Nav and communication = how to put it all together

I'm trying to keep things simple and light, but still use electronics where needed.  Since there isn't a combo VHF/EPIRB/GPS Chartplotter that I know of, here's the whole mess of things we have to chose from as I see it:

To keep from getting lost we have - compass and map; gps unit; combo ff/gps; VHF/DSC unit.

For communicating - VHF; VHF w/DSC; cell phone.

So based on the stuff above what's your solution?

I'm trying to keep things simple and light, but still use electronics where needed.  Since there isn't a combo VHF/EPIRB/GPS Chartplotter that I know of, here's the whole mess of things we have to chose from as I see it:

To keep from getting lost we have - compass and map; gps unit; combo ff/gps; VHF/DSC unit.

For communicating - VHF; VHF w/DSC; cell phone.

So based on the stuff above what's your solution?

Once you get your rigging/packing process down, the difference between 2 pieces of electronics and 4 pieces of electronics is minimal. 

For me, I always have a compass and a cell phone
Most places I also have a combo FF/GPS
Big water (like the ocean, river mouths or the Columbia) I add in the VHF and occasionally a back-up, hand-held GPS.


-Spot-

Big water (like the ocean, river mouths or the Columbia) I add in the VHF and occasionally a back-up, hand-held GPS.

-Spot-

So where'd you mount that base unit?

So where'd you mount that base unit?

Right next to the Loran.  Duh!