and course information supplied by a handheld GPS used in conjunction with paper charts should be all any sailor needs to complete a long, planned voyage. When so equipped, these devices…

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