Advice on gps watch for sailing :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

Welcome anonymous guest

Please Support
TheBeachcats.com

Advice on gps watch for sailing

Andinista

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 18, 2003

Last visit: Dec 13, 2023

Posts: 880
Posted: Mar 27, 2014 - 06:51 AM

I want a practical speedometer basically. I have a Magellan Toughcase that works pretty well, except for:
- Battery duration. Maybe an hour or so, I don't remember exactly, but my phone is a safety item too and I want it available for much longer.
- I normally have the tiller in one hand and the mainsheet in the other. The toughcase is hanging on my neck when I take it and can't really grab it and watch the speed whenever I want. It gets worse at higher speed, when I'm most interested.
- It doesn't work with my iphone 5c now anyway.

I don't race and I realized that I don't like to deal with an app (iRegatta) while sailing, even for the simple stuff. I'd rather talk with my crew and pay attention to real life. If I'd sail long distances probably it would be useful but I normally don't, I'm most often in a small lake or at the sea but always inside the bay, so kind of a small lake too.

So a watch that shows the speed seems to be all I need.
Wind speed would be nice too of course.. and wind direction.. but on a watch it's not quite realistic yet.. So speed only for now.. (compass would be likely available too).

And cheap of course.

Edited by Andinista on Mar 27, 2014 - 07:09 AM.
emmettv

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jun 30, 2012

Last visit: Jul 29, 2024

Posts: 61
Posted: Mar 27, 2014 - 02:13 PM

I just picked up a Garmin Forerunner 301 . Can be worn on wist or big enough (visibe) to hang from boom .
Bought mine 2nd hand for $80 , can be had online for about $120 . Has many applications like speed (actual,average and max ) as well distance ,GPS location... Check out on link below . Perfect for sailing ..

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-101-Waterproof-Running/dp/B0001ILXGQ/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VZY56BY4WFZAFSA73BW
DamonLinkous

Rank: Administrator

Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Nov 15, 2024

Posts: 3446
Posted: Mar 27, 2014 - 03:23 PM

It's not a watch, but I've been using the Garmin eTrex units for years, they are simple and tough.

If you get the ones that don't come with bundled maps they are under $100
http://www.amazon.com/s/r…ld-keywords=garmin+etrex

One thing I found that really helped me figure out the optimum trim during practice was to have the crew read off the speed while I concentrated on trimming the sails in different configurations. With reasonably steady wind you get quick feedback on what works. I discovered I could sails quite a bit higher than I thought was the proper line.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--
arch

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 25, 2004

Last visit: Apr 06, 2021

Posts: 267
Posted: Mar 27, 2014 - 11:18 PM

I too have a Garmin Forerunner which I wear on my wrist. It tells the time, records my max speed for the day, shows my speed at the moment, can mark a location and guide me back to the point, etc, etc. Here is the data loaded onto google earth showing my track, speed and distance.

this shows what the Garmin program records. made for runners, bikers, other sports or just plain walking.

i love it.
j

--
Aquacat 12 (sold)...'87 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'03 Nacra Inter18 (sold)
Venture 15 (sold)....'89 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'91 Nacra 5.8NA (sold)
'99 Nacra Inter20 (sold)
--
emmettv

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jun 30, 2012

Last visit: Jul 29, 2024

Posts: 61
Posted: Mar 29, 2014 - 02:20 AM

What software let's you set this up on google map?
captandy

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Dec 25, 2011

Last visit: Sep 09, 2014

Posts: 14
Posted: Mar 29, 2014 - 11:00 AM

That's exactly the functionality I'm looking for... I just want a big speed display - and I want to be able to chart out my route when i get home... How often does the watch take a reading? Is it relatively easy to dump the data into google earth?

--
Andy Gardner
Hobie 21SE "Lickity Split"
Cowan Lake Sailing Association
Foster, OH
--
arch

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 25, 2004

Last visit: Apr 06, 2021

Posts: 267
Posted: Mar 29, 2014 - 02:02 PM

QuoteWhat software let's you set this up on google map?

the Garmin software comes packaged with the Forerunner watch. nothing else to buy. you plug the watch into your USB port, open the software and click on 'download' and it imports into the software. if you have google earth on your computer, there is a pull-down choice in the software that says 'view in google earth' and when you do that it opens a window in google earth with your track overlaid onto the lake.

the resolution is much better than you see in my image here, i just saved it with a screen capture to get the picture. you can really zoom in on your track, enough to see yourself crawling around your car/trailer during setup.

