

I still haven’t gotten around to outfitting my car with a GPS mapping system. As an experienced, confident driver – with a stubborn streak to boot – I just can’t admit that I don’t always know exactly where I am on the road. The same cannot be said when I get behind the wheel of my motorboat, however. To me, a portable marine GPS is as essential as a life preserver or the boat’s propeller.
Rock outcroppings and other various forms of debris can pose a serious hazard to boaters, especially once it grows dark. The GPS sonar senses any geological threats that might lurk just below the water’s surface. So far I’ve yet to run my boat aground, which is a positive sign. And the navigational functions also come in handy at night when the stars are obscured by clouds and no lighthouse is near.