Chart plotter. Worth it?

[Twister_Ken]

Can't work out whether I need a chart plotter, or whether its just another attack of gadgetitis.

Pros.
God, sparks and George W willing, you know exactly where you are on the chart at anytime without needing to do 30 secs work transferring a GPS posn to a paper chart. Or muck about with handbearing compasses, etc.
Very nice to have in poor vis.


Cons.
It'll be below. I'll be in the cockpit.
The money would buy x% of a new genoa.
If I'm on the South Coast between Brighton and Weymouth I've generally got a reasonable idea of about where I am anyway.
More to go wrong.

What do you scholars think about chartplotters

 

[peterg]

could you not have a 'repeater' screen in the cockpit or alternatively a handheld device as there are many of these about nowadays and they are not that expensive

I have used a chartplotter for the last two years and wouldn't want to be without it now

 

[Guest]

All depends on what type of sailing you do. If you do offshore sailing, why bother ? To plot a position once every few hours from the GPS is no big deal. On the other hand, if you do inshore sailing, especially in the dark or in poor visibility, it can be great but only if you have the display outside.

The entire idea is to allow you to monitor your position on a continuos basis. A display inside is useful only if you have a separate helmsman/lookout and a separate navigator.

Personally, if I had to choose, I would prefer radar to a plotter. The plotter won´t tell you about all those other boats out there in the fog.


Andreas

 

[Twister_Ken]

>I have used a chartplotter for the last two years and wouldn't want to be without it now<

Peter, can I ask what difference has it made to your sailing and/or enjoyment of sailing compared with 2 years ago?

TIA, Ken

 

[Guest]

Save the money and put it towards your new genoa! Sounds like you have enough navigational aids to see through pretty much all situations. Whereas a new genoa will no doubt let you point that little bit higher get an extra knot here or there much more satisfying than a flashing dot on a screen saying your here! Particularly as you have something to tell you that already!

David

 

[billmacfarlane]

I had a look at SBS at various electronics including chart plotters. Initially I couldn't see much point as with a GPS and a paper chart I can get as much detail as any electronic chart I've seen. Transferring a position to from GPS to a paper chart takes all of 20 seconds or so , not exactly a big deal and if that's an issue a Yeoman plotter can do it almost instantly. The only use I can see of it is if you're in a thick fog in a narrow channel and the plotter is detailed enough , it might be a help provided it's visible from the cockpit. Having said all that , I'm in the process of spec'ing up some toys for my new boat and I'll probably go for a radar with a split screen and built in chart plotter. One of the advantages of this over a pure radar screen is that you can overlay the 2 images and eliminate and identify any static images e.g buoys on the radar screen. Mind you I'll still have my paper charts.

 

[Boatman]

Bill, Have installed exactly what you are thinking of split screen plotter and radar a few months ago. Only one word descibes it unbelievable. There is no doubt about it it is a nice (v. Nice) to have option but not a must. I still have the paper charts as well and still use them as a backup but I have to urge myself to do it. Depending on which electronic charts you are using there is a wealth of additional information such as tidal curves etc, I wonder how much longer paper pilot books are going to last.

 

[robp]

I went to the boat show with the express intention of finding what they can do for me. Having been caught a couple of times this season by thick fog in awkward places and singlehanded, I'd like one on the pedastal in front of me. Like Bill I came to the conclusion that a Radar/Charplotter, sorting the chaff from the wheat, would be best. Trouble is that bright colour is definitely best and definitely very expensive! Would now choose: RayMarine Radar/Plotter or Garmin 2006 Plotter only. (But that is a good part of the RayMarine total price, 2/3rds anyway).

 

[Guest]

Re: handheld?

I'm with you on the cons.

