What is the difference between GPS and radar for marine navigation?

GPS and radar serve different but complementary functions. GPS uses satellites to determine your exact location, helping you chart your course. Radar uses radio waves to detect obstacles such as other vessels, landmasses, and weather systems. GPS tells you where you are, while radar shows you what’s around you. Both are essential for safe marine navigation.

What are the key features to look for when buying a marine radar system?

Key features to consider include range, Doppler technology for identifying fast-moving targets, dual-range display to monitor near and distant zones at once, and target tracking for monitoring vessel movement in real time. These features improve safety and situational awareness.

How do I choose the right GPS for my boat?

Choose a GPS system based on your boating needs. For casual coastal boating, a basic GPS with preloaded maps may be sufficient. For offshore or long-distance travel, look for models with AIS for vessel tracking. Consider systems that integrate with radar, fishfinders, and other marine electronics if you want expanded functionality.

What are the benefits of using a combination GPS and radar unit?

A combination GPS and radar unit offers convenience by displaying navigation and situational data on one screen. It saves dashboard space by reducing the number of devices needed. This integration improves safety by allowing you to view positioning and obstacle data simultaneously.

How often should I update the software and maps on my marine GPS?

Update your marine GPS software and maps at least once a year. Updates fix bugs, enhance performance, add new features, and ensure your nautical charts reflect current hazards and changes in waterways. Regular updates help keep your navigation data accurate and reliable.

Can a radar system help detect other boats in low visibility conditions?

Yes, radar is crucial in fog, darkness, or heavy rain. It detects other boats, land, and obstacles even when visibility is poor. Radar can track moving targets, determine their speed and direction, and highlight threats using Doppler technology. It’s a vital safety tool in limited-visibility situations.

GPS & Radar

Multifunction Displays & Combos

Multifunction Radar Packages

Shop By Category

Fixed Mount GPS & Radar Accessories

Handheld GPS Accessories

Fishfinder & GPS Combos

Dedicated Fishfinders

Shop by Brand

Advice & How-To

Selecting a GPS Receiver

This overview of GPS technology touches on how GPS works, mapping, GPS/VHF radios, GPS accuracy and more.

By Tom Burden, Last updated: 12/1/2023

Buyers Guide

Selecting Networked Marine Electronics

Easy-to-install, “plug-n-play” networks are now the norm. Learn about NMEA 2000, CAN Bus and Ethernet-based networks.

By Tom Burden, Last updated: 1/26/2024

Buyers Guide

Marine Radar for the Recreational Boater

Marine radar is the best collision avoidance system ever developed for boaters. Learn about the latest radar technology available.

By Tom Burden, Last updated: 9/18/2024

Buyers Guide

Fishfinder Technology Explained

Here is an overview of fishfinder features to help you make the right choice.

By Tom Burden, Last updated: 1/16/2024

Buyers Guide

Do You Need a GPS?

It used to be very difficult for mariners to figure out where they were in the world and where they were going. They had to use celestial navigation, compasses or the inadequate maps of the past. Thankfully, navigating the waters today is much easier due to the Global Positioning System, or as it’s commonly referred to, GPS. GPS allows you to find yourself anywhere in the world with great precision.

GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that provides accurate position fixes 24-hours a day on land, sea and air in any weather with no subscription or fee. This nominal constellation features 32 satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO) 12,550 miles above the earth. Using timing signals sent by the satellites and knowing the exact orbital locations of the satellites, a GPS receiver can determine your location accurately within 6 meters and your altitude within approximately 10 meters. You can divide the world of GPS devices into 3 different categories: handheld/portable, fixed mount displays and multifunction displays.

Most marine GPS includes features not found on your smartphone apps. West Marine offers the latest in GPS technology with a variety of brands to suit your needs. When the fog rolls in and you need a little help finding your way home, we've got you covered.

Take a look below to get a sense of some of the differences in GPS receivers so you can pick what works best for you and your vessel.