the max speed shown on the watch is the best speed of the day. i haven't found a way to clear it without doing a download. but once downloaded, the data shows you your speed at every point of your track. it adjusts the speed constantly, changing about every second or two, just like a typical GPS. you can have it on and compare to your car speedometer when driving to test the accuracy, but mine has been right on the numbers.

you can have the display set up to show one, two, three or four items at a time. if you want a big speed display, set it up for one. it's not huge like a velocitek screen, but it's easy to read.

get yourself an aftermarket velcro band as the band that comes with it will tear out in the holes.

hope this helps! did i mention it's waterproof?
j

Edited by arch on Mar 29, 2014 - 02:10 PM.

--
Aquacat 12 (sold)...'87 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'03 Nacra Inter18 (sold)
Venture 15 (sold)....'89 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'91 Nacra 5.8NA (sold)
'99 Nacra Inter20 (sold)
--
Andinista

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 18, 2003

Last visit: Dec 13, 2023

Posts: 880
Posted: Mar 29, 2014 - 03:53 PM

Cool, that's what I need. Thanks
arch

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 25, 2004

Last visit: Apr 06, 2021

Posts: 267
Posted: Mar 29, 2014 - 08:30 PM

just checked on the availability of the Garmin 205 or 305 and since they're discontinued the prices have gone nuts. look at eBay or get the Garmin Forerunner 310XT, which looks like their successor. it also looks smaller than what i have, has more features and is waterproof to a greater depth. all good.
j

--
Aquacat 12 (sold)...'87 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'03 Nacra Inter18 (sold)
Venture 15 (sold)....'89 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'91 Nacra 5.8NA (sold)
'99 Nacra Inter20 (sold)
--
windadict

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 27, 2011

Last visit: Jun 15, 2015

Posts: 153
Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 12:56 PM

arch
QuoteWhat software let's you set this up on google map?

the Garmin software comes packaged with the Forerunner watch. nothing else to buy. you plug the watch into your USB port, open the software and click on 'download' and it imports into the software. if you have google earth on your computer, there is a pull-down choice in the software that says 'view in google earth' and when you do that it opens a window in google earth with your track overlaid onto the lake.

the resolution is much better than you see in my image here, i just saved it with a screen capture to get the picture. you can really zoom in on your track, enough to see yourself crawling around your car/trailer during setup.

the max speed shown on the watch is the best speed of the day. i haven't found a way to clear it without doing a download. but once downloaded, the data shows you your speed at every point of your track. it adjusts the speed constantly, changing about every second or two, just like a typical GPS. you can have it on and compare to your car speedometer when driving to test the accuracy, but mine has been right on the numbers.

you can have the display set up to show one, two, three or four items at a time. if you want a big speed display, set it up for one. it's not huge like a velocitek screen, but it's easy to read.

get yourself an aftermarket velcro band as the band that comes with it will tear out in the holes.

hope this helps! did i mention it's waterproof?
j

Edited by arch on Mar 29, 2014 - 02:10 PM.

Last year I bought Garmin Foretrex 301. It works very well but it didn't come with any software. Do you know if Forerunner software will work on Foretrex? Where can I get it? Garmin's website lists only 201 from 2006.
Is there any other software that I can use?

--
Adam Bartos
Nacra 5.0
SolCat 18 (sold)
Lake Zurich, IL
--
arch

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jan 25, 2004

Last visit: Apr 06, 2021

Posts: 267
Posted: Apr 13, 2014 - 10:04 PM

adam,
a search for the garmin foretrex 301 gave me this:

http://www8.garmin.com/su…load_details.jsp?id=4759

need to register thru this dashboard. see where this gets you.
https://my.garmin.com/myg…nit&categoryType=FITNESS

look for 'training center'.
report back on whether this works for you!
j

Edited by arch on Apr 13, 2014 - 10:11 PM.

--
Aquacat 12 (sold)...'87 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'03 Nacra Inter18 (sold)
Venture 15 (sold)....'89 Nacra 5.8 (sold)...'91 Nacra 5.8NA (sold)
'99 Nacra Inter20 (sold)
--
windadict

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 27, 2011

Last visit: Jun 15, 2015

Posts: 153
Posted: Apr 14, 2014 - 10:27 PM

Thanks Arch, I will let you know.

--
Adam Bartos
Nacra 5.0
SolCat 18 (sold)
Lake Zurich, IL
--