GPS suggestions...any advice?

I have a Humminbird Matrix 17, which can be augmented with a gps module, runs about 100.00

Does anyone have experience with this system? Can you recommend it? How was the installation?

Another option would be a separate, hand held gps, and I believe I could then connect it to my FF, giving me the option of using it for non kayak stuff.

Would love to hear your thoughts before I buy.

Thanks!

  I've been using 17 w/gps for 4+ years, and just got it back from service at Humminbird. It finally fried a board and quit working but my waypoints were all intact.There was a $75 flat fee for repair.

 Overall I can't complain it has served me well.The "bread crumb" trail it makes is a nice thing when you are out in the fog and can't see the shore clearly or at all. The unit is pretty basic and the gps is not a "mapping" type but you can save waypoints and transfer them to your computer.

 Install of the GPS is just 3 screws and plug the wire into the FF.
 
 A separate Gps would give you the mapping features and be useful for traveling. Check compatability first, and the cost will be more.
 
 These old eyes are lusting after a power draining color unit though.
 

sounds like a good deal to just get the gps for the 17.

I use a pair of garmin etrex units, they are $100 and do the very basics (which means you don't have to learn much!)

John

how do you guys get maps for all your fishing locales??  do your gps units come standard with them or do you download/buy them?

I had a garmin handlheld unit, but when I added a fishfinder to my kayak I went with a humminbird 580 gps/FF model.  After using it serveral times OTW, I now use the FF solely as a FF and the garmin as my GPS.

Mostly because I found that when I split the screen to see both FF and GPS, I had a hard time seeing the GPS info clearly.  Also adding waypoints manually to the humminbird is a pain, but painless with the garmin.

how do you guys get maps for all your fishing locales??  do your gps units come standard with them or do you download/buy them?

Both GPS units came with same basic maps, though the garmin maps are way better between my two units. 

I had a garmin handlheld unit, but when I added a fishfinder to my kayak I went with a humminbird 580 gps/FF model.  After using it serveral times OTW, I now use the FF solely as a FF and the garmin as my GPS.

Mostly because I found that when I split the screen to see both FF and GPS, I had a hard time seeing the GPS info clearly.  Also adding waypoints manually to the humminbird is a pain, but painless with the garmin.

how do you guys get maps for all your fishing locales??  do your gps units come standard with them or do you download/buy them?

Both GPS units came with same basic maps, though the garmin maps are way better between my two units. 

I agree with Eugene, however it depends on how much adventure fishing you are doing on the open ocean. If you mainly fish the same areas a FF-GPS combo works fine. If you fish a lot of areas and areas you have never fished, the GPS with removable flash memory, waypoint and track management and marine charts really helps. Like Eugene I started with a combo unit which I only use as a FF now and have gone with a Garmin 60 CSX handheld for a GPS.

I have the matrix 17 too. I started using it with (connected to) a magellan meridian marine hand held gps. It worked OK, but the gps eventually quit on me. I guess it must have gotten wet inside. Anyhow, it's hard to get the meridian marine anymore, it's been discontinued by Magellan some time ago. They are still sometimes available on ebay or amazon, but usually not for a reasonable price, and if you find a cheap one it will most likely not have any guarantee. I now have a magellan triton 500, with blu nav nautical charts on an SD card. It works great (and the nautical charts are pretty good) but the connector is smaller than the one for the meridian marine, and humminbird doesn't offer a cable with the smaller connector to fit the triton series receivers. I hope they'll eventually offer the right cable, but when I called them they said they didn't have it and don't have any plans to offer it. So I'm using the gps separate from the FF. I guess I'd have to recommend that you don't try to use a magellan receiver with the matrix 17 unless you already have a meridian, and then I'd say that a waterproof case for the receiver is a must.

FWIW a friend of mine works with GPS stuff at his day job and he says Garmin is the only way to go...

I have the basic model, the one just above the Etrex and it works fine...  just turn it on and it tracks you, plus you aren't tied to the FF battery.  I haven't messed with the map feature yet, but it's easy to mark a spot for future reference.

I have a Eagel Cuda 250 FF with GPS, and a Garmin GPSMap 60CSX.  I have brought the Garmin fishing a number of times, and just never seem to use it all that much.  Its a GREAT unit, but I am always afraid of dropping it overboard or something, so it usually sits in the hatch.  It does work inside the hatch, tracking my route, etc. 

What I really like about it is the software and maps that you can get like the BlueChart software.  You can sit down at your PC and create an entire route with waypoints and chart out the closed area's, etc and then upload it to your GPS unit and have it navigate.  I have experimented with using this for most of the tourneys that I have been too, and have enjoyed it quite a bit for new places I haven't fished before.

Flip side is that when I just want to go out fishing, and want to mark a spot, or find my way back to launch, etc I just use the built in Eagle GPS on the FF.  It works just fine for all the basics, and its one less thing to worry about dropping, charging, etc. 

It lacks all the conveniences of the trip planning, charts, downloading data and such.  But still I seem to use it more than my expensive GPS for sure.

  I have a garmin II unit, it's old (like model year 2000), anyway I got the data cable for it and used the GPS on a few Rubicon jeep trips, then later downloaded the gps to TopoUSA sftwr (topographical software) and the program displayed the track I took in the jeep over the Rubicon.  That was cool stuff then.
  I use the Eagle cuda 240 now on my OB.  Haven't really had a need for the GPS feature other than time and speed.  But I don't have to worry about it falling overboard. 

i already had a GeckoGarmin handheld w/o ports for up/down loading. It runs on AAA batts. and I take it out EVERYWHERE I FISH, hike or mtn.bike!
It is the basic model, but does ALL i ask of it......like "take me back to that structure I was at last week!"   or "how many miles did i go"
and then keeping up with the batts. are alway fun too.