I hate to add another GPS post, but I've been searching old stuff and can't find a satisfactory answer.

I've officially decided to pick up a GPS, my wife and kids are driving to Virginia next week and I think it would be a big help to her. I'm wondering if it makes any sense to pick up a unit that I can also use on the boat.

Obviously, the majority of the usage would be automotive, but we'd like to do some geocaching. We do most of our boating in familiar places, but I wouldn't mind having charts on it as well for our boating adventures in new places.

After some searching, I'm looking at the Lowrance xog and the Magellan crossover.

I used the Magellan Crossover at work. It was OK. I would rate it a C+. It seems to have some software glitches (I think the OS is Microsoft CE).

It only comes with the Street Navigation maps, the Land (Topo) and Water/Sea maps are purchased separately, and you had to switch modes. (I think this might apply to any/all multi use GPS'.)

We only had the street maps, so I can't comment on the Chart/Navigation capabilities.

Quick google and I'm reading reports of a Nuvi 500 series that may be their new crossover units?? If that's true, I'd be looking there. I like the Nuvi function and form factor for street Nav, and have been waiting for the crossover version. It'll be interesting to see how the Water and Topo functions work.

(Garmin also has their handleld Colorado and Oregon crossover units out, but I haven't played with them or read any detailed user reports)

Lowrance or someone makes a dual purpose unit I think - might even be the Magellean Kenhdog is referring to.

But its my belief to buy a boat GPS for your boat and an auto GPS for your vehicle.

But one reason for this is all of the interconnectivity one may want on the boat. With a small boat, maybe its not needed.

Al, you hit the nail on the head. Most of my boating I don't need it, but I'd like the option. Therefore, I don't need the networking and all that, and don't want a separate unit that will see rare usage.

As I keep looking, the Lowrance marine maps seem to be really good, but like any, for an extra fee. I don't know much about Magellan's lake maps, I guess I'll head to their website now.

I use my Garmin eTrex Vista Cx for driving, boating, and geocaching. For me it does very well for all three.

I have the Garmin 76CSx handheld that also does all three (once the additional Water and topo maps are loaded), BUT he said for the wife, and unless she's a button smasher gadget geek, she'll not like the HMI.

I'd recommend a touch screen for her, hence the Nuvi 500 series, or Oregon Series, if you stay Garmin crossover offerings.

Otherwise, like Al said, separate them up and get a simple street navigator for her, then once she likes it, talk her into a unit for the boat.

Picked up the Lowrance XOG, like it a lot so far. I haven't added any lake charts yet, but one step at a time. I suppose it may not be the best, but since we've never had one, it seems great to us! I'm learning how to use it by setting up the major routes for her trip. It sometimes wants to take the long way around to stay on the interstate, but I've heard that's typical of a lot of GPS.

I really like the built in mp3 player. It pauses the music, gives you the next direction, and starts up again.

Thanks for the comments, I figured she should have one and also figured I should pick it up soon so she has time to learn it when I won't be around to help. Not much time to get help, I know. I'm clearly the techno gadget geek, she takes a little while to get into anything like this.

I have the Garmin eTrax Legend. Not an expensive unit and it works well for me. The menus are easy to get around in. It's designed to be operated one handed, with your left hand at that.
This leaves your right hand free for driving or whatever.

I have the magellan explorist xl,got it as a gift.It works ok but the support is bad.Would not recommend it to anyone especially to a novice and someone who(like me)is not very computer savvy.

Like kenhdog said. The Garmin 76 units work well on the boat, in the car and in the woods with the right software.

I like the Garmin 76 size and flexibility. I have a Garmin 376c that I use in boat, truck and on the bike but too big really for hiking. The 376c's are getting older so the price is coming down but still a little on the expensive side. They have a marine and automotive mode but the down side is that you have to buy the software for the lakes (depth contours and other features) and detailed road maps.

casualboater,

Did you have to install anything onto your XOG to get it to play music. If not how are you loading it? I have the same one and I cannot get it to play music. The computer says the songs are on the SD card but the XOG will not show them in the music player.

They have to be mp3, or org vorbiss?, won't do wma or anything else. I loaded to separate sets of music, played one and not the other. I did some looking and found out the limitations.

Took the kids geocaching today, fun!

Garmin 276c and/or 376c is what you're looking for. These can have any maps or charts (that you purchase, of course) installed including Blue Chart Coastal charts, Inland Lakes, USGS Topo maps if you want to go off-roading and of course City Select for that typical driving thing. They are networkable, although with NMEA 0183. I have the 276 connected to my fishfinder and my VHF/DCS. The 376 offers XM weather and radio, but you have to buy the antenna and pay the monthly fees. The 378 gives you all that but has built in inland lakes but no coastal. The 478 gives you the costal, but not the inland lakes. I haven't seen value in upgrading to the *78 series over the 376.

I got the 276 used last year for a good price and will probably update it to the 376 in a year or so if I decide that the pay services of the XM is worth the cost.

One drawback is that they don't give you real-time traffic, but I don't care, my Helio Phone with GPS enabled google maps has real-time traffic on it.

The 276 was one of the first ones I looked at, but the 500.00 plus price tag kinda spoiled it for me.