Chart plotter, What is best Bang for Buck please?

John Davis said:
Any info would be helpful I am fairly new to this...... and the tech stuff moves on so quickly
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Size for size (screen size), all the main manufacturers are similarly priced and offer similar features. You're right about tech stuff changing rapidly, many of the plotters you'll see on sale are technically discontinued already. Almost every modern plotter will have NMEA2000, many will also offer NMEA0183 compatibility.

I rate screen size and screen definition as being very important, so I'd suggest you look for a 7" or 8" plotter with good definition.
 
Or if you really want the lowest possible price with great functionality and can accept the other limitations, then a 10" Android tablet running Navionics (Vector charts) or VisitMyHarbour (Raster charts), a waterproof case, a sucker or rail mount, and a power supply.
 
A small handheld by Garmin secondhand might be worth a look if you can live with the small screen size. I have found one useful as a backup to paper charts. Clearly an iPad is great solution if you have one already but cannot replace proper Raymarine e7 or garmin in terms of convenience. A lot depends on what you plan to use the chart plotter for. Raymarine offer sometimes some courses at their HO which might be of interest or get down to the marine superstore at port Solent and play with a few devices.
 
johnalison said:
My Raymarine e7 came with the Navionics silver chart of everywhere from here to the moon, but this is not updateable. Is the Garmin similar?
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The Garmin charts that come pre-installed can be updated by wifi. The new charts are downloaded to a phone or tablet, using the Garmin Active captain app', then uploaded to the plotter by wifi. G2 vision charts can also be used on an SD card. The G2 charts that come pre-installed are full detail charts, the Navionics silver charts were always a bit light on data.
 
A63C7A3C-2677-4EDF-9076-E1D704717C74.jpegiPad install with a Vidabox, if you don’t want to stare at a screen at the helm, a good option. Provides internet, weather, email, etc etc too.
 
ipad / Android tablet OK down below - we use one for that too. The really hard thing to do is the daylight viewable screen - which is partly why plotters can seem pricey by comparison. If you want to use it in the cockpit a plotter is going to give you a more easily visible screen.
I like the Raymarine + Navionics as I can sync charts / routes / waypoints with the ipad and use it wirelessly as a repeater down below.
 
Thanks to all for the replies, I may go and play with a few as advised, be nice to have something that is not discontinued the following week but i guess thats the luck of the draw
 
Marmalade said:
ipad / Android tablet OK down below - we use one for that too. The really hard thing to do is the daylight viewable screen - which is partly why plotters can seem pricey by comparison. If you want to use it in the cockpit a plotter is going to give you a more easily visible screen.
I like the Raymarine + Navionics as I can sync charts / routes / waypoints with the ipad and use it wirelessly as a repeater down below.
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FYI, you can do that with other makes too, Garmin included. With Garmin you need a GPSMap model for full repeating, or the Echomap for a stand alone "plotter" which will sync routes etc, but not act as a repeater.

Completely agree with the daylight viewable issue. I did some testing with various tablets in the cockpit and daylight visibility was total rubbish until i tried a Samsung Galaxy Pro S, that was half sensible, but nowhere near as good as a plotter and the damn thing coast almost as much as a 9" plotter. That's not even mentioning waterproofing and charging.

** Speaking as a boat owner, nothing to do with my work.
 
Agree with daylight viewable comments, not their strong point.

if you only want a tablet to be a 'reassuring friend' at the chart table for occasional fixes of your position on passage in unfamiliar waters I think it's hard to beat. That's an iPad Pro linked via digital yacht to AIS and the boat's instruments. I've wired in a hidden switched USB so it charges when required with no wires etc on show.

Particularly attractive if your company buys it for you, to allow you to 'work' on the boat!
 
I have the Onwa Kcombo 7+ with C-Map. Very effective of course, feels very solid, good buttons, menus quite logical. I have a Standard Horizon, slightly smaller as well but of course that is all finished.
 
xyachtdave said:
Agree with daylight viewable comments, not their strong point.

if you only want a tablet to be a 'reassuring friend' at the chart table for occasional fixes of your position on passage in unfamiliar waters I think it's hard to beat. That's an iPad Pro linked via digital yacht to AIS and the boat's instruments. I've wired in a hidden switched USB so it charges when required with no wires etc on show.

Particularly attractive if your company buys it for you, to allow you to 'work' on the boat!
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As well as being hard to see, they don't enjoy life in the open. I find my iPad useful occasionally, linked to the plotter, but once, when used in the sun in Brittany, when I really wanted it, it switched itself off due to overheating. I would think that anywhere like the Med would make its use very limited.
 
johnalison said:
As well as being hard to see, they don't enjoy life in the open. I find my iPad useful occasionally, linked to the plotter, but once, when used in the sun in Brittany, when I really wanted it, it switched itself off due to overheating. I would think that anywhere like the Med would make its use very limited.
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That's true. I use a 10" Samsung as an off-the-boat planning and browsiong tool and on the boat as a backup, actually used in anger once when my Garmin packed up. TBH I wasn't even slightly lost but nonetheless it was interesting to try it out.
 
When choosing - its not only the size and resolution of screen - but also the chart format it uses.

Updates of some 'reccd' chart formats can work out expensive for nothing more than any other cheaper gives.

So it needs consideration of not only initial price to buy .. then chart coverage you need ... chart coverage you would like additional ... and then costs to update.

I personally prefer a plotter that can take more than one chart format ... there are still many that can. That way you can use the 'brands own' for deep water nav where its extremely unlikely you need great detail and then high detail chart format for nav inshore etc.
 
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