Chartplotter Helm Options

[CrossedThreads]

Hi all,

Looking for some help with some decisions around upgrading my electronics.

I think I’ve pretty much settled on Garmin over Raymarine however I am struggling with what the best options are at the helm.

The current set up is dated and as follows:
RL70, ST60 Tri Data, ST600+.

The current plotters are more landscape than the RL70’s portrait dimensions so I have the following options due to the dimensions of the binnacle.

Either:
7inch plotter alongside 2 smaller instruments. One to show data and one to control the autopilot. In broadly the same layout as currently.

12inch plotter (taking up the whole space) with the instruments located elsewhere within the cockpit but not likely within view of the helm.

There is also a chart plotter at the chart table below.

I’ve ruled out adding additional instrument pods etc as I don’t really like the aesthetics.

I’ve attached a picture of the current set up.

So, what would you do? Is having the autopilot away from the wheel a major issue given it can be controlled from the plotter? Is a seven inch screen a bit small?
Is it better to have multiple smaller screens to make things easier or create redundancy? Any other ideas?

Thanks all

 

[harvey38]

As you already have Raymarine, personally I'd stick with it unless there are specific reasons to go with Garmin. At least the Autopilot will have some (not all) control via a new Raymarine MFD and you can ditch the depth instrument as that will display on the MFD.

If you did go that way, I would get at least a 9" MFD and make a new panel for the MFD with Autopilot above or below.

I'm sure @PaulRainbow will be along soon, he is a mine of knowledge on such matters.

 

[[70521]]

Gosh that looks a bit cluttered at the moment.

I am not a fan of Raymarine and having spent two weeks on a boat with the most modern, all bells and whistles kit it left we wondering:

1. why is it so popular;
2. why don't its users don't have more nervous breakdowns?

Are you planning, longer term to replace everything with Garmin kit?

 

[CrossedThreads]

Yes I’m planning to go all Garmin. There’s a few reasons really:
Lots of recommendations.
I like the interface with Quatix, Fusion etc.
When you look at Raymarine vs Garmin plotters, the screen size is the same on the GPSMAP 723 and Axiom 7 however the physical dimensions of the Axiom are nearly the same as the 923 so lots of wasted space.

 

[CrossedThreads]

As you already have Raymarine, personally I'd stick with it unless there are specific reasons to go with Garmin. At least the Autopilot will have some (not all) control via a new Raymarine MFD and you can ditch the depth instrument as that will display on the MFD.

If you did go that way, I would get at least a 9" MFD and make a new panel for the MFD with Autopilot above or below.

I'm sure @PaulRainbow will be along soon, he is a mine of knowledge on such matters.

You’re right however everything is going to be updated, and probably quite quickly so it feels like the ideal opportunity to switch brand with as short a period of hassle as possible.

I think 9” and the autopilot is the utopia however I am not sure it’ll fit without butchery.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You’re right however everything is going to be updated, and probably quite quickly so it feels like the ideal opportunity to switch brand with as short a period of hassle as possible.

I think 9” and the autopilot is the utopia however I am not sure it’ll fit without butchery.

You could solve the autopilot problem by also having a remote and locating the fixed autopilot controls somewhere else perhaps on the inside of the cockpit .

 

[Laser310]

I have had unsatisfactory experiences with Raymarine on some carter boats.

I am also not a fan of the garmin plotters.

I prefer the B&G Zeus plotters. I am sure you can do it with the others too.., but with the B&G you can have both a nice number display, and an autopilot control on the chartplotter screen. Just be careful you don't have the autopilot window highlighted when you turn the knob to zoom the radar overlay...

 

[RunAgroundHard]

@CrossedThreads ... 12inch plotter (taking up the whole space) with the instruments located elsewhere within the cockpit but not likely within view of the helm. ...

The above is how I am set up, but plotter mounted off the helm. I never use my instruments as they are all displayed on plotter.

I would have only my plotter at the helm. The instruments can all be displayed at the plotter, so no need to fit them there, pointless really. I noticed that a recent upgrades to an associates boat, that they mounted the instruments on the cockpit bulkhead each side off the companionway and the plotter only at the helm with the data from the instruments easily accessed right at the plotter.

