I am pretty darn addicted to using a gps. It’s a crutch. I know a lot of people want to get good at no gps navigation, but I have enough on my plate. When am board, I may look at it and use it kind of like a video game where I make sure my ETA stays below my target. Okay, I am not some big racer, so I need to say try to keep my ETA below my target. On occasion, I challenge myself to not look at the thing for x miles.
I have been using the garmin 60 series gps units for probably over 10 years. Currently I have a 64s and a 62st. I sold my 60 versions on the water tribe site. I like the weight, and size of the 60 series.
I have chosen to not put mine in a water proof bag and just risk it. That way I can operate it easier, see it better, and use the mounting method I like. So far I have been lucky. Besides dead batteries at a bad time, I have never had one fail. If I have one that is still under warranty, that is the one let have a beating. If I am carrying a backup it is in my day hatch in a dry bag.
For the 2014 EC I carried 2 backups just because it is exposed, long, and I do not team up with anybody. Electronics malfunction and batteries die. There are so many places to get lost. It is nice to just let a set of batteries die rather than replace them before they die. I find once the batteries go from 4 bars to 3 bars they are not going to last long. Maybe if I change the battery type in the set up menu it will help. Or maybe not. I combine my tracks when I find time at home. At the same time, I delete the endless circles I create when I walk around the beach when dazed and confused.
I do not know the detailed logic on the 70 series ( like the 76 and 78 ) They appear to have the same specs as the 60 series. Any time I pick up a 70 series garmin they appear to have all the same screens and are just bulkier. Right now I have a 62st and 64s. I sold my old 60 with a duct tape closed battery compartment to a Watertriber.
I think the ram mounts are bigger and heavier than necessary. I mount mine using a garmin bracket. I think the part # is 010-11031-00. It is cheap, light, and holds onto the gps nicely. I throw / recycle away the screw on bracket that comes with it and use Velcro to hold it on the deck of my boat. It works nicely. If you go this route, prime / clean the bottom of the plastic bracket with some solvent, and give the peel and stick Velcro plenty of dwell time to increase its hold. I prime something like this with some acetone. I do not prime the deck of my boat, as it can unnecessarily damage the gel coat.
My back up gps has the simple bracket that came with it. I tore off the cheap carabineer, and replaced it with some 1/8 inch line and a light weight plastic clip.
I like the Velcro mounting method because its simple peel and stick, it is easy to remove when I want to grab it, and if I hit it hard ( it happens a lot when things get rough) , it just gives. I put a couple spots of Velcro on my deck for some more options. Its handy for holding other things down. Use a lanyard for sure. Mine has taken a few hard swipes from my boom, when I would forget to raise my sail on the downwind side of the kayak. It hits the gps hard sometimes, tears it off my deck, I start sailing, and pick up the pieces. It works pretty good.