BigBendFishing.Net

I'm looking for a basic chartplotter/gps that can help me avoid the rocks. I'd rather spend a little bit on prevention than replace a lower on my outboard.

Also, do the stock charts have rock level resolution? If not, do the navionics/bluechart maps show rocks? will I be able to navigate the rockgarden without busting my skeg?

I know it is a lot of questions and I'm still researching, so I really appreciate any advice!

Rocks move around at night. hehehe

But if ya want a good chart-plotter, my money is on Garmin.

What say you folks?????????

I agree but there are a lot of rocks not showing on the map.... you better find them the old fashion way.... go slow on low tide and mark them yourself. I love garmin products easy to use.

is there a way to get the waypoints from someone who's already marked them?

That'd be worth at least a case of beer...

lonesouth wrote:is there a way to get the waypoints from someone who's already marked them?

That'd be worth at least a case of beer...

Good luck getting those numbers. People guard their numbers like they are national secrets or something. Actually I think they are better protected than National Secrets. I think the CIA could learn something from anglers.

My money is on Garmin. The 441 or 541 would be my recommendations. Regardless of what you go with, I have a couple of rock numbers I would be willing to share.
FF

thanks for the advice guys...i'll look into the garmins. They seem to be just a little less proprietary than SH

Stopped in and looked at the Garmins at West today. I think the 441 is just too small. I would really prefer 5" or bigger. Watching a cp155c on ebay now. Looks like a used garmin 276c, 541c, or a new SH 180i is the cheapest way to go.

Look under area charts, waypoints, on this forum menu.. It'll give the coordinates of quite a few rocks. Most of these are the better known.. Still an incredible number out there not listed.. Just run slow and be careful .

Looked at the c-map c-cards...dang things are half the cost of the hardware! If I don't win the cp155c on ebay, i'll be getting a Garmin 545, they are ~$400 refurbished on ebay.

this should help you get starteded on numbers at st marks these are rocks that i have marked there 60 N30 03.955 W84 07.138
blk
N30 03.955 W84 07.138
C ROCK N30 03.876 W84 07.102
C ROCK 1 N30 03.946 W84 07.190
C ROCK 2 N30 03.973 W84 07.179
C ROCK 3 N30 03.966 W84 07.086
C ROCK 4 N30 03.975 W84 07.088
COBB ROCK N30 04.758 W84 02.574
DEATH ROCK N30 03.916 W84 07.372
MOB N30 03.947 W84 07.353
O3 N30 03.380 W84 04.200
O4 N30 05.000 W84 04.330
O54 N30 03.060 W84 07.700
O6 N30 04.750 W84 06.630
PETERS ROC N30 03.223 W84 04.029
R098 N30 04.120 W84 07.390
R1 N30 04.039 W84 07.151
R12 N30 04.600 W84 08.043
R2 N30 03.498 W84 06.826
R3 N30 04.069 W84 07.142
RK1 N30 03.590 W84 06.890
ROCK N30 04.961 W84 07.691
ROCK 10 N30 03.335 W84 06.846
ROCK 11 N30 04.379 W84 07.446
ROCK 12 N30 04.405 W84 07.615
ROCK 3 N30 03.820 W84 07.227
ROCK 4 N30 03.790 W84 07.236
ROCK 5 N30 04.020 W84 06.771
ROCK 6 N30 04.567 W84 06.951
ROCK 7 N30 03.658 W84 07.025
ROCK 8 N30 04.213 W84 07.280
ROCK 9 N30 04.448 W84 07.234
ROCK2 N30 03.758 W84 07.308
ROCK3 N30 03.901 W84 06.661
ROCKGARDEN N30 04.421 W84 07.424
ROCKS N30 03.976 W84 07.399
ROCKS 1 N30 04.161 W84 07.531
ROCKSTONY N30 05.104 W84 08.098
ROCKT1 N30 03.636 W84 07.278
SPOTTY BOT N30 03.318 W84 07.941
SPOTYBOT N30 03.408 W84 06.907
ST CH 1 N30 05.074 W84 08.082
ST CH 2 N30 05.242 W84 08.052
ST CH 3 N30 05.737 W84 07.860
ST CH 4 N30 05.951 W84 07.987
ST R N30 05.072 W84 08.118
ST R1 N30 05.175 W84 08.132
STONEY BAY N30 04.944 W84 07.957
STR N30 05.306 W84 08.010
T 8 N30 03.463 W84 05.137

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Garmin GPSMap 545. $397 shipped. I still have a bid on a SH CP155c for $200, but the Garmin was still a good price. If I win both, I'll run both for a few trips and keep whichever I like more.

Got the GPSMap 545 installed, got it wired up to the VHF. Mounted it on the dash. Works great! I kind of wish I had gotten a sonar version, but the money spent justifies to sacrifice. I really think I got a deal on this one, and think it will be more than adequate for years to come.

On a side note, I worked my way over to Death Rock, and it is somewhat unimpressive. I was really expecting a giant black boulder to be sitting on the bottom with a myriad of outboard and I/O parts strewn about. Nope, nothing like that. It is more of the growth sticking up from the bottom covered in grass and sealife, not at all what I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, I still don't want to hit it, but it certainly doesn't look as evil as I expected...