MacGregorSailors.com

We use a Garmin 1350T in the car and are happy with it

For $99 USD I can buy their Inland Lakes software for the Western U.S. It is supposed to have all the rivers and lakes but I have read that in reality it's not the best software out there. I am wondering if I can use a non-Garmin brand of software on this unit. I called garmin and they said they don't know if I can do this or not. I take that to mean it can be done but Garmin is not going to tell me who their competion is. Can anyone here offer a solution ? If no one has any thoughts about this could you make a recommendation for a new standalone GPS unit ? Something less than $300 maybe ?

We are going to the HPCC event next month and would like to have the use of GPS on Lake Havasu.

Thanks, John and Sue in Odessa, Tx

I take it you mean a road Garmin? We are using an Garmin 188 that comes with a depth finder as well, designed specifically for waterways. It gives good information that, I think, a road Garmin might be missing. After all, you only need to see rivers in broad lines when you cross them on the highway.

You're right, the Garmin sneaks had made sure you purchase additional software if you want to have access to detail. The water maps the 188 comes with are barely serviceable, without this enhancement. Often enough the 188 shows that we are on land when we still happen to float. But other than that, it's a cool device when it comes to depth finding.
I have purchased the software enhancement for Florida and for the Apostle Islands. Now we're talking! You can see depth curves, sunken dangers, buoys, etc. II was thinking of getting "the hot fish spots" for the local lake, but you're right, 100 bucks is a little too much. Besides, we've come to know the lake pretty well.

I don't think that other soft companies would bother to make enhancements compatible with Garmin. They may be telling the truth that they don't really know. I wouldn't bet on it.