Handheld/Portable

Handheld and portable GPS are great for kayaks, paddleboards, sailing dinghies, john boats or as a backup on your larger vessel since they don’t rely on your boat's main power supply to operate. They feature a smaller display screen and internal antenna while providing an amazing amount of functionality for such a small device.

Some models of portable GPS receivers can be mounted on the dashboard of your boat. They tend to come with a power cord and battery pack. Some portable units have a larger screen display compared to handhelds, while some even include touchscreen capabilities.

Fixed-Mount

If you own a boat, installing a fixed-mount GPS is highly recommended. Fixed-mount displays are waterproof and usually feature full cartographic coverage of the U.S. With larger screens, more features and a stable electrical supply from the boat’s power source, fixed mount GPS’s offer a plethora of benefits for your boat.

Multifunction Displays

Streamline your electronics with a multifunction display that allows you to integrate a variety of equipment into one screen: radar, GPS, sonar, weather, video inputs etc. If space is an issue on your boat, a multifunction display can help solve your problem.

What about Radar?

Do you need radar on your boat? Probably not. Should you install radar for your and your crew’s safety? Definitely.

Radar systems

help boaters avoid accidents with other boats, large buoys or rocks, as well as alerting you to oncoming stormy weather. Once used only on large vessels, radar units are now compact and draw little electricity making them suitable for boats as small as 18' in length. What radar system you get will depend on what type of boat you have and what electronics you already have installed.

Radar displays images overlaid with aerial photographs, Sirius™ satellite weather data, vessel target icons and information from an Automatic Information System (AIS) transceiver, underwater data from a fishfinder, chart information from your GPS chartplotter, Digital Selective Calling (DSC) data from your VHF radio or combinations of these and other forms of graphic, text and numerical information.

Compatibility is important if you are considering adding radar to your boat’s electronics fleet. Many chartplotters and GPS/fishfinder combos are not compatible with radar. Some examples are the pre-2020 Garmin echoMAP series, Striker series, Raymarine Dragonfly Pro and Lowrance Hook² series.

In general, multifunction displays can operate a radar unit, while smaller or more basic combos—especially those intended for inland fishing applications—cannot. That’s why if you’re considering a whole new suite of electronics for your boat, or if you’re thinking of adding radar to your current equipment, you should think about compatibility first.

GPS & Radar System FAQ

Imagine GPS as your best friend who knows exactly where you are and can guide you to any destination using satellites. It’s perfect for charting your course and knowing your position on the map. Now, think of radar as your lookout buddy in foggy conditions. It uses radio waves to detect obstacles—be it other boats, land, or even storms—helping you steer clear of trouble when you can't see what’s ahead. While GPS tells you where you are, radar shows you what’s around you.

Shopping for radar is like picking the right set of binoculars. You’ll want something with good range to see far enough, but also a system that highlights nearby fast-moving objects using Doppler technology—kind of like having "radar vision" for spotting speedsters on the water. And if you like flexibility, look for units with dual-range displays so you can keep an eye on both the big picture and close quarters at the same time.

Choosing a GPS isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s more like choosing the right car for your needs. Are you a casual coastal cruiser? Then a basic model with preloaded maps is great. But if you’re an adventurer navigating the high seas, you’ll need a high-tech version with AIS (Automatic Identification System) to track other vessels around you. The more gadgets you add, the cooler (and pricier) it gets!

Combining GPS and radar is like merging your car’s GPS and backup camera into one display. It declutters your dashboard and gives you a single view of your location and surroundings, which means less time staring at screens and more time enjoying the water. Plus, it’s super convenient to have all your data together when navigating tricky waters.

If you want to avoid running into sandbars that didn’t exist last year, it’s best to update your GPS software and maps at least once a year. New software can fix bugs, add new features, and update nautical charts. It’s like giving your GPS a yearly tune-up, so it doesn’t leave you high and dry when you’re out exploring.

Absolutely! Radar is like having superhero vision when it’s dark, foggy, or raining. It detects other boats, big rocks, or incoming weather systems, even when your eyes can’t. Some radars even use Doppler technology to show if something is moving toward or away from you—kind of like your boat’s personal traffic radar.