I'm wanting to get a GPS for night time running to help me keep track of where I am or rather following my path back to where I want to be. I'm not looking for a GPS with fish finder, speedometer, etc... Just want a plain old GPS that has some kind of night screen. What's the best route to go? Simple hand held unit or ya'll got any other suggestions?

I would still have one like a small Lowrance Elite 5 that you can put in a map card. Just adjust the back lighting.

I know some boys that were doing this on Smith in a heavy fog a few years back. I am sure they were traveling to fast but I doubt any of them use this method again. They were following the track back to the ramp and a bluff jumped in front of them. I am not sure but I think they were not zoomed in and it appeared they were on the old path but really were way off. Be careful and don't rely on it fully at night.

GPS doesn't show logs or obstructions in water or other boats. Using one to run in darkness or fog is asking for problems.

I have never ran at night. Have always been off the water by dusk. I just want (more than need) an GPS to help me in case I stay a little too late.

I use the GPS on my Helix for running at night. I also have a 4500 lumen LED light mounted on the bow. The GPS is really handy but it’s not accurate enough to use by itself.

No most are not. Most of the ones with a high WAAS capability are better. I guess that I have never used my GPS at all here on Neely. Just about can drive with no light external at all from city park to Greensport.

If you run a lowrance you can upgrade to a point one antenna and it helps the accuracy

Only use gps as a reference. My uncle and dad was running back on smith one night with no moon. He was using the gps and went into the buck brush. Could have been worse. Running at night I watch the tree line and only fish lakes or areas I'm familiar with. I hit a tree on little bear one night in the middle of the lake. I'm don't mean a log. Root ball tree trunk and limbs. We went through that area in day light and it was not there. No clue where it came from.

Whats your price range and where are you from? I just happen to have a Humminbird 597DI with GPS that I was thinking about selling. I know you didnt initially want a sonar unit but if you can get one for around the same price, why not get more?

I know where a humminbird sonar/gps unit is that doesn't have a transducer. I'm sure you could get it reasonable and just use the gps portion

what i did when i had a early start or fog . I always tried to fish or run lake in the day time , that layed a track to work with. watch your speed. run it slow, so when you use it in the dark,run it the same way. watch the the water.

will if you get a nice one with radar...

they have apps for your phone

If one would even pick up a log 2" above the surface, I wouldn't trust the delay if I was running more than 5mph.

When running at night SLOW DOWN and get a spot light and when possible fish with a partner. When I fish at night during the summer I swap to a 4 blade prop that allows me to run pretty slowly and still stay on pad. I do NOT run over 25mph at night even with a GPS!!!

You need a gps with a chart plotter. Just slow down and don’t get in a hurry. If your navigation lights don’t work, DON’T go!
If your not used to running at night, wait until the moon is full, or close to being full. Clear cloud free nights are better to run I too.
As posted before... lay down a good track line in the daytime to be sure it’s done well, and a safe route.
Never outrun your ability to respond or handle your boat

No it won’t.

Me personally I wouldn't try running by just a GPS but I live on Seminole with 10 million stumps so I'm kinda paranoid about running when I can't see. Last year I busted the drive shaft on my 250 pro xs and I could clearly see where I was going and had run that spot a thousand times and still hit a stump. First trip out after getting a new lower unit I hit a floating log just under the surface running about 45 and that was a sick feeling for sure. Luckily it was a small floating log that was kinda rotten and I just cut it in half with no damage to the boat. I know some guys that do run by GPS alone but I just don't feel comfortable doing it.