marine gps?

[BillyD0123]

Take it from someone who's been on a Mussel flat or two.
If you feel the need to check out some spots and aren't sure of the bottom depth. Do your poking around on the in-coming tide. So, if you put the bow up on a flat or bar, you can expect to be floated off of it shortly.
Getting stuck on an outgoing tide can be a *****

[nhkev]

Originally Posted by BillyD0123

Take it from someone who's been on a Mussel flat or two.
If you feel the need to check out some spots and aren't sure of the bottom depth. Do your poking around on the in-coming tide. So, if you put the bow up on a flat or bar, you can expect to be floated off of it shortly.
Getting stuck on an outgoing tide can be a *****

I agree before I got to know the area I would go out at low tide (incoming) so you can see all the obstructions, Use of a chart is good too because the channel markers are not a straight line. I have the hummingbird 998 si (around $2000) but it cannot replace the $12 chart.

[Billythepokerkid]

Originally Posted by BillyD0123

Take it from someone who's been on a Mussel flat or two.
If you feel the need to check out some spots and aren't sure of the bottom depth. Do your poking around on the in-coming tide. So, if you put the bow up on a flat or bar, you can expect to be floated off of it shortly.
Getting stuck on an outgoing tide can be a *****

You don't want to run into an oyster bed at any tide, it can tear a hole right in your haul, even at low speeds. Then when the tide comes in lifts your off the bed, you sink!

[lovethebeach]

Thanks so much for all the replies!

[barnold1010]

Originally Posted by Billythepokerkid

You need a chart. There is no way to navigate a boat here without one. There are sand bars, oyster beds, and grass flats everywhere. Especially coming down the river with areas that are less than a foot deep and outside of the channel depths are only 3-4 feet, it is VERY shallow around here. A lot of guys that have been here for years still use a chart. There is also an app for your smart phone that will plot your way, so if you are going to somewhere you have never been, just turn it on, and it will use GPS coordinates, and you can follow it next time as long as your don't run aground on something. Sand bars are bad, but oyster beds can destroy a boat. And if you tear up grass flats, fishermen will remember your boat, so don't do it, it takes 10 years for them to grow back. Make sure you have a depth finder. Most fish finders work just fine. I would recommend a GPS, but the chart and the $10 app for your phone work fine. I have a 24 foot boat, that drafts about 28 inches with the motor down, never owned a GPS (I have been using that App for a couple years though and have a depth finder), and have never gotten stuck by using the charts. I have however ran out of fuel a handful of times (boat fuel gauges) and it would have sucked if I didn't have Seatow. Get a chart and a depth finder!

Get Seatow no matter what. It's $169 for the year, it covers every boat you own or even rent or borrow, one tow could run your over $1000. The word on the water is BoatUS isn't great, I have heard they can be very finicky about paying for the tow, and don't use their own boats. They also don't provide dock to dock service. You can compare them on your own by visiting their websites.

Billythepokerkid: what's the name of app you use? There's literally dozens in the App Store. Thanks. Bob