Boat GPS Options for Small Boats
If you have a small boat and are thinking about whether to get a handheld marine GPS or fixed mount boat GPS unit, you came to the right place.
Modern marine GPS systems have come a long way in the last decade.
They not only can provide accurate position information, but can also be integrated with fish finders and other electronics such as weather receivers and marine radars.
A fixed mount GPS chartplotter is great for a medium to large size boat, but can be unwieldy on a small boat with a small dashboard.
For owners of small boats who are primarily interested in getting something to help them with basic navigation, mini sized chartplotters and even handheld marine GPS units can be good, economical options.
Handhelds are much cheaper than fully featured, fixed mount chartplotters.
Costs for handhelds range from $100 to $400 or so, while fixed mount multifunction displays will run upwards of $1000.
A portable GPS can also be supported on the dashboard with a mounting bracket for convenience.
These handheld marine GPS units will come with an internal GPS antenna, but in a few cases - such as for boats with hard tops - boaters may prefer to use an external antenna instead.
Therefore, you may want to choose a handheld that can be coupled to an external antenna.
Handhelds are also obviously portable, so you can also take one with you if you enjoy kayaking or canoeing.
Handheld marine GPS units really are better for outings on water than general portable GPS units since they'll float in water.
Most general use handhelds marketed to hikers are water resistant, but will not float - at least not without a flotation collar.
You also may wish to hook a marine handheld GPS to your boat's electrical power so you won't drain the batteries in it.
Be sure your model can be connected to an external power source if you want to use it as a boat GPS; almost all of them can be.
You can still use a non-marine portable GPS and may prefer this option if you don't go boating that often and don't want to carry around a slightly bulkier marine GPS.
However, we recommend that you still make sure you can get marine charts as an option with any handheld GPS you do purchase.
Most handhelds will allow you to store waypoints - a very handy feature.
You can also download them to a computer via a USB cable.
Bear in mind though that the finer details of marine charts may be hard to view on handhelds with smaller displays, so there are some tradeoffs between size and functionality.
Mini fixed mount marine chartplotters can be another economical option for fishermen with smaller boats.
Humminbird and Garmin both make popular pint sized combination chartplotter - fish finders that offer a solid value for the dollar.
These have an internal GPS antenna and generally cannot be networked with other types of devices such as weather receivers.
They may be more expensive than handhelds and are not that well suited to use off your boat, for example on a kayaking or hiking trip.
They are ideal for fishermen when coupled with fish finders.
These handy combo devices can help you make the most of your limited fishing time by locating fish underwater.
Modern marine GPS systems have come a long way in the last decade.
They not only can provide accurate position information, but can also be integrated with fish finders and other electronics such as weather receivers and marine radars.
A fixed mount GPS chartplotter is great for a medium to large size boat, but can be unwieldy on a small boat with a small dashboard.
For owners of small boats who are primarily interested in getting something to help them with basic navigation, mini sized chartplotters and even handheld marine GPS units can be good, economical options.
Handhelds are much cheaper than fully featured, fixed mount chartplotters.
Costs for handhelds range from $100 to $400 or so, while fixed mount multifunction displays will run upwards of $1000.
A portable GPS can also be supported on the dashboard with a mounting bracket for convenience.
These handheld marine GPS units will come with an internal GPS antenna, but in a few cases - such as for boats with hard tops - boaters may prefer to use an external antenna instead.
Therefore, you may want to choose a handheld that can be coupled to an external antenna.
Handhelds are also obviously portable, so you can also take one with you if you enjoy kayaking or canoeing.
Handheld marine GPS units really are better for outings on water than general portable GPS units since they'll float in water.
Most general use handhelds marketed to hikers are water resistant, but will not float - at least not without a flotation collar.
You also may wish to hook a marine handheld GPS to your boat's electrical power so you won't drain the batteries in it.
Be sure your model can be connected to an external power source if you want to use it as a boat GPS; almost all of them can be.
You can still use a non-marine portable GPS and may prefer this option if you don't go boating that often and don't want to carry around a slightly bulkier marine GPS.
However, we recommend that you still make sure you can get marine charts as an option with any handheld GPS you do purchase.
Most handhelds will allow you to store waypoints - a very handy feature.
You can also download them to a computer via a USB cable.
Bear in mind though that the finer details of marine charts may be hard to view on handhelds with smaller displays, so there are some tradeoffs between size and functionality.
Mini fixed mount marine chartplotters can be another economical option for fishermen with smaller boats.
Humminbird and Garmin both make popular pint sized combination chartplotter - fish finders that offer a solid value for the dollar.
These have an internal GPS antenna and generally cannot be networked with other types of devices such as weather receivers.
They may be more expensive than handhelds and are not that well suited to use off your boat, for example on a kayaking or hiking trip.
They are ideal for fishermen when coupled with fish finders.
These handy combo devices can help you make the most of your limited fishing time by locating fish underwater.