GPS - Garmin 250W for Marine use ???

Author

Garmin 250W for Marine use ???

BocaBill

2008-03-27, 10:33 pm

Okay, I'm getting myself all wrapped around the axel here.

Visited the Garmin site. Trying to figure out what I can REALLY do
with the Garmin 250W and the associated USB cable and available SD
card slot.

Found the GARMIN MapSource BlueChart Americas 2008 CD-ROM. It
suggests that this will load U.S. navigation chart data into my 250W.

Does anyone have any experience with using this unit for Marine
Use ??? How "Useable" is it ??? Compared to units designed for
marine use ???

Thanks.

Wayne R.

2008-03-29, 10:33 pm

First off, they're not waterproof.

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:49:39 -0700 (PDT), BocaBill <WTJordan@aol.com>
wrote (with clarity & insight):

>Okay, I'm getting myself all wrapped around the axel here.
>
>Visited the Garmin site. Trying to figure out what I can REALLY do
>with the Garmin 250W and the associated USB cable and available SD
>card slot.
>
>Found the GARMIN MapSource BlueChart Americas 2008 CD-ROM. It
>suggests that this will load U.S. navigation chart data into my 250W.
>
>Does anyone have any experience with using this unit for Marine
>Use ??? How "Useable" is it ??? Compared to units designed for
>marine use ???
>
>Thanks.

(PeteCresswell)

2008-03-30, 7:33 am

Per Wayne R.:
>First off, they're not waterproof.

My experience with two Garmin GPS's that were even touted as
"waterproof" was that neither one was.

What's more, when I called Garmin support about the second one
they said "Water damage? We don't cover it." That was in
direct conflict with their claim about the product.
--
PeteCresswell

T Shadow

2008-03-31, 4:33 am

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:9e1vu3p5iv72oi9
58nclrk492ddqo4fut4@
4ax.com...
> Per Wayne R.:
>
> My experience with two Garmin GPS's that were even touted as
> "waterproof" was that neither one was.
>
> What's more, when I called Garmin support about the second one
> they said "Water damage? We don't cover it." That was in
> direct conflict with their claim about the product.
> --
> PeteCresswell

Need to be more specific. Not all Garmin are waterproof. IIRC my GPSIII is
Mil-Spec waterproof. No problems with the unit on a MC handlebar for over a
decade. Haven't looked at all Garmins but the Zumo is waterproof and fuel
resistant. Seems like the last time I looked, the least expensive waterproof
unit I could find was ~$400. I notice, now, the warranty is only a year.
Hope they are still making the waterproof units as well as the GPSIII was.

BocaBill

2008-03-31, 10:34 am

Okay, I talked to the Garmin rep at a recent Boat Show in my area. He
stated unequivocally that the Nuvi series was NOT waterproof,
especially in the salt water environment in which I live, and that it
was NOT designed for marine navigation.

Thanks all for you input on this forum.

Jack Erbes

2008-03-31, 3:33 pm

BocaBill wrote:
> Okay, I'm getting myself all wrapped around the axel here.
>
> Visited the Garmin site. Trying to figure out what I can REALLY do
> with the Garmin 250W and the associated USB cable and available SD
> card slot.
>
> Found the GARMIN MapSource BlueChart Americas 2008 CD-ROM. It
> suggests that this will load U.S. navigation chart data into my 250W.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with using this unit for Marine
> Use ??? How "Useable" is it ??? Compared to units designed for
> marine use ???
>

I'd rate them as pretty much useless from the viewpoint of features and
capabilities.

Have you ever done any piloting or marine navigation? If you understand
terms like waypoints, routes, route legs, nautical miles

You can't upload waypoints and routes. In theory, if you save some
waypoints to a *.gpx file on a SD card, you could go to them one at a
time. And maybe even do that using another ,

They won't generate tracks, they don't display of the data fields (XTE,
ETA, ETE, CSE, HDG, etc.) that a mariner would like to have at times and
that you would get with something like a 60 or 76 Cx or CSx.

Then there is the waterproofing, short battery life with their internal
battery, and general unsuitability for a marine environment.

The 60/76 "x" series models will do anything that a nuvi will do, they
just won't do it with a large display, voice prompts, and all the brain
candy stuff like photo viewers and mp3 players.

The bizarre part of the Garmin line is that now many of their newer
"marine" models have been dumbed down too. They won't upload route or
waypoints, have no serial ports/NMEA inputs or outputs, and won't us any
mapping other than the preloaded mapping that comes on them. The online
manuals for these are very light on specifics of what they will and
won't do. It likes like another case where it will take some time and
feedback from early buyers to find out how good or bad they really are.

