I was looking for a small handheld GPS that would carry bottom topography for marine and freshwater use. I bought the Garmin Etrex 20 handheld, a Bluechart marine charts card for the US, and the Lakes and Rivers software for fresh water in the US. I've been very pleased. There are any number of sources and I called Garmin customer support and they recommended the best priced on-line source, as well as discussed options and the right software to meet my needs. The only drawback to the Etrex 20 was that it doesn't float. I solved that problem with the addition of a waterproof bag from Walmart. The bag floats like a cork with trapped air and has a clear window that allows me to use the unit without taking it out. Obviously the screen is small, but I haven't found that a problem. The bag comes with a lanyard to attach it to the boat. I also use the GPS on my power boat in salt water and on the lakes. So far the Lakes and Rivers software has had all the lakes I fish. Those include Kerr, Hyco, Mayo, Briery Creek Lake in Va, etc. I was a little concerned about battery usage, but so far the 2 AA batteries are holding up well. The bag holds a couple of extra batteries but, so far, I haven't needed them.
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