Garmin announced earlier this week that it will be expanding its GPSMAP series to include four 16-inch models; the largest screen sizes yet. The new models include two sonar models: the GPSMAP 7416xsv and the GPSMAP 7616xsv as well as two non-sonar models: GPSMAP 7416 and GPSMAP 7616. All four models are expected to hit markets in the second quarter of this year.

These four new GPS devices will be pretty equitable to the other GPSMAP 7400 and 7600 series models, from what I can gather and will include full pinch-to-zoom touchscreens and full network capabilities that will allow users to add sensors, multiple screens, remote sonar modules, weather, radar, autopilot, thermal and IP camera visibility, digital switching and more for a fully customizable setup based on the users needs. read more

Garmin International Inc. announced yesterday the upcoming release of its new BlueChart Mobile 2.0 app for iPhone and iPad. This upgraded app will provide some new features for sailors and marine enthusiasts including streaming real-time weather alerts and access to Garmin’s ActiveCaptain community.

BlueChart Mobile 2.0 utilizes the same BlueChart g2 data available for Garmin chartplotters and allows users to plan and create routes, view shaded depth contours and inter-tidal zones, mark waypoints and more. The unique intuitive interface allows users to establish a destination and search for marine service points and find information on hours of operation, phone number and services available. read more

Garmin International has been working to expand its marine segment during the last few months, with several updates to existing products and new capabilities for various marine instrument displays. Last week, Garmin announced the upcoming release of two new large format marine displays, measured at 7 and 10 inches.

The GNX 120 and the GNX 130 are designed to be easy to set up, calibrate and use. Both devices feature a GNX Keyboard for remote use and are NMEA 2000 certified to seamlessly share sailing data with other NMEA 2000 certified devices, including other Garmin GPS devices. read more

So, I definitely missed the boat on this one (pun intended), but apparently last month NOAA updated their Whale Alert App. The app uses GPS, wireless internet and nautical chart information to help mariners see where the whales in their vicinity are in order to avoid them. Depending on where you sail, this app might be just as important for your navigation as an actual GPS unit, as hitting a whale not only harms these endangered creatures, but can also be dangerous for your boat and anyone on it. read more

Portable units like the GPS 620 Marine Navigator (above) are extremely versatile

When looking to purchase a GPS unit for your boating activities, it can be a little difficult to decide what kind of device is best for you. With a plethora of sizes, types and features—not to mention prices—it can quickly become overwhelming. So here is a basic overview of the different types of marine GPS units to get you started:

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