I use garmin 175, a handheld. Smaller screen but zoom in/out so it's fine. Big pros of handheld is no installation, precisely the same accuracy, cheaper, not stealable, portable to another boat, and most of all you can fiddle and twiddle with exact courses at home, and bingo they are all nice and set up on arival at boat. I do have fixed chartplotter too, cost 1500 blimmin quid, but never use it really. With ability to use at home you get really slick. I could do without fixed unit (worth nothing on resale) but preferably pls not without handheld.

Garmin 175 and magellan 6000 are the two main options. 600 quid ish. Need map chips too, £100ish per area. Mine is Garmin. Need 12v sockets cos otherwise they eat batteries. Garmin (at least) do brackets and clamps to have in cockpit for sunny slow days, good for "how far how long". For down below use a long extendy aerial extension (=bit of wire).

 

[peterg]

mostly it's down to giving us 'local' knowledge in areas where we haven't been before and because my wife and I have not been boating that long we weren't brought up on paper navigation so it just made it easier and therefore more relaxing which is why we have a boat after all

we have both got an ICC and can do the paper bit if the electrickery breaks down but as we only get very limited time on our boat we want to make the most of it and being as we're both 'in computers' we are used to using technology for everyday functions so it comes naturally to us to use it for leisure as well

 

[jamesjermain]

Radar first

I love plotters as toys and they have some real advantages, especially when keeping a running plot in tricky pilotage situations - particularly poor visibility.
However, I would invest in a good radar set before a plotter. Radar is a major contributor to yacht safety as anyone who has used on in fog will agree, and can do things which neither GPS nor a plotter can, while there is little a plotter can do that a GPS and chart cannot.

JJ

 

[Boatman]

Re: Radar first

Ask any professional the question what 1 piece of kit would you have as the only piece? Radar will always be the answer and with practice you can do all the costal navigation you want both in foul and good weather. Just think distance off, bearing to / from etc.

 

[incognito]

Get a Yeoman plotter, virtues of paper charts and deadeye fixing (psst. I've now got two, one going dead cheap!!)

Get a Radar too.

Then, go anywhere!

 

[billmacfarlane]

I've actually ordered one this week, the Raytheon model RL72C. I'd be interested to know what the best charts you've found are ?

 

[duncan]

I have found mine (Gamin 215) really usefull for the following: new areas - esp. harbours; accurate ETAs on journeys - aid planning on tidal windows etc, bad visability because I can concentrate on signs of activity by other users against an easy knowledge of where I am and going. Finally as I have a planning motor boat the constant 'on demand' info is something I just couldn't replicate using a chart when single handed.
However, doing it from scratch I would without doubt mix Radar and CP/GPS. GPS element is a dirt cheap, youare paying for the screen, packaging, marketing etc so a single unit makes a whole lot of sense (although you will need a repeater screen in your cockpit to really enjoy).

happy boating

 

[Guest]

YES. They are great!

 

[Bergman]

In a motor boat doing 20-30 kts I wouldn't be without one, at those speed by the time you've plotted your posn you're somewhere else.

Don't see the point in a yacht, unless you have a portable one (which will end up being dropped o/board) you still have to go below to have a look at it.

If I had to choose between plotter and radar it would be radar every time.

 

[pvb]

Are you getting the latest model???

Raymarine have just announced the Pathfinder Plus, which has the added facility to overlay the radar image on top of the chartplotter image, rather than showing separate displays in a split screen. (This overlay feature is also offered by Furuno, but with an inferior screen resolution). There is literature available on Pathfinder Plus, but it isn't mentioned on Raymarine's website - when I asked them why, they said it was because they hadn't started shipping it yet.

 

[cynthia]

Biggest advantage for me is whilst I'm a good sailor on deck - down below if I focus on print I feel instantly sick. The plotter doesn't have this affect, so I can do the nav. Mind you I still transfer the info to paper charts when on passage - still it makes life below decks so much more comfortable.

Apart from that its a fantastic toy!

 

[Guest]

Yeoman plotter is the "bees knees". Got me into Alderney in thick fog and was spot on. At least, if there is a problem, you can go back to Breton Plotter & pencil using paper charts.