~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Ross Bernard ~

There are two ways to transfer data to the Garmin GPSMAP 188/188C.

Let me first explain the two ways to accomplish the data transfer.

One way is to secure a Garmin Adapter cable (A/C,PC adapter, 18pin (US)
part # 010-10276-00, suggested list price $ 63.62 USD ) and connect the unit to a serial port on your computer. This adapter allows you to connect your GPS unit to AC power (U.S., 110-volt) and to your PC via a power converter and a “Y” cable.

Using this configuration, you can remove the GPS unit from your vessel and bring it into your home or camp where you have standard power and a computer, connect it to the computer via a serial port connection and power it up.

As you stated, the Garmin GPSMAP 188C takes a special GARMIN data card. (Garmin Data Card (64 MB) Part # 010-10226-12. Suggested price of $ 69.99 USD)

At one time, Garmin had these cards in various memory sizes up to 254 MB, but now the only size is the 64 MB size. This size, however is not a problem for data transfers as a 1000 waypoint file consists of only about 100 KB of memory.

This card is roughly in the shape of one half of an old style ice cream stick. It requires a GARMIN Card Programmer (Garmin Data Card Programmer part # 010-10776-00 suggested price of $ 50.00 USD) to program OR write to the data card.

The Garmin GPSMAP 188C can ONLY use these types of data cards which are a Garmin proprietary product. Although they can be found on the internet at various GARMIN suppliers, the unit can only use the Garmin specified data card.
If you have such a card in your unit, it probably has a supplemental mapping program for your unit. DO NOT USE THIS MAPPING card to transfer DATA. Doing so may overwrite some of the mapping data and as such destroy the map images. USE A SEPARATE CARD FOR YOUR DATA TRANSFERS.

Although they may be hard to find, both of these items may be still available from a stocking GARMIN DEALER, but are listed on the Garmin web site at

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=168&pID=160#accessoryTab

Once the data is on the memory card, the user must transfer the data from the card using the GPSMAP 188c menu feature to install the data into the internal memory of the unit.

After deciding on which option you wish to use, you will need a means of completing the transfers in your computer.

If you already have one of the older Garmin MAPSOURCE topo mapping programs, it has a section that allows the user to transfer data, waypoints, tracks, and routes to and from the computer and the GPS unit via the Adapter Cable or the Garmin Data Card.

Here again, you have two options. You can purchase the Garmin TRIP and WAYPOINT Manager program for about $30.00 or you can download the Garmin FREE download called BASE CAMP.

(http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/onthetrail/basecamp#fragment-2

The Base Camp and the Trip and Waypoint Manager allows you to Create waypoints and routes on your computer and transfer maps, waypoints, routes, tracks between your computer and GPS device.

Having these items will allow you the opportunity to transfer the data to and from the GPSMAP unit and your computer. Take that opportunity to first transfer all of your existing data from the GPS unit to your computer file.

This will ensure that you have a backup of all of your data in the event that the unit fails.

Make a folder under MY DOCUMENTS, something like GPS info, then a sub folder such as Waypoints. It would be wise to then make a folder for each of the different areas that you fish. It would look something like MY DOCUMENTS / GPS INFO / WAYPOINTS / CALCASIEU and other individual folders for each of your fishing areas.

The GPSMAP 188c can hold 3000 waypoints, so it is important to arrange them by areas so that you do not have scroll though 2000 or more waypoints to find the one you want. By having these files for different areas, you will have only those you need for the area where you are located.

This electronic data transfer is the basis of my CAPTAIN PAUL’S FISHING EDGE OF GPS WAYPOINTS. It allows you to transfer over 200 waypoints in less than two minutes from your computer into the internal waypoint memory of your GPS unit.

The Captain Paul Fishing EDGE is ONLY available from the LOUISIANA SPORTSMAN'S OUTDOOR STORE WEB SITE.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ VBAY2NITE ~

Wow ! You are asking for a detailed position and depth of waters for about 70 wells ~ platforms in the area.

I do not have the time or the space to adequately provide you with the specific coordinate information you need, but I can be of some help to you.

The best I can do is to steer you in a direction that you can obtain ALL of the information for yourself.

First you will need a rough idea where these different sites are located. By that I mean in which of the U.S. Dept of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) formerly known as the Mineral Management Service (MMS), Offshore LEASED BLOCKS your quest(s) located.

The location of the AREA and then the specific BLOCK number will put you in the general area were the platform is located.

