Choose and use a sea GPS
Nowadays, Marine GPS are essential tools for all browsers, whether amateurs or professionals.
They offer a multitude of features that allow you to sail safely and take full advantage of your excursion to the sea.
However, with the wide range of models available on the market, It can be difficult to choose the GPS that best suits your needs.
This is why Orca Retail has developed this complete guide to help you make the right choice and use your navy GPS effectively for navigation.
What are the differences between sea GPS and other GPS such as those on my phone or car?
If you already have a car GPS or a smartphone with a GPS application, You may be wondering if a navy GPS is really necessary. Here are the main differences between sea GPS and other types of GPS:
1. Security
Marine GPS are designed to meet the specific requirements of sea navigation. They have essential security features, such as AIS (Automatic Identification System) and the GPS rescue system (SBAS), which allow you to be alerted in the event of danger and to receive crucial information for your safety.
2. Precision
Marine GPS use highly precise GPS signals, Which is essential for sea navigation. Car GPS and GPS smartphone applications are generally less precise, which can be problem at sea, where visual benchmarks can be rare or non -existent.
3. Features
Marine GPS offer a multitude of advanced features that can facilitate navigation and make your life at sea more pleasant. Among these features, we find:
- The sounder: Allows you to know the depth of the water under the boat and detect the fish.
- The automatic driver: Allows you to keep the boat on a predefined CAP.
- Detailed cartography: covers coastal and high -off areas, with information on ports, Marinas, obstacles and points of interest.
- The navy weather: gives you information on weather conditions at sea, such as the force of the wind, the direction of the waves and the height of the waves.
4. Robustness
Marine GPS are designed to withstand difficult marine conditions, such as salt water, Vibrations and shocks. Car GPS and smartphones are generally not as robust and can be damaged by the marine environment.
In conclusion, if you sail regularly at sea, it is highly recommended to invest in a navy GPS. Marine GPS offer a level of security, of precision and features that other types of GPS simply cannot match.
Choose the right GPS Marine
1. Define your needs
Before you get into the search for a sea GPS, It is essential to take the time to define your needs. Ask yourself the following questions:
What is your type of navigation?
The type of navigation you practice will influence the choice of your navy GPS on several points:
-
Cards : A bucket that sails along the ribs will need detailed cards of the coastal areas, with information on ports, Marinas and points of interest. An upper browser will need cards covering large distances, With information on sea roads and potential dangers.
-
The features : A fisherman will need a GPS with an efficient sounder to detect fish. A skipper that makes regattas will need a GPS with an automatic pilot to keep the boat's heading.
What is the size of your boat?
The size of your boat will also influence the choice of your navy GPS:
- Screen size : A small boat does not need a large GPS screen. On the other hand, On a large boat, It is important to have a screen large enough to easily view all the information.
- GPS power : A large boat needs a more powerful GPS to maintain a precise position, even in difficult conditions.
- Connectivity : On a large boat, It may be useful to have a GPS that can connect to other devices, such as radar or ais.
What is your budget?
The price of marine GPS varies considerably depending on their features and their performance. You can find basic sea GPS for a few hundred euros, But high -end models can cost several thousand euros.
Here are some budget indications according to your needs:
- Coastal navigation and pleasure: from 200 to 500 euros
- Fishing : from 500 to 1,000 euros
- Hauturière navigation: from 1,000 to 2,000 euros
- Professional : Over 2,000 euros
2. Know the different types of sea GPS
There are two main types of sea GPS:
- Portable GPS: light and compact, They are perfect for small boats or for occasional use.
- Fixed GPS: more robust and with more advanced features, They are better suited to large boats and navigators who spend a lot of time at sea.
3. The main features to be taken into account
- Cartography: Make sure GPS covers the areas you usually sail.
- The sounder: Allows you to know the depth of the water under the boat and detect the fish.
- AIS (Automatic Identification System): Allows to identify and be identified by the other ships equipped with AIS.
- The automatic driver: Allows you to keep the boat on a predefined CAP.
