garmin gpsmap 478

[spartan12]

Does anyone have a garmin gpsmap 478, or know anyone who has one? Do they work well? Are they big enough (screen size) to be really useful? Does the XM weather work well on the water? Is it really worth it. I am looking to buy a portable GPS system as I dont own my own boat, I rent and end up on other peoples boats all the time.

[TunaTeaser1]

Spartan,
I got the 478 in December and love it. There is not a better portable gps anywhere in my opinion. It helps me out on the road and use it as a back up on the boat. I don't know why it's a backup because it's more detailed than our older 951 but we use both. The screen size is somewhat small (compared with the boat gps) but you can adjust what you want the screen to look like.

I'm going to the Bahamas next week and didn't need to buy a chip or anything...it's got all the necessities built right in.

I do not have the xm weather but I wish I did. I think the cheapest package is maybe $30-50 a month plus the antenna which was around $200 the last time I checked. Though it's expensive, I've only heard great things about it and I will definitely get it before too long.

I got a great deal at Thegpsstore.com so give it a shot and enjoy. You won't be disappointed.

[spartan12]

Spartan,
I got the 478 in December and love it. There is not a better portable gps anywhere in my opinion. It helps me out on the road and use it as a back up on the boat. I don't know why it's a backup because it's more detailed than our older 951 but we use both. The screen size is somewhat small (compared with the boat gps) but you can adjust what you want the screen to look like.

I'm going to the Bahamas next week and didn't need to buy a chip or anything...it's got all the necessities built right in.

I do not have the xm weather but I wish I did. I think the cheapest package is maybe $30-50 a month plus the antenna which was around $200 the last time I checked. Though it's expensive, I've only heard great things about it and I will definitely get it before too long.

I got a great deal at Thegpsstore.com so give it a shot and enjoy. You won't be disappointed.

Well, I'm pretty sure that is what I am gonna get, I keep hearing good things about by word of mouth, but some of the online reviews bash it. So Thanks for the "real world" perspective

[yachtjim]

It is a popular unit, and great if your intention is to take it from boat to boat, and occasionally use it in the car. I do not recommend it as a primary unit for the boat, or for a lot of use in the car. The screen is too small for a boat, once you get bouncing around the small screen is hard to see. In a car it is not very easy to use because it is not touch screen. For about $100 less than the price of the 478 you can get a Garmin 492 for the boat which has the same functionality as the 478 but a bigger screen, and a touchscreen Nuvi for the car. Then you have the best of both worlds instead of one unit that is a compromise on the boat and in the car.

[Nimrod]

I have used them in the past and recently purchased my own as a backup and on transports. And although I really like having the 478 I do agree with what yachtjim.

Check this thread out for more opinions:
http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...hlight=opinion

[Fish Dad]

I've had the 478 for 1 1/2 years now and love it. It is not my primary GPS for my boat but would get me home if my Raymarine C-120 goes down. I also take it on trips for my car too so having all the marine charts and all the U.S. street level detail built into the hardrive is great. The XM weather is spot on and the NOAA text updates get broadcast quickly with each 6 hour update. The SST service is not good enough for finding temp breaks. XM and Sirus have done better on the SST on the bigger chartplotters with weather service but on the 478 it only shows general temp contours, not enough if tuna fishing. Am hoping they give a more traditional SST view with a ROM update but not holding out for that. Tracking storms is the primary reason I got it. Now you can get XM or Sirius on most of the main chartplotters but I like the portability, using the weather feature in the car or taking it on another boat who doesn't have a weather service. Friends are usually appreciative to get weather updates on the water, particularly when offshore. Also a good way to backup your waypoints should you lose them from your main chartplotter. I also know people who are so paranoid somebody will sneak on their boat at night and steal their numbers, they only keep them on a portable unit (like the 478) so they can take it home not leaving them on the boat.