The GPS, screen addiction and it's role in mounting options.

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The GPS, screen addiction and it's role in mounting options.

(8 posts) (7 voices)

Started 6 years ago by Cwolfe
Latest reply from BustedRudder

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Cwolfe
Member

All this talk about route sharing and I am reinvestigating my relationship with my GPS. On my Tiderace it is mounted with a Ram Mount ball screewed to the deck. On my local fittness paddles I have to force myself away from the screen. How far, how fast etc. I do believe that to some degree it is helpful in assessing stroke technique and keeping you from starting to lilydip but I also consider it a distraction that has addicting characteristics. In the EC, I generrly have it on deck and find it very helpful, esp at night, predicted where those big scary channel markers are that like to jump out at you. But it can also be mind numbing and disconnect you from your natural enviroment.

I am curious about how other folks (particularly Paddlers) manage their enabling relattionship with this electronic vixen. I do remember a beutiful clear night in the Everglades listening to NiteNavigator (bow) and NiteSong lovingly bicker as the GPS readout was frameshafted putting the route on the GPS right through the middle of the Mangroves. NN and I both had some NiteBlindness as a result of looking at the screen but Janet in the stern was one with the world and could see the stars and the path ahead and knew all was well. A great memory....

So paddlers, are you a GPS junkie constantly wanting a location fix? Do you run it continuously? If so, how do you kayakers prefer to attach it on deck?

Now, where was I?

Cwolfe

Posted 6 years ago #
JoeWildlife
Member

My name is Joe and I am addicted to my GPS.

The first step is recognizing the addiction and knowing you are powerless.

You know I have my gps mounted towards the front of my Sea Wind cockpit on a RAM ball mount as you do. I recognize that I like having tracks on my GPS and following them can and usually does improve my efficiency. Blowing through the Wilderness Waterway and Nightmare while in a sleep deprived state was much faster when I didn't have to worry about navigation whatsoever. One cannot dispute its benefits.

Like you, however, I do tend to watch the screen too much, but the number I watch probably too frequently is the current speed. Upon further reflection, I may delete that from my trip computer readout and just go with it. I suspect I will check the GPS much less frequently if I do so.

I wouldn't recommend that on a downriver run however. It may or may not be valuable on the Suwannee, but it sure as hell is very valuable keeping you in the faster water when on the Missouri doing the MR340, no doubt. But I suspect in the EC and UF, it might be the major culprit in GPS distraction for me.

I am concerned about the longevity of the GPS 78 in the long term in UF conditions. I'm considering putting it in a clear dry case--not a roll top clear bag, but rather one with multiple zip-lock closures, large enough to hold a 8-cell battery holder loaded with lithium AAs and a large dessicant pack or two. ditch the custom cradle and wire-tie or bungee the case to a custom mount attached to the RAM. It could be nothing more than a flat piece of kevlar or plastic with some holes drilled in it for attachment. At least that is where I think I'm heading. I'm not about to replace batteries every 20 hours or so and think the GPS is going to survive 20 something days of that in humid salt conditions. Alternatively, I may get a case with a waterproof audio jack and run 12V through that from an external mini pelican case with the batteries in that.

Joe

Posted 6 years ago #
KayakVagabond
Member

For general training/racing in a known area, I don't use my GPSMap 78, rather I use a (watch-sized) Garmin Forerunner 310XT and wear the compatible heart-rate strap. This GPS unit is better for training and racing: timing intervals, ability to read the cadence sensor on my paddle shaft, saving results for analysis in Garmin Connect, etc. I put this unit around the foot strap on my ski, or in a foam holder under my deck straps on my kayak. I glance often to monitor my cadence, speed, heart-rate and distance/time.

For the EC I run a Garmin GPSMap 78 almost constantly. Wastes too much time waiting for it to start-up, when you need it, otherwise. You must be careful that your backlight is either off or set as low as necessary to read it to preserve battery life (lithiums). I have a pair of GPS78 units (primary is a GPSMap78sc and backup is cheaper GPSMap78). I follow routes since I can do that even when sleep-deprived and brain-dead. On the map screen, the route shows as a magenta line, and I add a few data fields, usually my speed, bearing (so I can navigate via compass rather than looking at GPS), Off Course (to tell how close I am staying to my route line, which can otherwise be hard to determine as you zoom/unzoom the map), and I sometimes include time to destination or distance to destination (especially if I have an "appointment" with a tide). Although a GPSMap78 can read heart rate (with an ANT+ compatible strap) I don't care for the discomfort/possible chafing of wearing a HRM strap over multiple days, so leave it at home.

