Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator

You have most likely heard of the many different brands of GPS devices for your vehicle.
The little machines you place on your dash or windshield that tell you exactly where you are and how to get to where you are going.
However, did you know that manufacturers also made a unit for the sea? The Garmin marine GPS is just such a device.
It works much the same as a vehicle based unit but instead of mapping streets or cities, this one tells you about waterways.
Features

• 5 inch display
• 4000w maximum
• 640 x 480 resolution
• GPS map 545S
• Upgradeable

Pros
What good is a display that is not easily visible from different areas of the boat? This Garmin marine GPS has a full five-inch QVGA display that you will easily be able to see from across an average size boat.
It has a wonderful 640 x 480-pixel resolution and over 800 nits of brightness. With a high speed, processor on board this unit also offers an extremely fast redraw rate and the best photo enhanced cartography in the business.
The point of having a device like the Garmin marine GPS is to be able to know where you are at all times. This unit fulfills that need beautifully, with WAAS/ EGNOS enabled antenna you will know within 3 meters exactly where you are.
Add to that the built in and satellite enhanced worldwide base map and off shore Blue charts you have very little to worry about when it comes to getting lost.
Electronics are always changing and new offerings come down the pike as soon as you purchase one. With this Garmin marine GPS, you can add some new and optional features through the SD card slot.
Add the Blue chart G2 Vision card to increase your devices mapping features. Things like aerial reference photos and 3D mariner’s view or fish eye underwater perspective are all included with this upgrade.
The Garmin marine GPS is easy to install and simple to use, and will offer you accurate information from US harbors to the Bahamas and points in between. This is a very useful device if you are a serious boating enthusiast.
Cons
Unless you add in turn by turn navigation this unit will draw the course in a straight line. Very frustrating if you are navigating a complicated harbor or sound.
You can purchase an optional chip that will give you a guided map, but you would have thought this feature would have been included.
GPS devices for your vehicle are priced up to several hundred dollars, but do not expect to get off that cheap for the Garmin marine GPS, it retails for between $800-$1300 depending on where you shop and the season.
Bottom Line
The Garmin marine GPS is a great tool for boating enthusiast worldwide. With the extensive mapping capabilities and optional features, this could well be the last marine GPS you ever need to purchase.