Cheap GPS


I‘m considering purchasing a Garmin GLO-2 for $120. It’s a stand alone GPS receiver that will connect to my apple or android device via bluetooth. It’s rechargeable too. This way I’m not relying on cell service for location but can still use my larger iPad screen for some of the neat charting apps out there.
 
I thought about that as well, the cellular iPad has GPS built in.
You don't have to have cell service to have GPS work.
You'd use wifi from it to update maps when you need.

My dash size is better suited to a phone size, else yeah, iPad would be way to go for a bigger/cruiser boat. Anything not hard mounted on my dash becomes a projectile/broken at 50+ over 3' waves.

I'm also looking at a used iPhoneXR.
I sold my XR when I got a 13, guess I should have just kept that, but I think it was winter at the time, and wasn't thinking boating thoughts.
 
One thing to note is that a tablet or phone won't be bright enough. I tried this on my boat before buying my plotter and in bright sun it was almost uselss.
 
True, a dedicated marine unit is brighter. I'd been using my iPhone XR for years, and it's well enough for the price/space it uses. but in direct sun it will over heat and is often too dim to really make out. I use it primarily to double check I'm in the rough area. If I did more boating in unknown areas I'd go more high-end.
 
You could also try getting a used plotter of Craigslist or FB Marketplace. Certainly more economical than buying new.
 
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