Marine GPS Equipment - Safety at Sea

The GPS's waypoint function can store the position and description of your top secret fishing hole, and you can expect to find it with ease on your next outing. A differentially-corrected GPS signal is accurate to just a few meters, so with DGPS you should be able to pinpoint a particular rock that is submerged just under the surface or the dreaded 'snag' that seems to take all your fishing tackle.

GPS equipment is invaluable in the marine environment. A GPS receiver can certainly guide you to your favorite fishing hole, but the modern GPS can do much more. Your marine GPS is your address at sea. If a nearby vessel needs to contact you, they will refer to your geographic coordinates -that's the latitude and longitude on your GPS. If you experience trouble on the water, these same coordinates can lead help to your craft. If you need to call the coast guard for aid, your latitude - longitude position is usually the best way for them to find you. Remember that there are no street-signs at sea, and in bad weather even small lakes can be difficult to navigate. It is foolhardy to set sail without your trusty GPS by your side.

Marine navigation has been revolutionized by GPS equipment. Mariners in the past had to rely on complicated celestial observations until the advent of electronic positioning systems. The first marine navigation systems were radio based and could only be used near transmitting stations. These systems, although much more reliable than celestial navigation, were still prone to error and were often difficult to use. The difficulty with safely navigating at sea has been greatly reduced by modern positioning systems, the most important of which is GPS navigation equipment.

GPS equipment at sea is a safety-device of immeasurable importance. Boaters use nautical charts to locate shoals and hazards, but these charts are useless unless the vessel knows its position accurately. Likewise, ships experiencing emergencies at sea need a radio to call for help, but they also need GPS to lead the help to the correct location. GPS equipment has saved countless lives by quickly leading rescuers to ships in distress.

A marine GPS should be a reliable unit designed for use on the water. These units are typically more expensive than their automotive counterparts, with advanced mapping capabilities and larger displays. We are, after all, talking about an important piece of safety gear, not just a convenience as in automotive models. Saltwater can easily damage electronics over time, so marine GPS systems are designed with water-resistant cases. External connections such as the antenna wire should be designed for outdoor use. It is usually wise to seal these connections with rubber tape and a water resistant sealing compound, as moisture will eventually destroy the connection. The cable connecting the GPS and the external antenna is one of the most common sources of GPS equipment failure at sea, but these cables are typically inexpensive. Take along a spare whenever possible.

Care for your marine GPS as you do for all the safety equipment on your boat. Keep it dry if possible and free of salt. Direct sunlight can be harmful to some LCD screens, so keep the GPS shaded when you are able. Check for corrosion between your GPS and the vessel's battery terminals. Putting your boat away for the winter? Disconnect your GPS equipment and store it indoors. The GPS receiver should last for many outings.

Marine GPS units typically fall into two categories. Those receivers with smaller black and white LCD displays and those with larger displays, both color and black and white, and advanced mapping capabilities. Both types are normally mounted on the vessel and a referred to as "fixed mount" GPS receivers. It wouldn't do to drop your handheld unit just when you need it the most -in rough seas. Receivers such as the Garmin 152 series are suitable for mariners who are unlikely to travel on the open seas or more than a few miles from the safety of the beach. The Garmin GPS Map series of receivers, on the other hand, provide the boat captain with advanced navigation and mapping features. Nautical charts can be purchased digitally and displayed directly on the LCD screen.

Nautical charts are the roadmaps of the ocean. They are created by national governments to aid in the safe navigation of ocean-faring vessels and are typically updated every few years. Carefully read a nautical chart and you are bound to learn about any special right-of-ways in your area, locations with dangerous currents, shoal areas where your vessel might be grounded, or shipping lanes where larger vessels may pose a danger. The charts are generally available in paper or electronic form and many modern marine GPS units can load the charts. GPS receivers that can display high resolutions nautical charts, like the Garmin GPS Map series or the Garmin Map188C, are often referred to as " chartplotters ".

A chartplotter GPS makes marine navigation easy and efficient. Many GPS manufactures and third-party companies make digital charts specifically for chartplotters. Users typically receive their nautical charts on CD and can purchase special codes to unlock a particular region's charts. Garmin's Bluechart system is an excellent source of nautical charts for your Garmin chartplotters.