Garmin Inreach

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Last year in April my fit brother turned 59. He is very fit and gets 300 miles a month a bicycle. He was in the Talladega National Forest and suffered a massive heart attack. He was airlifted to Birmingham and had 100% blockage of his primary coronary artery. He survived and is back at mountain biking. He bought a Garmin mini Inreach .

I noticed on my new plotter it has an Inreach interface . They make a mini Inreach with marine mount kit. I have been thinking of adding Inreach to my safety equipment. Do any of you use Inreach and which model? Thanks.

 

[Viking88rd]

I have and use regularly an Inreach mini for work. I have not yet interfaced it with my 1242 xsv plotter on my boat. It's on the list of spring commissioning tasks. I'm thinking it will be a good back up.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Here is a thread I started about it. Garmin InReach Mini vs SE+

I got the SE+ because for some reason it was cheaper and has more features.

I use it for fishing offshore. I can text to say"we're here right now", "we're staying overnight", "we're heading back from here".
Its worth it with the cheap monthly plan that you can suspend over the winter.

We made clear to significant others that its not for BS texting....

Makes changing plans doable when you are out of cell range. Thumbs up from me.

I also have direct text to two guys from my marina with InReach. so we spread out to look for bluefins.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Here is a thread I started about it. Garmin InReach Mini vs SE+

I got the SE+ because for some reason it was cheaper and has more features.

I use it for fishing offshore. I can text to say"we're here right now", "we're staying overnight", "we're heading back from here".
Its worth it with the cheap monthly plan that you can suspend over the winter.

We made clear to significant others that its not for BS texting....

Makes changing plans doable when you are out of cell range. Thumbs up from me.

I also have direct text to two guys from my marina with InReach. so we spread out to look for bluefins.

I was looking at the Se model Skunk. My new plotter has an Inreach screen and you can use the plotter as the keyboard and display when paired with it. I like the idea of getting it for a couple reasons like when I am 30-50 off I can communicate directly with people in case something goes wrong. I carry an epirb, back up gps and radio, but it's a peace of mind knowing I can text someone in case I need help.

I will be picking either the mini or SE + up soon.

 

[PNW_Drifter]

I bought a inreach mini since I wanted the small size. Haven’t quite figured it out but ya. Will be nice if the boat sinks. Is the SE the one with a map? I know the Mini lets you use the keyboard on your phone.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Th SE+ can be used as a handheld gps. It has more menus and a bigger screen than Mini. Its more usable as a stand alone than a mini but you can connect it to your phone and use the App which makes writing long texts easier and accesses your contacts. When you get home you can sync to an app on your computer. Also, your friends can track you on a Map online when you send position...same as Mini.

I tend to use it stand alone and use my preset messages.

 

[Halfhitch]

Sounds like Garmins version of SPOT.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Sounds like Garmins version of SPOT.

It is. But , it's a Garmin and they know GPS.