After messing around with these 2 units im undecided on best fit for my sup/yak. The screen on Montana seems nice and easier to use. Cost doesn't really matter much as we buy lots of marine electronics for our work boats that I can get either gps really cheap. Folks seem to like the 77 but can't find much on the Montana. Any advice? I like the touch screen of the Montana as I'm an iPhone user.
Garmin 78sc or Montana 600 marine?
(9 posts) (8 voices)-
For some reason my favorite Garmin GPS is black and white Garmin 76map. The original one. It is out of production for quite a while already. However i prefere it to any later versions of 7x. Screen is less clattered. There are less menu options. Somehow it is more intuitive and simplier.
I know, i know, i still drive stick shift....Posted 6 years ago # -
When I first got my Garmin 78 back in Jan 2011, it was very buggy. Jan 2012 on Pavilion Key, after realizing it had never loaded the wpts into the routes (the route names were there but no wpts), I wanted to throw it as far as possible. It had the wpts, so I was able to make my key routes up there on PAV for my annual Chok to FLM trip. I too missed my color Garmin 76. Since then, Garmin has gotten its act together, removed the 78 bugs, and I've gotten to like my 78. I bought a second one on one of the recent sales of the 78sc.
Keith
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yakmandu
MemberJust my two cents...
I had an Garmin Oregon 450 that succombed to water after about a year. The Oregon needed fresh batteries after about 24 hours of use. This was due to the fact that you had activate the back light to read the screen, even in full sunlight. I'm sure all those battery changes in the wild helped with water intrusion.
I replaced it with an Garmin eTrex 20 and a G2 BlueWater chip. These units are smaller and fit in the front pocket of my PFT facing up at me. Resolution is lower than the Oregon, but this also reduces battery drain. I can check my progress without touching the GPS. During the day you can read the screen perfectly without activating the back light. The unit does not have a touch screen. BEST OF ALL, the unit will run multiple days without a battery change. I just spent six days (daylight sailing only) going from Everglades City to Flamingo and back ON ONE SET OF BATTERIES! There was lots of rain/spray and I didn't have the unit in a dry bag.
I am so content with the eTrex 20 that I bought a backup unit with another G2 Chip. I load all my routes on both units before I depart. The spare is tucked away in a dry bag!
While I am pontificating, I use Garmin's HomePort software on my MAC. I transfer routes, past tracks, and waypoints between HomePort and the eTrex. After a trip, I transfer my tracks back to the MAC. The I/O port on the eTrex can be a little touchy when connecting to the computer. It is best to connect the eTrex and wait for it to be recognized by MAC (or PC), and then start Home Port.
See you on the beach!
Yakmandu
Posted 6 years ago # -
BustedRudder
MemberFor you GPS78sc owners, the unit has the most unintuitive way to access tide tables but it is correct and is good to know. It defaults to your current location but if you scroll on the chart it will list tides relative to that position...
Try to remember this when you are hallucinating:
To view the tide station data on a GPSMAP 78 series handheld, please follow these instructions:
<ol style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(75, 75, 75); font-size: 11px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
- With the device powered ON, make sure the unit is in Marine Profile
- Press Menu twice
- Select Profile Change
- Select Marine
- Press the Find button
- Highlight Tides
- Press the Enter button
- If Tides does not appear, keep scrolling down until it is visible
- Highlight the tide station that is desired and press the Enter button
- Press the Menu button
- Highlight Review Point and press the Enter button
- At this point the tide table can be viewed.
- To view this information in a graph chart, press the Menu button
- Highlight Show Chart and press the Enter button
Posted 6 years ago # - With the device powered ON, make sure the unit is in Marine Profile
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LRock
MemberI asked a simlar question around thanksgiving when 78cs was onsale at west amrine for 200, although I think u can get it on amazon for that at anytime. I just like walkng into west with broken stuff and walking right back out with a new unit. And I can really break stuff. alot.
The advice was to go garmin, and I must say I really do like the unit. the screen is way smaller than u would get with the montana, but after all these years of smartphone use:
1) I am just kinda sick of pressing virtual buttons and pinching and expanding all the time. Its nice to hit real buttons to get stuff done.
2) much easier one handed operation, which is key on nautical adventures, particularly paddling, u don't want to put paddle down, sailing, u don't want to let go of tiller or sheet.
Posted 6 years ago #
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