handheld GPS

I'm looking at the Magellan explorist 200 handheld GPS.  Anyone have any experience with this unit or other handhelds??  
Thanks,
Rich

I have the Explorist 100 -it's about $100, but goes on sale at Fry's occasionally for $69.   I bought one about a year ago and it lasted through about 30 trips in salt water without a dry bag, then pooped when I took it into fresh.  I sent it back to the company and they replaced it.  I bought a dry baggie at West Marine and have had no further problems with the gps -but I dropped the hard plastic closureto the baggie and broke off one of  the pegs, so I just put it on and tape it up tight. The buttons work fairly well thru the bag, but it is hard to type in a message that way - I just put a couple of letters in and do the rest at home.
   The little manual that comes with the unit was a little vague, and eventually I found the full manual at the Magellan website-no charge to download.  It really clarifies things.
   I use it in the compass mode mostly. That also displays speed and distance to the "go to" destination, which I like. The "cookie crumb" mode is a little small to see with my old eyes, but is helpful to check the direction and speed of drift.
   It's probably true with other  gps's too: you'll often see your speed as .5 mph(1/2mph) when you're not drifting-my guess is that that's how fast you're moving up and down on the swells!
   I have it sort of mounted between my thighs in an upside down large old flexible plastic vitamin pill bottle cut lenthwise so that the a lanyard goes thu the orig top hole and what remains of the  sides of the bottle cradles the gps.  The bottle is sewn to a piece of 1/2" pvc and that is stuffed into the hole in a scotty rod mount socket.  Keeps it in view and readable and protects it from rod bashing and flopping fish for the most part.   It's tied to the boat in case it gets loose.  Tho if you get loose from the boat you won't have it with you to radio your position with this set-up.
   I've never tried another gps, so I can't compare.   Seems like the batteries last about 2-3 4-5 hour trips, but now I have a charger and change them each trip.  No fun being lost in the fog!

Tom,

Thanks for the info!  I will keep my eye out for the 100 at Fry's when it goes on sale.   Maybe we could meet down at the harbour after I buy one and you could show me the basics of using it.
Thanks again,
Rich

I got a Magellan Explorist 200 for Christmas, but I exchanged it for a Garmin Etrex Legend which had better resolution, better built-in maps, and expansion capability....all for just $10 to $20 more than the Explorist.  I've been very happy with the Legend!