If you want a versatile GPS receiver to use for multiple purposes, there
are no other Garmin receivers that are as versatile as the "x" series
handheld receivers. And Garmin that capable are starting to look like
an endangered species.

The initial report on the new Colorado line of handhelds indicates that
those are probably not going to be as good or as useful as the 60/76
Cx/CSx models they are intended to replace. To me, they appear have
been designed to appeal to first time buyers who are ignorant about GPS.

Jack

Jack Erbes

2008-03-31, 3:33 pm

BocaBill wrote:
> Okay, I talked to the Garmin rep at a recent Boat Show in my area. He
> stated unequivocally that the Nuvi series was NOT waterproof,
> especially in the salt water environment in which I live, and that it
> was NOT designed for marine navigation.
>
> Thanks all for you input on this forum.

If you get together with somewhat like that again, ask them why the
"marine" units are getting less capable all the time. Maybe there is an
explanation I've not thought of or haven't heard yet.

Ask him why, if I wanted to upgrade from a marine unit like a (name
almost any model on the discontinued products page), I would have to
give up a lot of marine navigation related capabilities and features to
do it?

Jack

(PeteCresswell)

2008-03-31, 10:33 pm

Per T Shadow:
>Need to be more specific. Not all Garmin are waterproof. IIRC my GPSIII is
>Mil-Spec waterproof.

I don't know the spec, but my two were also represented by Garmin
as "waterproof".

Neither turned out to be and, as previously mentioned, Garmin
declined to warranty the second one bc they don't do "water
damage".

In another thread, somebody made an interesting distinction
between "waterproof" and having a waterproof guarantee.

In the second case, the mfr deems it more economical to just
declare the product waterproof and then pay for the warranty
replacements than to spend the money/testing to really make it
waterproof.

In Garmin's case, I got the impression that the cost of those
warranty replacements had gotten out of hand and the accounting
department had spoken (again).... -)
--
PeteCresswell

TVNAV.com

2008-04-01, 4:33 am

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:a7l2v3hf7klg04t
k93f0o3l3nsmcip4ebh@
4ax.com...
> Per T Shadow:
>
> I don't know the spec, but my two were also represented by Garmin
> as "waterproof".
>
> Neither turned out to be and, as previously mentioned, Garmin
> declined to warranty the second one bc they don't do "water
> damage".

I have never, ever heard of GARMIN declining a warranty claim for water
damage within the water resistant specs. of the unit. Which GPS are you
referring to? I've got a 76CSx that has been constantly wet for 99% of it
powered on life. I had a MAP 76 before that that spent most of it's life the
same way with no problems.

--

Darrel Goheen
GPS@tvnav.com
http://www.tvnav.com

(PeteCresswell)

2008-04-02, 7:33 am

Per TVNAV.com:
> I have never, ever heard of GARMIN declining a warranty claim for water
>damage within the water resistant specs. of the unit. Which GPS are you
>referring to?

Well, from now on you have to say "I've only heard of one...." bc
you just did.... -)

ForRunner 301. Never, ever immersed - only dripped upon.

Can't recall the previous model - but they did replace two of
them. Also not immersed.
--
PeteCresswell

TVNAV.com

2008-04-02, 12:34 pm

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:hdr6v39m8utd4g4
82sr8ks8qjtssbkoqi7@
4ax.com...
> Per TVNAV.com:
>
> Well, from now on you have to say "I've only heard of one...." bc
> you just did.... -)
>
> ForRunner 301. Never, ever immersed - only dripped upon.

How long had you owned it when you tried to get warranty on it?
--

Darrel Goheen
GPS@tvnav.com
http://www.tvnav.com

T Shadow

2008-04-02, 3:33 pm

"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalid> wrote in message
news:hdr6v39m8utd4g4
82sr8ks8qjtssbkoqi7@
4ax.com...
> Per TVNAV.com:
water[color=darkred]

>
> Well, from now on you have to say "I've only heard of one...." bc
> you just did.... -)
>
> ForRunner 301. Never, ever immersed - only dripped upon.
>
> Can't recall the previous model - but they did replace two of
> them. Also not immersed.
> --
> PeteCresswell

What excuse did they use for not honoring the warranty?

I see the ForRunner 301 says water resistant but the Zumo says waterproof.
Both seem to be iPX7 which they say means immersible to 1 meter. Odd. BTW,
my GPSIII is also iPX7 not mil-spec as I misremembered. Never immersed but
sometimes it seemed close to it. :O)

(PeteCresswell)

2008-04-02, 10:33 pm

Per T Shadow:
>What excuse did they use for not honoring the warranty?

None. It was just a flat-out statement that they don't cover
"water damage".
--
PeteCresswell

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