I keep each of my GPSMap78 units in a separate Aquapac with a dessicant packet. I haven't yet had a problem with any GPS failures over 3 ECs and many expeditions. On occasion, such as early or late morning sun, I have to remove the GPS from the bag in order to see it well due to glare. I'm a gram-counter so use a homemade GPS holder that is a simple backing of thin minicel foam with bailing wire around the edges, held together with gorilla tape, that lets me tilt/move the GPS as needed. Sometimes I will keep a spare set of batteries in the bag with the GPS, with tape over the contacts so they are at hand when needed.

When the batteries die in my primary GPS I just switch to my backup GPS, that is kept in a dayhatch. That is often more convenient/safer/faster than changing batteries at sea. I then change batteries on my next landfall. Normally I get through an EC with only one or two battery changes, so it makes life simple.

When I'm just kayaking for fun I'll bring a GPS only as necessary and rarely look at it as compared to training/racing.

Greg

Posted 6 years ago #
MisterMoon
Member

The worst thing on Garmins is the default "ETA at next waypoint" display. Since I usually have mine set for a waypoint 20 - 30 miles away, the ETA at next causes you to alternately develop a false sense of optimism "Hey, we'll be at the Indian Key entrance in only 6 hours" which is crushed an hour later wind the wind dies and now it will be 34 hours. I can't take the highs and have learned to repeat my mantra "we'll get there when we get there."

Posted 6 years ago #
Paddlemaker
Member

I have three gps units and a spot - two garmin's a 76csx and a 78 sc.   then I have a samsung galexy 4 active with several maping program on it.   My partner Savanah Dan has a 78 sc.    We have gone back and forth on our electronic leash.   It is one of the constant friendly conversations in our home built pygmy tandem kayak as we paddle down the floriday coast.   Dan keeps his GPS in a waterproof box under deck,   if he wants to check it, it takes a good 5 minuets of seraching for the box, then retriving it from underneath.   - but the bottom line that in the past 11 ec' dan has always been able to eventually turn it on and figure out where it is.   But pull out a chart, and dan can describe where we are with 90 percent accuracy.

Normally I have my gps unit on about 1/2 the time.   We really like to use old paper charts, and google earth printed photos.   A couple of years ago, we said that we where going to have an electronic free Water tribe experience (except the spot of cause) I have to say, it was a wonderful experience, but if one does that, one has to expect to go in the wrong direction once in a while.   We did that, we turned east at the Sanibel causeway and went about 10 miles out of our way at 2 am.  Also several times crossing florida bay with out gps, we missed a pass or two.    A couple of times we could not find manatee pass and ended up in the middle of the night heading for the intercoatal adding 10 or so miles to the end of a long crossing.

But with that said, we figured it out and still where able to complete the challenge.   It builds patience and you also save money not buying batteries.   both dan and I are retired.   so one could say, we saved $4.50 on batteries, and paddled an extra 20 miles.     finally, I do believe that one sees more when one is not staring at a bright light of a GPS unit.

the funny thing is that after all these times of doing the everglades challenge, I still don't have a complete track of any of my races.   And I have to say, I don't think i once looked at the tracks that I do have after any race.   so i could not share any thing with any body.    but if you want to sit around a fire at night on the beach of Fort Desoto with some hard copy maps, I would love to talk about our adventures, our camp sites, and our sneak routes that we consider every trip depending on the winds.

Posted 6 years ago #
FalconSails
Member

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.

Posted 6 years ago #
Cwolfe
Member

Thanks Greg and Patrick, I will play with some ideas. Love my78. Hate having them in a bag, can't read them in a bag. I, too, play addiction games with my GPS on long paddles, seeing how long I can go without looking at the screen. It only reinforces the jones.

Cwolfe

Posted 6 years ago #
BustedRudder
Member

I do not bag my 78s nor mount them. I keep them on a short tether so it either sits on my skirt or resides in a shelter on deck. I destroyed 2 in the the 2012 EC, not one in 2013. At $99 exchange for a destroyed unit I would rather have 3 of them along and be able to read them when I need to.

Posted 6 years ago #

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