When GPS first appeared on the scene, it seemed miracle enough to have a gadget that told you precisely where you were on the water in figures that you had to transfer to a paper chart. If you were very lucky it might have a rolling road diagram to tell you if you were going the right way towards your chosen waypoint.
Then came chart plotters, showing your course and position actually on an electronic chart. It didn't take long for the technology to migrate into the car, with moving maps. Hikers, climbers and skiers too soon saw the benefit of taking an electronic map with them.
Now comes the groundbreaking Geonav 3. Designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, this multi function GPS chart plotter combines marine, land, hiking and skiing navigation in one compact, easy to use unit.
Having made its debut at the Genoa International Boat Show, the Geonav 3 is due to hit the British market in December, distributed by C A Clase.
The company says the Geonav 3 offers an exceptional 2.2" transflective colour TFT LCD screen with a sharp 320 x 240 pixel display, providing excellent definition and outstanding graphical performance, even in full sunlight, enabling easy map reading in all weathers.
With a battery life of 9 hours and weighing approximately 100 grams, this lightweight, water resistant (IPX 7) and highly versatile unit is equally at home cruising the ocean, hiking up mountains and skiing as well as travelling by road, as it seamlessly provides data without having to change or replace charts or plotters.
A fully programmable chart plotter compatible with both Navionics Land & Sea and Navionics Platinum charts, it offers practical information and support for sailors, including 3D navigation, satellite images, panoramic port pictures and coastal aerial photographs.
It also features a 'Go To' function to recall ports and markers as well as identifying the nearest locations for vital supplies such as water and fuel.
The innovative satellite navigator features Navionics multi dimensional electronic outdoor cartography, allowing skiers to navigate throughout any resort in the Alps.
The system provides information on access points, names and type of ski lifts, ski slopes including restaurants and ticket offices, names of pistes and difficulty level as well as images of major points of interest.
The Geonav 3 also offers skiers the facility to look back and analyse their day, providing calculations of time spent on lifts and on the slopes, average speed and distance covered as well as diagrams showing indications of distance and altitude.
In addition to marine and road cartography, it also provides coastal road networks and information about paths, refuges, mountains and other important details relevant to hiking enthusiasts.
The one-of-a-kind Geonav 3 is priced at £349 INC VAT. Italian based Geonav has been developing navigation instruments for the past 25 years and is part of the Navionics Group.
C A Clase is the exclusive distributor of Geonav products in the UK. For more information visit www.caclase.co.uk.
