Anyone using a Yeoman plotter?

[ditchcrawler]

I have had a yeoman for 10 years or so,but now only use it on long trips (Holland etc) to check my overall position.I use my chartplotter more and my eyes mostly for local trips.If I had the choice I would plump for a chartplotter.This is just my opinion.

 

[MoodySabre]

I have a Yeoman and think it is great - a plot on a paper chart that doesn't require working out lat and long in the dark with the boat jumping about and can be done by anybody - brilliant.

I like the fact that you can see the big picture - a chartplotter might be nice for close in stuff particularly in poor visiblity but like M33 I can't jusify the expense or accept the necessity. I know where I am - the only additional help would be radar.

 

[cimo]

Gwylan says:

"Worry what a loss of power would result in if we relied on a chart plotter"

It might be interesting to know (perhaps someone can organise a pole) to see how many people have had a catastrophic loss of power whilst sailing. It is nice to always know that if there was a power loss you still have your position on a chart, but I like the chart/Yeoman combination as I can see where I am, like I said before the big picture.

Never knew of the Yeoman until this post - believe that or not. fundamental truth is you can't ever soley rely on a chartplotter. (Refer to the owners handbook for the disclaimer!). Personally I wouldn't reply on anything electronic in a marine environment. Really vital to keep those basic nav. skills in good working order.

Once had total instrument power failure on a trip from Tory (N.W. Irealnd) to Mallaig (W. Soctland). It was the combination of dead reckoning, speed estimation, and triangulating the costal light signals (from beyond the horizon) that got us safely into port 24hrs later. The paper chart was absolutley essential for that. (I reckon we could have managed without the compass on that ocassion, but I would normally also consider a working compass essential kit).

 

[Quandary]

[
Where did you get the impression that YM think that aft facing chart tables are a bad thing? There hasn't been one tested since the 100 point boat test was introduced, and that comes out next month.


I've read the article a few times already when it was in production, and I don't need to look at the photos, I took them [/QUOTE]

My comments, as always are based on my experience, in this case the experience of reading the yachting magazine you write for, not just once but every month for several years. However my 2009 subscrition has now expired and it was you who recently defined the YM policy of leaving stuff relevant to boats the size of mine (33 ft) to PBO so I won't need to renew it. So I will not be offending Chis again even if he is still facing forward.
I can recommend Scottish Yachting Life for value, but since it was PBO who went to Finland in 2004 and alerted me to the exceptional qualities of the boat I have since purchased, I will still check on it in the newsagents. In that case the boat test not only sold some boats it was instrumental in encouraging import to the UK. for a company that had been restricted to continental Europe for a decade.

 

[snooks]

My comments, as always are based on my experience, in this case the experience of reading the yachting magazine you write for, not just once but every month for several years. However my 2009 subscrition has now expired and it was you who recently defined the YM policy of leaving stuff relevant to boats the size of mine (33 ft) to PBO so I won't need to renew it. So I will not be offending Chis again even if he is still facing forward.

If you're going to say that I said something, please at least try to quote me correctly.

As I said in a previous post, the distinction between YM and PBO is for NEW boats only.

There is no YM policy of leaving stuff relevant to boats of 33ft to PBO, or any other sailing magazine, likewise we have no bias against aft facing chart tables.

Here's what I said:

There has always been a blurry line between 30ft and 35ft in the new boat market between the two magazines (PBO and YM), and the host of new smaller boats in that size that came out at SIBS this year (Fan 32, Elan 310, HR 310, Sun Odyssey 33, First 35, Arcona 340) has meant that there has been more crossover than before...8< snip 8<

YM will still cover used/older/not new boats of whatever size, be that used boat tests, general cruising account, boat handling, seamanship, or good old cruising yarns. After all, 4 of the staff out of the 5 who own boats on YM own boats that are under 33ft

As you can see YM has no intention of excluding boats of whatever size, we'll still cover a vast range of features that include anything from tenders to battleships, and anything else we think our readers will find interesting, amusing, educational or informative.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Used a Yeoman ever since they first came out.

Their single most useful feature nowadays is the ability rapidly to enter and download a series of waypoints to a GPS. And if the GPS has a simple helm position display, single handed pilotage becomes easy - as long as you're sure your chart datum is correct!

The routine?

1. Make a standard 'entry' route plan for your GPS using 5 waypoints (I used 1 to 5, well, why not? Could use more, of course, if you wanted)
2. Plot your safe entry route on the chart (not more than the number of waypoints you've selected!)
3. Align Yeoman with chart. Check chart datum with local geography (easy if you're in port, allow clearances otherwise)
4. Enter waypoints with Yeoman - two clicks for each waypoint (select next waypoint number, enter)

Your GPS now has the route ready to be used.

The beauty is that this is such an intuitive process that any crew member can do it. No training needed on how to use a chart plotter (with all their arcane menus and modes) or PC (even more menus and modes). It is as simple as a paper chart, ruler and pencil, but can be read as a road map display from the helm position.

 

[flaming]

I've used Yeoman quite a bit.

It's a decent bit of kit, but in my opinion it has been surpassed in usefulness by chart plotters. Neither are perfect and both can suffer from unintended errors. but the advantages of chart plotters, especially ones mounted on deck, are much more significant.

