What kind of cheap GPS will help me find underwater structure?

[Iowabucks]

Hey everyone, I have never owned any kind of GPS unit so i don't know how they work. I was wondering what cheap, basic unit could help me find underwater structure with GPS coordinates?

I have researched newer units but none have decent lake map chips and are a little more than i would like to spend right now. I was hoping to find something for under $50 used, maybe on Ebay or Craigslist.

[bugman]

Garmin e-trex legend is very accurate and fairly inexpensive.

[CatFan]

You've got a couple of things working against you. First, the map chips themselves are $100-$200, and the current ones won't work in older units, which means you'd have to find an older chip if you get an older unit. The manufacturers usually give $50 rebates when you trade in an older chip, so they won't sell as cheap as they might otherwise.

One thing to keep in mind is that many smaller, less popular lakes aren't very well supported by the map chips, so you need to know if mapping is even available for your lakes.

Most of the GPS units designed for boats weren't cheap when they were new, and as long as they work they hold a decent amount of value. The handheld units have such a small screen that they are tough to use while fishing or driving the boat, especially once your eyes hit 40. Even among the bigger screen units, the color screens are much easier on the eyes.

Once you have any kind of GPS, you forget that people can fish without them, so if it's at all within your budget, I'd seriously consider taking the plunge and getting a GPS/Sonar combo. It's a huge time saver to idle within a hundred feet of a spot and troll right up to it with no searching.

[gabowman]

I used a portable before getting a sonar with GPS. I bought the holder and mounted it on the console so I could follow the tracks when nightfishing. Wasnt that hard to see. I never needed any kind of lake map chips as all I wanted mine for was to follow the breadcrumb trail when the fog caught me out in the dark. I suppose that marking waypoints on structure would have worked as well as my graph does, but I never used it for that. The sonar with GPS would be the better choice but way more expensive, so I think the portable unit would be a nice addition that'll get you by. Lots of people use the portables so you should get some good recommendations. The portable I bought was a monochrome Garmin Maps76 and I think it is a good unit (still have it for a backup). Good luck with your search.

[jimp]

Have a Gamin 67 or 76C, will get me within 20 foot of a waypoint, which suits me fine.

[Shellback]

I really doubt you will find a used GPS with mapping for $50 or under. A GPS won't find structure for you, other than bottom contours. Brushpiles, old roadbeds, bridges, house foundations, or other structures that were covered when newly built lakes are flooded, probably aren't on a map chip. Things like that you can find if there are old topo maps of the land before the lake was built. You can get the coordinates off the old maps, and then find them with a regular GPS. If you find a regular GPS that is Waas (more accurate) capable, just cruise your favorite water with your depth finder, then mark any structure you see. I'd suggest some marker bouys so that as you pass over structure, throw one out, then go back over the point and throw another bouy. Your actual structure should be between the 2 bouys.

[Iowabucks]

I am looking for a portable unit. The boat we use is not mine, it's my buddies, so i'm not looking to buy him a new GPS/Sonar unit, just a handheld that can get us within a few feet. Alot of the lakes we fish are smaller ones so map coverage is useless.

Having never used one, how hard would it be to pinpoint a spot on the lake with just a basic unit?

[BenFL01]

I could be wrong, but it sounds like you just want a unit that can accurately mark a waypoint so you can return to it to fish it later. You will find (or drop) the cover using whatever (electronics, getting hung up on it) but want to be able to find your way back to it later right? I think most any hand held you find easy to read that has the Waas would work. I think gabowman hit what you are trying to do on the head right?

[Iowabucks]

I think gabowman hit what you are trying to do on the head right?

Thats pretty much it, but also want to use it to find the predetermined spots. The lakes i fish have trenches, mounds, and culvert piles. I want something to help me find those exact locations.

I know a basic unit would tell you your longitude and latitude, but i wouldn't know without practice how to use it to find these locations.

[CatFan]

I think I see what you need to know.

Normally you don't use a GPS to give you numbers. You find a spot and then mark a waypoint, which is basically the same as making a small X on a map. Later you can see a marker that shows your exact location and the exact location of the waypoint. You just drive the boat until the marker that is you is on the waypoint. It's pretty well all visual.

You can mark hundreds of waypoints, so it's best to have some kind of log telling you what they are.

Without a map chip, you couldn't find objects unless you had been there before to save a waypoint or someone gave you the coordinates easily, but paper maps usually have GPS coordinates on them so you can measure to them.