Best cheapo nasty chartplotter solution

[icarusbop]

Hello:

My boat came with the worlds oldest rickety chart plotter in existance. It still worked, but the maps were for the other side of the world and replacements could not be sourced (wihout a new mortgage). So I removed it from my lady and am seeking a new alternative.

I've been investigating options for equipment, and whilst the equipment is all fine and dandy you seem to get stung if you wish to buy or upgrade the charts on the units.

I am wondering if anyone has come up with any better (legal) solutions than to pay for the equiipment then also have to keep paying (IMO) very high fees to replace / upgrade charts. Perhaps using a tablet device (as relatively good ones have the GPS built-in) and decent but reasonably priced software.

Thanks

Ian.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Navionics and a Tescos Hudl 2 I reckon . £130 for the hudl 2 (or on fleabay, a hudl 1 tablet for 50 quid reconditioned), and £30 quid for the App... I would always have some other form of navigation on board in addition though.

 

[prv]

Some kind of Android device and Navionics will definitely be the winner, I reckon. There are some cheap no-name waterproof ones out there which I imagine would fit the bill for £100 or thereabouts. Few quid more for Navionics and you have a fairly convincing handheld plotter.

Pete

 

[yoda]

I find the charts from Visit My Harbour ver good value and just require a USB socket to work. I use an old net book that has a solid state drive. I think they do charts for tablets as well which are probably just as good value.

 

[Alpha22]

Open CPN.... good budget solution....

 

[Slycat]

Total budget:
2nd hand nexus 7
Navionics

Even the older nexus 7 tablets run navionics very well, no need for a modern version

 

[dylanwinter]

I find the charts from Visit My Harbour ver good value and just require a USB socket to work. I use an old net book that has a solid state drive. I think they do charts for tablets as well which are probably just as good value.

I have them on my laptop

very handy to have and cheap as chips

the laptop does not have a GPS on it - but I have my ebay etrex and paper charts as well for knowing where I am

D

 

[RichardS]

Open CPN.... good budget solution....

But legal charts are more difficult depending where you sail.

As others have said, a Hudl or cheap second hand Android tablet plus Navionics.

Even a second hand Sony Xperia android + Navionics if you want to use the tablet on deck in poor weather.

Richard

 

[prv]

But legal charts are more difficult depending where you sail.

If the OP is in the UK (reasonable default assumption, though he doesn't say) then VisitMyHarbour do a properly-licensed pack suitable for OpenCPN for around £25.

Pete

 

[laika]

If the OP is in the UK (reasonable default assumption, though he doesn't say) then VisitMyHarbour do a properly-licensed pack suitable for OpenCPN for around £25.

The caveats being that only works for windows and it's actually more than twice that once you'e added in the cost of the stick you have to buy with the charts. Not that that's not still a good deal...

 

[Kelpie]

the laptop does not have a GPS on it -

You can add a USB or serial GPS for about £20- much cheaper than a handheld

 

[Jim Schofield]

My setup is as above but even cheaper. A Huawei smartphone + Navionics. € 50 + € 40 + € 10 for a soft waterproof pouch. Happy days so far.

Jim
http://liffeysailor.blogspot.ie/

 

[Binman]

I got a tablet from T Mobile for £10 month, does me use it for loads of things.

 

[cpedw]

With an android tablet that's got a GPS - hudl seems well thought of but I haven' t used one - MX mariner app is about $4 and one UK chart region (4 covers whole UK & Ireland) another $4 or so each. It' s not totally flawless but at that price (includes a year of chart updates) it' good value.

 

[Momac]

Have a look on here...............

http://www.londonchartplotters.com/

.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Have a look on here...............

http://www.londonchartplotters.com/

.

Bummer. I forgot all about londonchartplotters when I was upgrading my kit. Could have saved myself £££££££££s

:sorrow:

 

[Momac]

Bummer. I forgot all about londonchartplotters when I was upgrading my kit. Could have saved myself £££££££££s

:sorrow:

I ordered one of their tablets yesterday . Seems like it should do the job - if treated with due care , which it will be.
I am also looking to fit a Raymarine MFD - at much greater expense .

.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I ordered one of their tablets yesterday . Seems like it should do the job - if treated with due care , which it will be.
I am also looking to fit a Raymarine MFD - at much greater expense .

.

It's that rather uneasy feeling that if it's cheap it may let me down!
On the other hand ££££s don't always guarantee reliability........

 

[charles_reed]

Open CPN.... good budget solution....

Open CPN is probably the cheapest option, it does however require a laptop and an USB gps receiver. Both software and CMap ed2 can be had for free (and that includes the world-wide charts).
Laptops capable of running CPN 4.0 can be had 2nd hand for about £80, the usb receiver and DC charger about another £40. Rather than run on some outdated MSWin OS I'd load one of the Linux distros, also free download.
About 1/2 the price of a Hudl2 and a Navionics card for a minute peice of UK waters.
Cheaper than all those recommendations which don't cost in a smartphone. Stable, fast update and a big screen, even using a netbook.
Been using it for the last 7 years in the Med - far more accurate positioning than a Lowrance plotter, and more precise (if not more detailed) than the standard Navionics Gold.

 

[LadyInBed]

One of the advantages of OpenCPN (for me) especially the new version is the ease of importing / exporting routes and WP's.
Other features and overlays have also come on in leaps and bounds.