GPS bracket

Mike_Jackson

Mike_Jackson

Paddler
Joined
Mar 29, 2005
Messages
591
Location
Victoria BC
Several months ago, I picked up a Nimbus foam block GPS mount for my etrex GPS. I just thought I should report that it has been great.
http://www.nimbuskayaks.com/gps%20page.htm
It holds the gps at just the right angle, still allows easy access to the controls and fastens securely to the deck. Have rolled with it many times and it all stays secure.
I now tend to keep the GPS on all the time while paddling and enjoy recoding and viewing my tracks using Oziexplorer.
Some examples can be seen at
http://admin.smus.ca/ist_tests/screenshot008.jpg
http://admin.smus.ca/ist_tests/screenshot006.jpg and below:
http://admin.smus.ca/ist_tests/screenshot007.jpg
screenshot005.jpg
 
Yeah - I take my GPS on every trip. It's also great for knowing how far you paddled if you keep a log.

Your Discovery Island track looks like it could be from the day that we crossed paths with you after we had spent the night out there :p
 
I made my own GPS holder from some minicell that I had kicking around. It's similar to your holder but a bit smaller. I hold it in place with a bungee deck line (and attach the GPS to a deck line with the lanyard), it works great. I'll post a picture when I have some time to photograph it.

*****
 
Dan_Millsip said:
I made my own GPS holder from some minicell that I had kicking around.
Click to expand...
Ditto. I stuck velcro on the back of the GPS to mate with complementary velcro on the minicell and painted the minicell bright red. Also put the hook version of velcro on the bottom side of the minicell, which makes for nice friction on my neoprene sprayskirt, so I can position the GPS exactly where I want it. And, a lanyard to clip it to a deck bungie.

My GPS will sink without flotation, so the minicell does double duty, just like yours, I bet.
 
I use a RAM windshield suction-cup mount to hold the GPS. RAM makes specific cradles for most handheld GPS units. The suction cup mount sticks very well to the deck of the yak, wherever you want it, and doesn't move even in deck-washing seas. The big advantage for me is that, since you can align it to hold the GPS at any angle, I can set it up in such a way that I can see every bit of usable data at a glance, without having to pper down or take my eyes off any potential obstacles or hazards. And since the Magellan and Garmin Map76s units I've been using have quad-helix antennae, a vertical position gives the best satellite reception (eTrex models use a patch antenna that prefers to be held horizontally).

The RAM mount holds the GPS very securely, and it's also held down via my cable to the home-made power pack (a 6v SLA battery which will run the unit for about 75 hours straight between charges). The RAM mount is held to the yak via a short piece of line tied to the mount and a padeye.
 
I should have added that it's a known issue with the SporTrak series - they develop miniscule cracks on the side of the cases. That said, their customer service is excellent and I've had the unit replaced several times, very quickly... it's just getting a bit tiresome to have a GPS that is constantly malfunctioning.
 
Mark_Schilling said:
I should have added that it's a known issue with the SporTrak series - they develop miniscule cracks on the side of the cases. That said, their customer service is excellent and I've had the unit replaced several times, very quickly... it's just getting a bit tiresome to have a GPS that is constantly malfunctioning.
Click to expand...
I thought they had resolved that problem with the SporTraks. :? I didn't own my SporTrak Map long enough for the cracks to develop before the battery compartment failed. Took it back to MEC after 8 months expecting to have it sent for warranty repair and they offered a full refund which I took and upgraded to a Meridian Platinum from GPS Central. So far no problems whatsoever.
 
Dave_Barrie said:
I have a SporTrak case - it's a demo unit with no guts. You could do a swap out.... :p
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer... but it's too late. I had the GPS drying out all day today (batteries out etc.) but it's still no good. I'll have to see if they'll warranty it a 3rd time for me, but I'm not holding my breath - the first unit was purchased way over a year ago. Oh well - I'll fire off some emails and see what happens...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top