Colin - and any one else who may be interested.
Re your query on the Garmin 555s SD card and its associated software issues.
I too use this Chartplotter/sounder and after a lot of research and trying different programs I found GPS UTILITY - a quite exceptional bit of software that is easy to download free of charge (slightly limited use - the full version is only £35). But for just what you would need the free version is more than adequate. Can be found at
www.gpsu.co.uk.
It will read the Garmin SD cards and it is possible to update your plotter by inputting your own waypoints etc very easily. It will save your own data back into a Garmin format (.and or .amd format - I forget exactly which).
It will, I think, convert between virtually all known GPS formats.
I use it quite a bit by copy/pasting my own waypoints off maptech Navigator Lite (the free version!) and then pasting them into GPS Utility saving to an SD card, slotting it back into the Chartplotter, choose update from memory card and all your data appears on the screen. Magic!
All your own waypoints, tracks etc created on the chartplotter can also be read by this program, save it all in .gpx format and just about any other gps set will also be able to read the info.
Another very good simple waypoint manager is Easy Gps (
www.easygps.com). You can create your waypoints. Save them in .gpx format, get Gps Utility to convert to the Garmin format, save to your SD card and upload into your 555s.
Regarding batteries, I have taken to using ones used in these motability scooter things that plague our pavements. High powered and gel filled so no spillage and not too expensive. One fully charged has lasted me over a week of daily sailing on holiday. My 555s is positioned forward of the centreboard so it doesn't interfere with the compass, is easily read and doesn't get kicked about by clumsy skippers!
Hope this is of use to you.
Regards Andy - BR20 Psalter.
Hi - lots of useful information here.
Graham, is it not possible to use a memory card to program your GPS. My BayRaider has the Garmin 555s GPS with a memory card slot, I assume yours has the same? . But my boat is second hand and did not come with any software CD to use on my PC for programming waypoints. May be that is not possible? I see there is a software update that can be downloaded from the Garmin web site but that just seems to update the software on the GPS? I am aware of course that I can buy a card with additional charts etc on memory a card but was hoping that we could also program our own memory card with Waypoints.
Regards,
Colin Lawson