Chart plotter. Worth it?

[billmacfarlane]

Re: Are you getting the latest model???

Good question. I'll need to check. I saw it at the boat show and ordered it a couple of days ago. The one I got demo'ed was the one you mention but I wasn't aware that they hadn't shipped it yet.

 

[kdf]

My $0.02 - If you feel you need it/want it then get one. I wont get into the debate of rader first etc. Personnaly I think they're great. The reassurance of having your position displayed continuously on a moving chart is great - the crew just glance at it as they pass and know exactly where we are. We have ours connected to the autohelm so it's just connect the dots and engage and the system does the rest.

Couple of points
- Get a unit with a seperate GPS. that way if the plotter goes down you can still find your position (requires a repeater somewhere to show the lat/long).
- Get in the hapit of writing down the position on paper so that you have a log in case of failure.
- Carry paper charts.

We also have a Compaq Ipaq (handheld) with maptech s/w for use in the cockpit. It's enclosed in lightweight waterproof case.

hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

I'm not a dinosaur (can't even spell it) but paper has still got to be best. your batteries are your lifeline otherwise. get the best of both worlds with a yeoman plotter. got mine from southampton from compass for £299 with a free mlr gps thrown in.

 

[cynthia]

We've got this one with radar/chart plotter. As far as I know there is no choice about charts, they're C-map. You just put your hand in your pocket and pay the asking price! We have discovered that the bigger the chart the better the value (providing you cover that distance) and also they can be rechipped once you move to new sailing grounds. The cost is still a bit steep though, considering paper charts are still needed as a backup.

Enjoy the toy.

 

[iainmillett]

I bought a Vic 26 last year and with it came a Yeoman chart plotter.

Once learnt and portfolio charts input to the device - there is no looking back!

I know where I am (big deal!) but more importantly where the next waypoint; buoy etc is and how far; and on what bearing.

It is down below - but in most conditions, I fix my position etc in a couple of minutes.

I have a GPS repeater in the cockpit.

Also using Admiralty charts is ideal.

Radar - great for fog but would not prevent you being run down in a matter of minutes and requires full time watch in such conditions.

 

[charles_reed]

I bought mine as part of a job-lot with the set of navigation instruments, ostensibly as a chart-table instrument repeater - I think James would have done anything to stop my whinging about those awful 200 series instruments.

Having got it, I first connected it up to the NMEA output on the Garmin 65 and invested in a Navionics card for the Irish Sea. At that point I regarded the whole thing with as much disdain as the Decca which was always a lot farther away from our real position than my EP.

Now! I infinitely prefer paper charts, but the value of the plotter really was proven when a squall produced nil visibility whilst I was doing the inside (East) passage round St Patricks Causeway, on a spring ebb.

I've had the chartplotter for about 6 years now and rate it as valuable as the radar (which I had prior to fitting the chartplotter).

You've attended to a couple of the pros;
* reduction of human error in transferring coordinates onto the chart
* real-time position updates

But both of these can be supplied by the Yeoman (succinctly described as the world's most expensive automated pencil) at somewhat lower cost.
The greatest pro is one you've not covered - saving stowage.
To get the same coverage as the 4 x 64Mb chips, which fit into a small cigar box I'd have to carry 291 Admiralty charts - I'm covering S Irish Sea, S Ireland, Brittany, N & S Biscay, Portugal, S Spain and Central Spain/Baleares.
The second point is that I've only had to invest £800 in those chips, less than a quarter as much as the Admiralty charts.

The Greek chorus will now be heard offstage "Wot about battery failure" - well what about it - if your specs fall overboard most of us will be "blind" navigators (and how long do those 6 AAA batteries last in your hand-held?).

I think you've all missed the greatest con of all - GPS and the chart-plotter (even more so) allow us to delude ourselves that we're consummate navigators, to the point that we rely entirely on the latest bag of tricks (once upon a time that was RDF). The truth is that navigation is an holistic craft - GPS and chartplotter are just another string to our navigation bow - for your own and God's sake don't neglect the older aids - eyeball, smell, the look of the water.

So after my homily and to answer your question - I'd sum up as follows:

For the recreational, summer coastal sailor the chartplotter is probably of more value than radar.
If you're out in all weathers I'd go for the radar first as the more valuable.

PS The most endearing feature of my chartplotter is that it will record, hourly, all my log details for about 35 hours if I don't allow the memory to be hogged by other functions. Lat/Long/CMG/Mag Course/Log/Speed/SOG/Wind dir & speed.
Lovely in heavy weather, avoids hours of honking up one's heart over the side as a result of plotting the fix and writing up the log. From that point of view it's added more to MY sailing enjoyment than any other peice of kit I've fitted.