I would look at upgrading your plotter to at least 9", preferably 12" and if possible, just using the instrument sensors to feed directly to the plotter. Perhaps the instrument heads are needed, I don't know. I use a 12" Axiom+ and split the screen for wind / current course, with plotter and show depth and speed as data text on the screen. Very likely Garmin will be the same.

I think separate instruments is an expensive option that is not necessary with modern MFD displays.

 

[Laser310]

It's pretty useful to have instruments at the companionway, or somewhere forward, for when you are on autopilot and not standing behind the helm

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you can fit a 12" plotter at the helm, i would do that.

The current Raymarine displays will not directly connect to anything new, but with a Seatalk to Seatalk NG converter they will connect to anything STNG or NMEA 2000.

The autopilot could also be used via the same converter, but cannot be controlled via the plotter, no matter if the new plotter is Raymarine or anything else. You can, however, set a waypoint or route on the plotter and uses the "goto" function (on the Garmin plotter) and then press the track button on the autopilot twice to got to the waypoint or follow the route.

If you update the other instruments at some point you may need to replace the depth transducer for a NMEA 2000 model, or a Garmin one connected directly to the plotter.

If you update the autopilot to a Garmin one you can fully control it from the plotter. There are options where you can update the electronics but keep the drive, providing it's not a wheel or tiller pilot.

 

[ashtead]

That looks like a Bavaria helm set up. When we came years ago to replace the raymarine we went for what was a 750 Garmin which I recall gave a ground picture etc but we needed a new base board cut to mount the plotter on the hole. We kept the original raymarine instruments though. It would seem to me based on above brand turns on whether a full instrument upgrade due. Provided you have some sort of iPad or other Bluetooth device any new plotter could pair with the iPad. I’m not a great fan of that current installation of plotter visually . On basis you want Garmin though I would remove /relocate off the helm and replace the 2 small units with Garmin equivalents now (or accept any issues that arise in retaining raymarine) and buy the largest Garmin plotter with ground visibity you can find to fit in helm with a new backing plate. If plan is ultimately though to de raymarinize then surely doing it all at once simplifies if budget permits . Have you thought of asking on boat brand forum for ideas eg Bavaria owners if indeed a Bav ?

 

[SaltyC]

At the binnacle I feel 7" is large enough, however if you desire larger it is easy to display speed and depth on the plotter as assume these are desirable when entering harbour / anchorage.
Mount separate instruments at forward end of cockpit so speed and depth easily viewed when not at the helm.

 

[DJE]

It's pretty useful to have instruments at the companionway, or somewhere forward, for when you are on autopilot and not standing behind the helm

That's how mine are arranged. If you put them all at the helm then only one person can see them, further forward they are available to others who might want to see them for sail trimming, navigating etc.

And if I'm on watch on my own I can shelter under the spray hood with a full set of instruments and the autopilot controller close at hand.

 

[Laser310]

At the binnacle I feel 7" is large enough, however if you desire larger it is easy to display speed and depth on the plotter as assume these are desirable when entering harbour / anchorage.

probably an age/vision component to it...

i now find that i occasionally need reading glasses in my daily life.

my experience with 7" chartplotters is only with raymarine and my experience with 9 and 12" chartplotters is only with B&G - so it's not really a controlled experiment...

but; i need reading glasses with the 7" raymarine, and not with the 9 and 12" B&G.

I find the raymarine not as bright, and more affected by salt and water on the display - I sometimes experience frustration with not being able to really see the 7" raymarine as well as I would like.., and I never have this problem with the larger B&G chartploters.

I often just end up using a tablet or a phone instead of the 7" raymarine.

If you are going to count on a chartplotter to keep you off the rocks in occasionally difficult viewing/operating conditions.., this is not a good place to save money. Make it easy on yourself; get at least a 9" plotter, and get one with knobs/buttons in addition to the touch screen.

 

[Laser310]

also - remember that any time spent staring at a chartplotter trying to read the tiny numbers and discern the tiny symbols..., is time _not_ spent looking at where you are going.

Once you are familiar with a plotter, it should take no more than quick glance to get the information you need.