4. Popular marine marks
Among the popular marine brands, we find:
- Garmin: Brand recognized for the reliability and robustness of its products. It offers a wide range of sea GPS, for all budgets and all needs. Garmin is particularly appreciated by fishermen for his powerful probers.
- Lowrance: Another popular brand that offers innovative sea GPS and equipped with many features. Lowrance is particularly appreciated by high -wing browsers for its complete navigation systems and high -performance radars.
- Raymarine: High -end brand that offers peak technology GPS. Raymarine is particularly appreciated by boaters for her intuitive touch screens and elegant designs.
- Humminbird: Brand specializing in pollsters and offers marine GPS with very efficient fish detection functions. Humminbird is particularly appreciated by professional fishermen for the quality of his images and the accuracy of his data.
- Simrad: Brand offering robust and reliable sea GPS, designed for difficult marine conditions. Simrad is particularly appreciated by professionals for its complete navigation systems and advanced features.
Use your navy GPS effectively for navigation
1. Plan your route
Planning your route before going to sea is an essential step for safe and pleasant navigation. Your navy GPS can be of great help for this task. Here are some tips for effectively plan your route with a navy GPS:
- Define your destination: The first step is to define your destination. You can do so when entering the name of the port, the marina or the benchmark you want to reach. You can also use the search function to find your destination on the card.
- Add passing points: If you want to go to a destination through several intermediate points, you can add passing points to your route. To do this, simply select the crossing points on the card or enter their GPS contact details.
- Choose the navigation mode: Most sea GPS offer different navigation modes, such as direct navigation, road navigation and navigation by tracking of trace.
- Direct navigation is the simplest mode. Just define your destination and the GPS will indicate the road to follow.
- Road navigation allows you to create a more complex route by adding crossing points.
- The navigation by tracking of trace allows you to follow a route that you have saved previously.
- Take into account weather conditions: Before going to sea, it is important to take into account weather conditions. You can consult the weather forecast on your navy GPS to help you plan your route.
- Check the reviews to browsers: It is also important to check the reviews to browsers before going to sea. Navigators reviews report potential dangers for navigation, such as wrecks, reefs and work. You can consult the reviews to browsers on your navy GPS or on the website of the maritime authority of your country.
- Know how to stay flexible: The weather conditions can change quickly and there can be unexpected. Be ready to adapt your itinerary if necessary by providing for rescue routes.
2. Follow your position and master the features
Following your position with your navy GPS is essential to sail safely. But your navy GPS can offer you much more than the simple visualization of your position on a card. Here are some useful features to know:
- Precise monitoring of your position: Modern sea GPS use advanced technologies to provide extremely precise positioning monitoring. You can know your exact position in latitude and longitude, as well as your speed and your course with great reliability.
- Visualization of your position on different cards: such as conventional marine cards, satellite cards or radar cards. You can also superimpose different information on the card, such as passing points, opinions to browsers and danger zones.
- Positioning alarms: You can configure positioning alarms to warn you when you approach a crossing point, a danger area or another area of interest. This can help you stay on your route and avoid collisions.
- Recording your traces: Your navy GPS can record your traces, which allows you to relive your journey later. You can also share your traces with other browsers.
- Followed by several targets: If you browse with a fleet of boats, you can use your navy GPS to follow the position of all boats in real time. This can be useful to coordinate your movements and ensure everyone's safety.
- Connect to other devices: Your navy GPS can connect to other devices on your boat, such as radar, AIS or automatic driver. This allows you to centralize all your navigation information on a single screen.
- Updates: It is important to regularly update the cards and software of your Marine GPS to make sure that you have the most recent information.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you will be able to choose the right sea GPS and use it effectively to sail safely and take full advantage of your outings at sea.
Remember that sea navigation also requires good knowledge of safety and regulation. Do not hesitate to take training courses or inquire with local maritime authorities.
Are you passionate about nautical nautical and semi-rigid boats?
Discover our products!
Read more about the universe of boating and semi-rigid: