It all started out as a great way for the showroom personal to learn about our GPS map plotters that we have for sale. After trying to answer all the numerous questions on busy weekends in the showroom, we decided to rig one of the map plotters on a boat and try it for ourselves. Chris was just finishing up some work on our 2004 Four Winns 280 Horizon. So the boat was available and it was an excellent choice as we could later sell the GPS unit on this boat. Ed worked feverishly into the night and at 2:30am he was done with the installation. The next day (08-05-04) Ed, Ryan, Matt, Dave and Chris launched the 280H from the Gilford Town docks. The weather was iffy with thunderstorms forecasted late. We tested the Hummingbird NS-25 as we boated towards Wolfeboro. It initialized in about 15 minutes having found 8+ satellites. This required about 3 button pushes. We ended up on a screen showing our location in Gilford. Ed changed the scale pushing the "+" button twice. WOW! At this point you could basically drive about seeing your location in relation to shoreline and all the bouys. It was really easy. Going on to Ed's lesson #2 we learned how to switch between course-up and North-up views. The course-up view was great because it was oriented how you were seated in the boat looking forward. We arrived in Wolfeboro at dusk for dinner. We had to abandon our dockside table and run for cover inside as the thunderstorms hit. More below...

We discussed setting waypoints and following a course during dinner. After the storm passed with all the lightning and booming, we got out in the 280H and started navigating by the Hummingbird NS-25. Ryan set 5 waypoints (vectors or turning points) that allowed us out of the bay, around several islands, down the shoreline of Rattlesnake and Diamond Isles and then into Glendale avoiding aptly named Rock Island. This was a little more complicated as you had to change scales to find your locations for waypoints down the lake. Once set (3 minutes) we proceeded in a huge downpour (no lightning) across the Broads towards Rattlesnake Island. This was realtime, real use testing as to see forward you had to hold your arm against the windshield top with a 1/2 inch gap to see through. Otherwise the rain drops just hurt too much to look forward. Several of us kept an eye out around us though at times. At the Rattlesnake waypoint we were really getting to trust the unit as the new course came up onscreen. You basically follow the runway on the unit, it beeps as you approach a waypoint and the runway starts to turn. Ryan could (basically did) have run the entire distance without looking up. Soon we were in Gilford loading the boat back onto the trailer. Remember that these units are sold as a secondary means of navigation (that was our disclaimer). Just awesome...