I know absolutely nothing about GPS but was in the market for a watch. Wondering if any of these gps type watches would work like the units sailors use and come with software or be able to use the software speed sailors use.

I think not
If you like Garmin, only forerunners 205, 305, 405 or foretrex 201 can measure max speed, and files can be transfered to pc, but files are gpx (read trackpoints) and we all don't like it anymore.
In the end, GT31 is cost less money then Garmin, and GT31 is the ultimate windsurfing gps device - there is not better device at this moment....

just my opinion for that

I looked into some of the running watches myself:

The 305 is a fully water proof GPS watch. It's water proof to 50m. Not splash proof (1m for less than 30min) like all the others including the 201 which many sailors use.
Pros:
- Actually waterproof so no aqua pac required.
- Wear it on your wrist
- Has a "virtual training partner". It shows your position against a saved run down the same course. I know there was mention of "virtual races". This would be perfect for that.
- Wireless transfer to your computer.... no more fiddling with cards.
Cons:
- Trackpoint recording. The GT31s are recommended for windsurfing as the doppler results are more accurate. With that said, some sailors are using trackpoint GPS units, so although not recommended they will do the job. I don't see it as a big issue if your not challenging the record books or altering team ranking.
But the big problem:
- "Smart Recording". On the 201 you could select 2 sec intervals for data recording. You can't do this on the forerunners so the trackpoints may record at larger intervals - this is not suitable for GPS team challenge.

So in summary, there are some nice features but the forerunner series are not suitable for windsurfing at the moment. I did contact Garmin to try give them a kick along. I got a response saying they'll look into it but I wouldn't hold your breath.

I have a 305 wrist GPS for training, i don't believe they are water proof.

i had FR 205 and I was surfing with them on wrist about 1,5 year. nothing happend.
All Garmins are waterproof on standard IPX7 (1m for 30 min)
I selled it later (after year and half) like new....

had a 201 strapped to the boom went in the drink a couple of times and now there is water under the screen.

they are water resistant not proof.

30 mins at 1m of water pressure is nothing.

do what you will with yours but i'm not screwing another one.

Oops. Meant the 310XT.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=142&pID=27335

I know the others are only IPX7 water resitant. The 310XT is IPX8 waterproof to 50m. Would be nice to have a combo of the GT31 and some of the 310XT features.

I'm sure I remember a post from Locosys here saying they were interested in gauging interest in a wrist-wearable form of GT device.

I don't know whether I'd ever trust one. It would take some convincing. I've had lots of waterproof watches that leaked in just surf conditions, let alone hitting the water at speed.

One day it will happen, though.

appreciate the replies

Select to expand quote

wkcwarrior said...

I think not
If you like Garmin, only forerunners 205, 305, 405 or foretrex 201 can measure max speed, and files can be transfered to pc, but files are gpx (read trackpoints) and we all don't like it anymore.

That is not actually true.

A GPX file can contain very high precision data, they can track points, waypoints and (good news for us) it can also contain a "speed" measurement.

RealSpeed, etc use that tag to export SBN files to a GPX file - without loss of precision.

yes true, but after gt31 i will never go back to garmin and replace trackpoints with doppler

other thing, when u set garmin on sec or two you can surf about 3 hours to have all data
here with gt31 and sd card a can surf as much as i like and no data loss
don't we mension battery life and thing that i lost my first garmin 201 from my wrist very first day i bought it and need to buy new one after that

no thanx

Select to expand quote

wkcwarrior said...

yes true, but after gt31 i will never go back to garmin and replace trackpoints with doppler

other thing, when u set garmin on sec or two you can surf about 3 hours to have all data
here with gt31 and sd card a can surf as much as i like and no data loss
don't we mension battery life and thing that i lost my first garmin 201 from my wrist very first day i bought it and need to buy new one after that

no thanx