 

[Quandary]

As you can see YM has no intention of excluding boats of whatever size, we'll still cover a vast range of features that include anything from tenders to battleships, and anything else we think our readers will find interesting, amusing, educational or informative.[/QUOTE]

Thats all right then,
but since you don't find aft facing chart tables on many boats over 35ft (excluding X yachts) you will be able to concentrate fully on functionality rather than orientation.
I am now bored with this so will go over to the smaller boat magazines forum now, bye.

 

[snooks]

Used a Yeoman ever since they first came out.

Thanks for that Jim,

I've seen them many times out and about, but never really understood how they could be a benefit to me. Inputting waypoints, and quick fixes, sound like they would save time, as all our planning is done the night before on the saloon table (where we both face the centreline btw)

How does it work inputting waypoints from a number of different charts?

 

[earlybird]

[QUOTE

How does it work inputting waypoints from a number of different charts?[/QUOTE]

Provided all charts are referenced to the Yeoman as appropriate, waypoints can be stored and recalled for a large library of charts.
Waypoints also can be transferred between charts. A waypoint can be transferred from a small scale passage chart to a larger scale plan, or vice-versa with either a new or overwritten identity and its position modified as required.
Another, separate, use is that the position of the "puck" can be shown on the radar screen for plotting radar targets.
All very quick once you get the hang of it.
Put one on your Christmas list!!

 

[Moscowman100]

Got both a Yeoman (below) and a chart plotter at the helm. The great thing about a Yeoman is after you have clicked all the buttons and played with menus etc, is that you can see what you have done. Bang in way points into the plotter and join the dots - then zoom in; out; around and around - almost impossible to see the big picture. On the Yeoman, it is simples to draw a line between the waypoints and see if your proposed course takes you too close to hazards etc - much harder on a plotter. However, a Yeoman is a PITA for position checking - run down, move mouse; too much - too little - OK somewhere near here - especially in a big sea with water pouring off yr Mustos etc
Summary - the Yeoman is for planning - a plotter is for knowing where you are. Neither is very good at the other job.


Now what I really want for Xmas is a totally fool proof way of getting a Yeoman to talk to Raymarine

 

[TonyMS]

Yeoman plotter

Another great thing about the Yeoman is that small children can be taught to use it, so they begin to understand and get interested in navigation.

We use the Yeoman for passage making and the pilot book or a v large-scale chart in the cockpit for pilotage. Although I like playing with electronics, I can't see the point of a chart plotter.

As an aside, you can buy old admiralty charts very cheap, and they are completely adequate for rocky coasts.

Tony

 

[Marsupial]

Always liked the idea of a Yeoman, mainly because I like paper charts. Would it work with a Garmin GPS 72?
A

Yes it will work with the Garmin 72 the Yeoman guys make a special lead for it.

I have had one for 15 years, a very good piece of kit. Mine is used on the chart table or on deck, its the sport model. In normal use it takes its power and gps from the ships power and the ships gps (Raymarine 120). As a backup it can be connected to a jump start battery power pack thingy and a Garmin 12XL this power source will keep it alive for a few hundred hours.

I do have a raymaine plotter but I find the yeoman a far superior device with the added massive advantage that it fails safe. So far I have not experienced a power outage but it has come in handy with other nav equipment issues.

I also use it with a garmin 12XL and took it on a delivery trip "just in case", the boat a princess 40 odd ft had a laptop running c map and this failed as we fell off a wave off beachy head. The yeoman and garmin took over with no drama.

On a new boat the display chip in the plotter failed 12 hours out on the maiden voyage from Lymington to Dieppe (no pretty picture to look at); we rigged the yeoman to a 12v supply and we were off again with garmin 12 and yeoman plotter. Found dieppe with no problems. Did the next week with no problems.

For ease of use and the reassurance the crew get from a nice row of accurate plots on a paper chart that wont go blank if the sparks take an early bath the Yeoman is worth its weight in gold.

Ours gets passed around alot during a passage so I cant comment on which way it faces, but the charts are normally inserted north up.

 

[Marsupial]

.
How does it work inputting waypoints from a number of different charts?

It saves way points in long and lat format they are not associated with any particular chart (as such) if the chart you have on the Yeoman embraces the positions of the way points stored in the memory then you can find it on the chart, if the waypoint is beyond the range of the chart them you cant.

So for example if you reference a chart of the thames estuary and create a way point for the entrance to the Ray Gut, then reference a chart of the Harwich approaches and stick a waypoint on the Medusa, both could be found if you then referenced a planning chart of the southern north sea. Does that make sense??

The other thing you can do is instantly load a waypoint you have created on the Yeoman to the way point directory of your GPS or digital chart plotter where you can incorporate it into a route.

Yeomans dont do Routes, the navigator draws it on the chart and follows it using the Yeoman to tell him his actual position and where he is in relation to the route, now thats an idea!

 

[kevinandbarb]

Yeoman plotters, we love them! Had one since the early nineties and wouldn't be without it.
We have a 10in plotter in the cockpit which we really only use for pilotage, but for the overall picture it's got to be Yeoman + chart every time. So easy to use for instant positioning/bearings/course. Wouldn't want to go to sea without a chart and the Yeoman - it makes life so much easier.