The United States coastline is divide into areas that are called LEASED BLOCK AREAS. These areas are usually named for a feature along the coast or an underwater geological feature. These areas are then divided into blocks, usually rectangle in shape by latitude and longitude using NAD 27 DATUM.

The government then conducts lease sales for the right to explore and produce minerals from these lease blocks. The U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), is the authorized agency to lease offshore areas for mineral exploration and production. All platforms are REQUIRED to be listed by MMS. They are the federal repository for the lease data and the exploration and production information in these areas.

It is like a general grid system of the areas that will at least get you close to the area of your concern.

The genesis of your search should first start with the maps or charts that show these LEASED BLOCKS. NOAA Marine Chart 1116A ~ Leased Block for Mississippi River to Galveston TX. It shows the MMS Leased Block areas and the Leased Blocks within those areas. This chart covers the entire Northern Gulf of Mexico waters in the area you specified.

After locating the LEASED BLOCK areas, you should also get a copy of the latest NOAA CHART 11341 ~ CALCASIEU PASS TO SABINE PASS. This chart will show the individual platforms in the area of coverage.

They are in their self worth while investment for the offshore navigator. When getting these charts, be sure to get the latest version by (year) that is available.

The get the full use of the chart and the information you need, you can then access the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE). BOEMRE is a renamed bureau of what was the Department of the Interior. Mineral Management Services (MMS).

It can be accessed via their web site @ http://www.gomr.mms.gov/index.html

Under the FAST FACTS ~ API List searching program, you can search by Leased Area, by Leased Block and well number or by well name. The program will then produce all the data that meet your search criteria. Search in the PLATFORM STRUCTURE topic.
(http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/fastfacts/platform/master.asp)

By noting the Leased Areas, you can select a specific area and even certain of the individual Blocks in the area for existing leases and or platforms.

The program in an invaluable tool for the offshore fisherman.

After defining the area/block you are interested in the program will display all of the platforms in that area or block. They mostly just have a number of the platform, but sometimes indicate the common or given name of the facility, i.e. BRUTUS, RAM POWELL, etc.

Note, however, that the position figures are usually stated in Decimal Degrees and were determined by using NAD 27 Datum. Once you have these positions you can then enter them manually into your GPS unit.

Remember, that the position format in your program or GPS unit, MUST agree with the MMS format or you MUST convert the decimal degrees into the format that you use in your unit or temporarily change the POSITION FORMAT in your GPS unit to Decimal Degrees and NAD 27 DATUM and enter the positions. Then change the Position Format and the DATUM back to the one that you normally use. The internal GPS software will do the conversion for you.

By selecting the specific areas you will have all of the existing platforms in that leased block.

Now that you know HOW TO, I have taken the opportunity to plot SOME of the over 60 rigs and platforms in the area you indicated.

There are basically FOUR clusters of rigs that are in the general area you described.

These clusters of rigs are located east of the Sabine River Jetties and south of Hamilton Lake and Johnson Bayou in the Gulf of Mexico and as far as Constance Beach.

They average about 5 to 8 miles from the shoreline and are in Federal waters. They are located in LEASED BLOCKS 17,18, 20, 45 and 48 of the WEST CAMERON LEASED BLOCKS AREA.

They are mostly operated by The Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. and The Chevron Oil Company.

The center of the rigs located in West Cameron (WC) Blocks 48 and 17 is at or about 29° 41.218’ ~ N. Latitude ~ 93° 43.834’ W. Longitude. There are about 20 platforms ~ rigs within 1.5 miles and can be seen from this platform(s).

Another cluster is centered around a platform that is located in Leased Block 18 at or about 29° 42.596’ N. Latitude ~ 93° 42.377’ W. Longitude. There are over 8 platforms that are within sight of this platform.

Another the center of a cluster of about 17 platforms is a platform located in Leased Block 20 and is at or about 29° 45.314’~ N. Latitude ~ 29° 41.031’ W. Longitude.

Block 45 just to the south of the above platforms has another cluster of about 7 platforms that are centered at or about 29° 38.992’~ N. Latitude ~ 93° 35.584’ W. Longitude. This platform is located about 7.5 miles due south of the Constant Beach area. Again most of the surrounding platforms can be seen from the center platform location.

Unless otherwise specified, all positions are stated as Degrees, minutes and thousandths of minutes (DDD,MM.mmm) and were determined using WGS 84 Datum. All bearings and courses are stated in Magnetic degrees.

As stated MY plots are in DDD,MM.mmm and in WGS Datum.

~ Captain Paul ~