Fishfinder coordinate help
 

Been a very long time friends...

I've been blessed to finally put time on the water with the kayak this year and ran into an interesting issue.

My fishfinder takes coordinates in DDM, when I Google Earth some spots they must be converted from DMS to DDM. I get the proper format and find that the decimal goes over the limit for the waypoint entry by only 1 number. When that happens, do you guys round up or down the last number or just leave it? If the extra number is 9 do you bump the last number up?

Example: 40 degrees 57.9452 N, 72 degrees 02.1757 W

Would you put it as 40 degrees 57.945N, 72 degrees 02.176W or 72 degrees 02.175W?

This isn't a spot burn, I'm just making those numbers up. I do an awful lot of paddling so coordinates putting me as close as possible really help if I have to go deep.

Hope this made sense

Hey dude!

Anything in the manual?

As for Google Earth, go into Tools > Options and change it from DMS to DDM. Poof, problem solved ; )

The manual is pretty basic, I'm sure the CD is around somewhere but I'm a classic overthinker.

I'll set up the option in Google maps and give that a shot! Appreciate it!

Wow
Yeah I’d say you over think this
That third didgit is about 6 feet
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Degrees Minutes and Seconds are VASTLY different than Decimal Degrees! But only slightly less known is this: never get involved in a land war in Asia. (sorry, favorite movie)

First of all, your FF can change units and will not change the location of your "spots" it will only change units. Second of all we know math!
DD 60+ Xmin divided by 60 + Xseconds divided by 3600 this is conversion of DD MM SS to DD.

The fourth digit # is 11.1 meters or 36 feet. It is a significant number, and I am baffled that it does not give you a better location unless it is an older unit? If the fourth number in the E/W is 5 you're 180 feet off the mark. if the fourth figure is 5 in the N/S component you're 180 feet off the mark.

In your example, if you go 72 feet north and 252 feet west you'll find your spot. And if it is a really old unit, you will still only be within 30 feet of the goal.

the third digit is a mile

fck ya got me

Yes it is an old unit, I know I won't be directly on to the exact decimal but if I'm in close range of the intended target that's fine with me. Typically I end up paddling in a pattern if the current won't take me to it or I don't see any visible signs around me.