Garmin Colorado 400c Handheld GPS Unit with US Coastal Waters Preloaded Maps

Submitted by Reviewer (not verified) on 2 March, 2008 - 02:40.

Garmin Colorado 400c Portable GPS System with Preloaded Coastal Waters Maps

Model	010-00622-61
Producer	Garmin
Media	Electronics
Catalog	CE
Rank	12882
Availability	Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price	US$639.99
Our Price*	US$324.35

*Price subject to change
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Reviews:

Rating 3.0/5 from 18 reviews

No Durability

Rating: 2/5 (2 out of 2 think this is helpful) 2009-12-29

I acquired the Colorado 400c after my Map 76C used for a trip to Polynesia died. I had always kept 76c in a waterproof bag when using on water until last two times. It died from saltwater flooding it. So I carefully chose the new 400c for its marine charts, excellent visibility, and ease of use. I have used it many times since on the deck of my sea kayak. Under the clip attachment, it is now badly corroded and this week I discovered it is also corroded inside the "watertight" battery compartment. The corrosion has not yet affected its functioning except that it is becoming nearly impossible to change batteries. I have been very satisfied with all aspects of this GPS, but now figure I'll have to buy a new one every year since I paddle several times a week year around. It simply is not designed to be used where saltwater can splash onto it for an extended period of time. I'm hopeful that a trip to Garmin can replace the corroded parts since it is still under warranty.

Extremely happy with purchase....

Rating: 5/5 (2 out of 2 think this is helpful) 2009-12-04

I couldn't have asked for anything better for the price. I have used this over the past 4+ months without a hitch. My first experience was a trip via our speedboat from Bonita Springs, FL to the Keys (Hawk's Cay to be exact). I used free map software available online (Maptech Chart Navigator) and free up-to-date chart downloads through NOAA to plot my trip. I set waypoints using the software and then used a converter program to put these in the format so that I could upload them to the GPS via the Garmin software. If you find computers comfortable, it is a breeze.

To put to bed one complaint, I used this unit in an unprotected boat in the middle of August in the middle of Florida Bay while en route to the Keys. To be honest, I have never been to a place where the sun was more bright (never mind the fact that even with sunscreen we were seared). Not once, and I mean not once, did I have a problem reading the display. I had it pointed right at me and/or face up, with no roof/canopy/shade/anything to block the sun and I had no problem looking down at 60+ MPH to see where I was and how close I was following my preprogrammed path. This GPS got me through the shallows by the Keys, into Channel 5, the Hawk Channel, and finally Hawk's Cay w/o a hitch. I was able to navigate through the Keys all weekend (full-sun) without any issue. The points of interest (i.e. gas stations, restaurants, CG stations, etc.) were handy to have too. Therefore, for me, this unit was absolutely the right choice.

When I came back from my trip, I was able to upload my exact path for the whole week to my computer and save it for future reference. I have used this GPS everywhere from Marco Island to Captiva and Cabbage Key and it has not given me a single issue. I do about 200-300 hours of boating per year and find this GPS to be a great tool to have aboard, especially if you break down at sea and need a tow (as we did recently - GPS coordinates got the tow boat to us much quicker then the old "I'm between X and Y inlet."

Final Verdict: Recommended! I was hesitant reading some of the reviews but in the end am glad with the purchase.

CAPTAIN'S BACKUP

Rating: 5/5 2009-09-11

I have a full-size chart plotter and radar on my 41 foot ketch. The 400c is a backup unit that is handy to use to check distances and points of interest without changing the displays on the full-size unit. It would be nice to have rechargable batteries in this unit, but the litium batts last more than a day under sail.

Garmin Colorado 400c

Rating: 2/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2009-06-26

Nice unit, with interesting and relatively simple interface. I just sent mine back to the factory because the first time I actually used it on the water, it got wet inside and died. So obviously, despite the o-ring seals, my unit was not very waterproof. It has great charts but I think there are better models on the water because of this issue. Perhaps an Aquapac would be a good thing to put it in and not a ziplock.

Outdoor viewing is useless

Rating: 1/5 (2 out of 3 think this is helpful) 2009-03-29

Having 15 years of using Garmin products, they clearly missed the mark with this one. The screen is useless when attempting to use outside in the sunlight. As a marine oriented unit I find this an amazing product development oversight. I just cannot imagine any real world test that found this acceptable for the intended use. The best screen viewing is in their ads. First time I have been disappointed in any Garmin product.

Editorials:

Product Description

Saltwater mariners will love the built-in detailed BlueChart g2 coverage for the coastal U.S. and the Bahamas in the 400c. The chart detail includes shoreline,depth contours, navaids and port plans.

Amazon.com Product Description--January 21, 2008

Amazon.com Product Description--January 21, 2008 Whether you’re sailing the high seas or hiking the backcountry,Colorado 400c is your all-in-one adventure guide. Preloaded with BlueChart® g2 coastal charts, Colorado is made with the saltwater mariner in mind. Packed with features, it includes a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, SD card slot, color display, picture viewer and more. Even exchange tracks, waypoints, routes and geocaches wirelessly between similar units. Slim, lightweight and waterproof, Colorado is the perfect companion for all your outdoor pursuits.

Watch an interactive demo.

Share Wirelessly
Share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with other Colorado users. Now you can send your favorite hike to your buddy to enjoy or the location of a cache to find. Sharing data is easy. Just select "send" to transfer your information to other Colorado units.

Keep Your Fix
With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, Colorado locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear — whether you’re in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on Colorado to help you find your way when you need it the most.

Explore More
	The Colorado 400c comes with built-in BlueChart g2 coastal charts and a worldwide basemap with imagery — perfect for all your outdoor pursuits. Map detail includes includes shorelines, depth contours, navaids, harbors, marinas, port plans coastal roads for the U.S. and Bahamas.

Expand Your Horizons Colorado also accepts SD cards, so you can use Garmin preprogrammed SD cards to add maps that serve any and all of your outdoor activities on land or water.
Streets	Inland Lakes	Terrain	3D Terrain

Conveniently plug in optional preloaded SD cards for all your outdoor activities on land or water. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps, and Colorado provides turn-by-turn directions to your destination. Add select topographic maps to take advantage of Colorado’s 3-D map view which gives you a better perspective of your elevation. The card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you don't have to worry about getting it wet.

Rock on. Find Fun
		Colorado's innovative Rock ‘n Roller input wheel for easy one-handed operation and intuitive screen interface make it as easy to navigate the device as the outdoors. Customize Colorado's interface based on your favorite activity. Even show off photos of your excursions with its picture viewer.

Experience Paperless Geocaching
	Colorado supports Geocaching.com GPX files for downloading geocaches and detail straight to your unit. You'll have at-a-glance cache descriptions and details to aid in your search.

Get Your Bearings
		Colorado has a built-in electronic compass that provides bearing information even while you're standing still. Its barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. View elevation data before you begin your ascent or descent. You can even use the altimeter to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions.