Budget chart plotter or tablet..advice needed.

[Cornish Bluenose]

I sail a Cox Master Mariner which has both helm and internal wheel steering. I'm looking to purchase a chart plotter or use a tablet. I have followed a number of threads that have confused me with technical jargon. I just need a simple system that can be used to show charts of the south coast. I have a hand held garmin and would now like to use a chart plotter on board.
I need to keep the cost down and also want an easy to use system that will support my sailing along the Cornish and Devon coast. Advice needed.

 

[Ripster]

If you want a ship-specific integrated system to show depth, connect to yr VHF and show Radar and AIS etc., then Garmin are excellent and very intuitive to use - not cheap but great to use and very reliable and good back up service. (Its what I use!!) Go for the biggest screen you can fit or afford! If you want more than one screen, then make sure the units are networkable. You can have buttons or touch screen. I prefer buttons on a boat, but many use touch.

Standard Horizon also have a good reputation and provide good value for money as a comparison to Garmin above. Afraid I am not a fan of Raymarine (though their kit works fine) as when I needed their help with an existing system I inherited, they didn't want to know other than tell me to replace it all - so I did, with Garmin!

If you prefer the tablet route, Ipad would be my choice (but I like Apple products because they are fast and reliable, unlike some other cheaper tablets I have tried). The Mini makes a small neat and reliable navigation device on board. This is the cheapest route, but, will limit you a bit with any integrated add-ons like Radar. There are a number of Maritime Nav Apps - Navionics, Imray and others.

 

[Neil_Y]

I've used Navionics on an android phone, very good for instant and easy zoom in as well as setting waypoints and measuring distances. I've also used a Tescos Hudl in a waterproof bag but as my version of Navionics was an older one I can't use it on the Hudl and would need to buy the latest version. UK and Holland charts are 23.99 We were navigating off the coast of Brittany in and out of the rocks at 20knts+

For an economy system hudl and Navionics should be a pretty good set up.

 

[NUTMEG]

I have Standard Horizon chart plotter but find I use an iPad mini with Navionics more often. Like the OP I have a wheelhouse so waterproofing is not an issue. Gives you an excuse to buy a tablet too. IPad mini + Navionics still comes out cheaper than a chart plotter I think.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Cheap Android tablet (£70 - £100) plus MxMariner (a tenner or so)? What are you hoping to get from electronics that you don't get from a paper chart?

 

[laika]

If you're going down the tablet route make sure the one you buy has integrated GPS. Not all of them do.

 

[Cornish Bluenose]

I have looked at a Garmin 451 chartplotter and am also considering a Hudl 2 or a similar sized tablet. I have followed the threads discussing software and there are many different options and advice offered on this forum. I will take a look at both the MXMariner and Navionics suggested above.
Cheers..!

 

[yoda]

Something like the Garmin 551 will do what you want and can be picked up at a reasonable price. They normally have a built in chart but can also accept other garmin charts on an SD card. The good points (in my mind) are that it can easily be moved (internal aerial), runs off the ships batteries and can display battery voltage, can be set up to change from daylight colours to night ones automatically at local sunset, easily takes an NMEA feed if and when you want AIS displayed, designed to be water proof. Yes the screen is probably smaller but it has worked for me for several years now under a variety of circumstances and on different yachts.

yoda

 

[Sarnia]

I sail a Cox Master Mariner which has both helm and internal wheel steering. I'm looking to purchase a chart plotter or use a tablet. I have followed a number of threads that have confused me with technical jargon. I just need a simple system that can be used to show charts of the south coast. I have a hand held garmin and would now like to use a chart plotter on board.
I need to keep the cost down and also want an easy to use system that will support my sailing along the Cornish and Devon coast. Advice needed.

Like you I asked here for similar advice, went to 25 pages, here is the link:http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?413686-Tablet-confusion

As a result of the excellent advice on all tpes and models i bought a HUDL2 onto which I will add the Navionics HD app. The tablet has GPS indepenent of any networks, perhaps a read of the thread could answer your question.

 

[LadyInBed]

From your post I get the feeling that cost is more important than functionality.
Dedicated CP's give you functionality but at a highish price. If you want to sail X Channel, use AIS, link in autohelm, then Dedicated CP is the way to go.
If you sail in coastal waters, want to see position on chart without plotting it, only have home pc / laptop, then tablet is the answer, but which one? People who use Ipad sware by them, but it is at a cost compared to going the Android route. The Android HUDL2 has been a popular option with various flavours of chart software, the choice of which software is another discussion (as it is for dedicated CP's).
Another consideration with a Tablet is that you are also getting a handy, easy access PC, which gives you internet, mail, pictures, camera, music, games and a variety of other applications literally at the touch of a button. Since I bought a tablet, the use of my pc and laptop has gone down by 80 to 90%, I'm typing this on my tablet, but for navigation I use a CP for all the reasons I've mentioned above, but I also take my tablet with me

 

[Sarnia]

Functionality is important, and the tablet I purchased does all the things you mentioned, and I anticipate my use of my PC based TIKI using Navionics will also suffer same lack of use as yours appears to have done.
With Navionics HD, Mediterranean charts on my tablet I will have much more flexibility than previously.
I realise from the 25 page thread just how strongly individuals feel about iPad-v-Tablets, I also like the iPad having an i4 phone which has the app on it but rather small for regular use, I chose the HUDL2 based on functionality, size and ease of use, ability to use Navionics without depending on a network, (not all iPads do, only the wifi+cellular have the GPS chip and some £50 more than just wifi) recommendations from others using for the same purpose, and value for money, which has been supported by online sites specialising in reporting about pads/tablets.

 

[doug748]

I sail a Cox Master Mariner which has both helm and internal wheel steering. I'm looking to purchase a chart plotter or use a tablet. I have followed a number of threads that have confused me with technical jargon. I just need a simple system that can be used to show charts of the south coast. I have a hand held garmin and would now like to use a chart plotter on board.
I need to keep the cost down and also want an easy to use system that will support my sailing along the Cornish and Devon coast. Advice needed.

I used one of these for years as a cheerful halfway house between a plotter and a GPS. The built in Atlantic map tells you roughly where the land is and you can put in your own offshore "points of interest" ie rocks, buoys, lights etc.
There are lots of advantages to this, the GPS functions are superb, it is waterproof, floats, runs or battery or ship's supply and is easy to take home to use for other stuff. It will easily save tracks for you so you can get back in the fog; and it fits in your pocket:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Garmin-GP...ics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item418b7242a8

Alternatively you could by a Lowrance4m colour portable with local chart for about £200.

For £120 you could have a Hudl 2 and run a free software package (eg Avalon) which, it seems to me, would give you outline maps sufficient to prevent hitting anything (with luck and care). Or for a little more a real chart package. I have one of these things, the screen is a miracle but I bet it is poor in sunlight. The battery charge would probably last under 5 hours, so you need to plumb in into a plug on the ship.

The fourth option is to look out for a secondhand unit complete with charts. Black and white works fine, you may find one on the board at the Yacht club for maybe 100 quid.

 

[Highndry]

I've just done 700 miles through the Med using a 3G iPad and Navionics in preference to the built in Raymarine unit. Keep it in a waterproof case (mine is a Lifeproof) and you have a brilliant combination.

 

[Kerenza]

I have just migrated from my ipad to a windows tablet, albeit without an integrated gps. I'm running navmon pc and neptune planner, with wifi link on my own boat for full data and a usb dongle for gps when on other boats. It will also run the navionics app if you require but of course all windows programmes will also run.

its a linx 10 for £159 at Staples, windows 8.1 2G ram 32G internal plus micro SD. Love it so far

 

[duncan99210]

We use iPads on board for route planning and backup. For navigation actually on themove we use the Raymarine plotters that are integrated with the radar, depth and speed.

We find the iPad to be great, with better accuracy regarding the charts than the plotters. Because of this, When in close, unfamiliar waters we tend to use the iPad navonics app at the helm to give us an accurate picture of what lies under the water. The screen is readily readable even in bright Medditerranean sunshine. The downside is having a fairly expensive and vulnerable bit of kit lolling round the cockpit, so it tends to spend most of its time below.

Why all the preamble? Partly to say in the OPs case, I would go the tablet route; partly to say watch out for the Hudl or hudl2. SWMBO bought one last year and whilst it's been OK it has proved to be not as durable as the iPads, has a much worse battery life and the usb socket used for charging has now bitten the dust entirely. Hasten to add, not dissing the thing altogether, just saying that daily use in a fairly hostile environment has killed it after just over a year.

 

[robertj]

If you want a ship-specific integrated system to show depth, connect to yr VHF and show Radar and AIS etc., then Garmin are excellent and very intuitive to use - not cheap but great to use and very reliable and good back up service. (Its what I use!!) Go for the biggest screen you can fit or afford! If you want more than one screen, then make sure the units are networkable. You can have buttons or touch screen. I prefer buttons on a boat, but many use touch.

A
Standard Horizon also have a good reputation and provide good value for money as a comparison to Garmin above. Afraid I am not a fan of Raymarine (though their kit works fine) as when I needed their help with an existing system I inherited, they didn't want to know other than tell me to replace it all - so I did, with Garmin!

If you prefer the tablet route, Ipad would be my choice (but I like Apple products because they are fast and reliable, unlike some other cheaper tablets I have tried). The Mini makes a small neat and reliable navigation device on board. This is the cheapest route, but, will limit you a bit with any integrated add-ons like Radar. There are a number of Maritime Nav Apps - Navionics, Imray and others.

A couple of friends had the same responce from raymarine and took your decision also.
They are pleased with garmins customer service. I feel when my system (raymarine) needs updating, I too will go the garmin route.
Possibly raymarine staff are not up to technical questions just sales people?

 

[lampshuk]

Tablets

I have used an iPad 2 with Navionics for a year around the Solent. Love it.

On a Moody 31, so no wheelhouse.
Tend to use it from the helm, so waterproofing is important to me, allowing me to use it from the helm in spray, rain etc.
I found that using a waterproof bag type of case was not ideal - I found it hard to view and steer at the same time, and pinch-zooming was quite hard while in the bag. So I bought an expensive waterproof case and clamp for the binnacle. LifeCase or something.

The good thing about the tablet route is that you get a decent sized screen for much less than a dedicated CP of the same size.

So, if I were in your shoes I would choose the tablet route. If waterproofing is not an issue then I would probably get a HUDL style of tablet to keep costs down. I do not know if good waterproofing systems are available for non-iPad tablets. You could probably pick up a reconditioned 3G iPad 2 for a sensible price.

If you go the Android route I would recommend the charts available from VisitMyHarbour. I have these on my Android phone and find them a good backup to the iPad.

 

[jwilson]

A couple of friends had the same responce from raymarine and took your decision also.
They are pleased with garmins customer service. I feel when my system (raymarine) needs updating, I too will go the garmin route.
Possibly raymarine staff are not up to technical questions just sales people?

I have had 3 different plotters,

Raymarine C70 fitted at chart table, now 8 years old, still there. Raymarine nicest to use, but not as well made as the price indicates. Several faults, my experience of their service on this and other AP and instrument products has been very mixed.

Garmin 3005C fitted at wheel, had two over 6 years - now junked. Units were never truly waterproof, screen frequently misted up inside and eventually had to empty water from inside casing. After first one did not recover, had a factory exchange from Garmin at about £200. When that too eventually died from water ingress Garmin had stopped supporting that product. Neither was really bright enough for daylight use, though the screen quality (except brightness) was excellent.

Standard Horizon 180i fitted at wheel to replace Garmin, not as sharp and crisp a screen but at least bright enough for daylight and very usable. Only 1 year old at present, so far it looks like a good low-mid cost option.

Unless you always sail with a fully competent crew the place for a plotter is at the helm: in the case of a inside-outside helm and if money was tight (isn't it always) I'd probably get an Android tablet with Navionics charting: seen one on another boat and for an "inside" location it was excellent.

 

[Mandarin331]

If you go the Android route I would recommend the charts available from VisitMyHarbour. I have these on my Android phone and find them a good backup to the iPad.

+1 for the visitmyharbour charts

 

[marmat]

I have a Garmin 820 running off nmea 2000 backbone. It is interfaced with every thing but the galley sink! I thought about putting a Garmin repeater in the nav area in the saloon interfaced with the 200I VHF and AIs transponder. Very expensive and also if the 820 fails then the whole system goes down. Instead I have fitted a RO4800 VHF (AIS integral) and interfaced (NMEA 0183) it with a Horizon 190i Chart plotter; both of the units are now discontinued but some retailers have stock and are offering them out at discounted prices The system works well at a fraction of the Garmin cost and I can use my existing C-Map charts.