~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Danny 45 ~

Yes, and NO!

The “auto” GPS unit will record positions, guide you to a waypoint and you can make a route in the unit, but it may do so via nearby roadways and not “as the crow flies” as a marine or hunting unit would do.

Check your warranty! Use of an auto unit in a marine environment may void your warranty. But you “CAN” use it.

Most auto~truck type GPS units are not weather proofed to the IPX-7 (Protected against water immersion - Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter) of a marine or on the trail or hunting hand held unit and the mapping may not even show large bodies of water, much less the myriad of small bayous, rivers, lagoons, canals and lakes that make up the coastal marshes. The Mapping in GPS units designed for use inside autos don’t place a lot of emphasis on typo map much less marine features. They display highways, streets and roads.

Most AUTO units, not Motorcycle units, are NOT protected against the weather. Most of the unit specifications indicate that there is NO protection from the elements. Units designed for use on a motorcycle are protected to the same IPX-7 weather proofing as marine and hand held units as well as additional vibration protection. Most “auto” units do not have the extra vibration protection.

In addition most “auto” devices are designed to be powered via an accessory plug that plugs into the cigarette power outlet in a vehicle. Those that have a battery backup may last for 4 hours.

As I first said, the answer is YES, but it is NOT recommended.

~ Captain Paul ~