As Van did I got a gps chartplotter this winter and it does kick a-- and as Chet said it is not the do all for boating but it is about the best you can do on a small boat. The pilot of that tug had Radar and the boats still hit!!! This goes to show that all the electronics in the world don't work if the boaters are going to do something stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a new depthfinder coming thanks to all the guys that whent to the Cuttyhunk derby and felt they wanted to do something for me and I thank you all VERY VERY much but still wish you hadn't but since you did thanks again!!! Now I do not use my depthfinder for nav. at all as I just don,t think they are good enought to keep you out of trouble. But as a tool for helping you find good structure to fish and to find dropoffs and channels they are a must and I would feel lost with out one. But I find myself using the chartplotter for this even more than the depthfinder as I got the Garmin 176 which can go anywhere as it can be run on batt. and has the ant. built in. I can take it in the house at night find some reef or structure I would like to try and punch in a coarse to go there the next morn. But all most remmember the best tool to keep you safe is knowledge of your boat and the area you are going to!!! Be safe and good fishing to you
