chartplotter - helm or chart table ?

[splashman237]

I've just bought a jeanneau 32i with not much in the way of instrumentation - going to fit a Chartplotter - but whats best - at the helm or down at the Chart table ?

I see you can get a new raymarine e7 that wifi's with an iPAD maybe that would give me best of both worlds - anyone comment on the e7 as a helm chartplotter ?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Cant comment on the e7 as a user, but that's the route im going down too... Seems the strongest offering in the market at the moment

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I have both, but if I had to bin one it would be the one at the chart table.

When you really need a plotter with radar is when it's foggy, or in restricted waters. In those situations, the last thing I want to do is go below to navigate.

 

[Robin]

Do you steer or the autopliot? I prefer the plotter to be visible from the whole cockpit not just from behind the wheel so had our cockpit one mounted on the coachroof. This was a second plotter, because the main one was down below at the chart table, next to the radar and a second pilot control head, allowing the boat to be conned from there. The nav table plotter is easier to use in setting up routes in comfort, in our case transferring them to the cockpit plotter with user cards (C-Map) but more modern plotters will probably have the option of a second display head, in which case have master below and slave up top.

 

[rotrax]

I've just bought a jeanneau 32i with not much in the way of instrumentation - going to fit a Chartplotter - but whats best - at the helm or down at the Chart table ?

I see you can get a new raymarine e7 that wifi's with an iPAD maybe that would give me best of both worlds - anyone comment on the e7 as a helm chartplotter ?

Thought long and hard about this ourselves-decided on the helm position.We went for a Raymarine C80 in a Scanstrut housing. Scanstrutt wanted something like £180.00 for a mount to hold their £200.00,plus the same for a box. Add in a similar amount for their swivel mount and it gets very expensive! Our local specialist fabricator-Specialist Welding in Steventon-made up a U shaped piece of 1 inch S/S tube the right width for £20.00.A couple of plastic end bungs and 4 clips and it fitted a treat for £31.00 all in. Hardest part-which was down to me-was making the large hole in the bottom to feed the wires up. Having used it for two years now without any trouble we are pleased with our choice,especialy of the mounting position. First mate and I are both shorthouses so visibility from the helm meant standing to one side anyway. We were both of the opinion that a Nav. aid should be where you need it,when you need it. Practice has confirmed that,for us,we made the correct decision.

 

[maby]

Definitely at the helm.

I was looking at the E7, but got scared off from chart plotters with touch screens due to claims that they tend to go haywire when spray lands on the screen. We'll be going for a B&G when the new boat eventually arrives!

 

[Malish]

Both..

I have a SH300 and two mounts + connectors, one at the chart table and one under the sprayhood... located under the spray hood when sailing and at the chart table in harbour. Extra mount + connector <£50 as I recall. This arrangement probably works best on a tiller steered boat, if you have a wheel then you probably end up needing a binnacle etc.

 

[prv]

For me, a plotter is a pilotage aid; for navigation I prefer charts. That makes the decision pretty easy for me - pilotage is done from the cockpit so that's where the plotter belongs. Navigation is done at the chart table which incorporates a Yeoman.

Agree with Robin's point about mounting at the helm not necessarily being the right place in the cockpit - my boat has a tiller so the bulkhead is the only option anyway. But at both ends of the Cherbourg trip (main place I've used the plotter - don't need it for local waters) my friend was steering while I did the pilotage. Would have been annoying if it was placed where only she could see.

Pete

 

[GrahamM376]

I have both, but if I had to bin one it would be the one at the chart table.

When you really need a plotter with radar is when it's foggy, or in restricted waters. In those situations, the last thing I want to do is go below to navigate.

Agreed, it always amuses me how many have both the plotter and radar down below where they can't be monitored or operated from the cockpit, what use are they there on single handed watch?

Personal choice of course but I dislike instruments at the helm. When running on autopilot, why have to move or maybe stand in the rain just to see them? I want them where they can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit - by everyone. Our instruments are over the companionway and, when in use the (stand alone) plotter under the sprayhood and the radar has a second mounting bracket so it hangs from the ceiling just inside the companionway.

 

[nickd]

In the cockpit

Definitely in the cockpit, not having a binnacle I installed mine in the cockpit bulkhead. I purchased the Raymarine E80 which was easy to install and interface with the other instruments and also has the ability to connect the laptop as a second chart plotter using cat 5, I did this so that I had the option of a chartplotter at the chart table if required - In two years I have never connected the laptop.
See photo below this position seems to work quite well.

 

[youen]

In the cockpit

I have one under the spayhood and one at the chart table but never use it.It is so easy seeing it from the helm ,it is always switch on

 

[davidej]

For me, a plotter is a pilotage aid; for navigation I prefer charts. That makes the decision pretty easy for me - pilotage is done from the cockpit so that's where the plotter belongs. Navigation is done at the chart table .

Pete

wise comment

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I've just ran a second set of cables and an extra mount so that I can have my SH300i on the coachroof inside the hood alongside the companionway.
I agree with others that in fog or bad conditions, especially if short handed, then it may be best to have it in the cockpit to see AIS as well.

You may be interested in the thread below......
There is an issue with some plotters being too bright and not being able to dim enough even on night mode that was discussed recently......... http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272373
However, if your name is Graham.... no problem!

 

[BAtoo]

If its either or then its in the cockpit; mines similar position to Nickd's.

 

[dslittle]

For me, a plotter is a pilotage aid; for navigation I prefer charts. That makes the decision pretty easy for me - pilotage is done from the cockpit so that's where the plotter belongs. Navigation is done at the chart table which incorporates a Yeoman.
Pete

+1
Got caught in a nasty squall once (well twice actually - is it me?) on the transit into Portsmouth.
Nil visibility but VERY comforting to watch my progress on the marked transit on the chartplotter in the cockpit.

 

[jwilson]

I have both, but if I had to bin one it would be the one at the chart table.

When you really need a plotter with radar is when it's foggy, or in restricted waters. In those situations, the last thing I want to do is go below to navigate.

+1, though my Garmin 3005 at the helm has just expired, water inside an IPX7 sealed unit. If not fixable it will be replaced with another in the same place.

I also have a C70 at the chart table, almost never gets the cover taken off it.

My only complaint about helm position is visibilty of the screen in bright sunlight, but then you usually only really want to use it much when in awkward conditions, whether they involve watching for half-submerged lobster pot buoys or in poor visibility.

 

[Robin]

Agreed, it always amuses me how many have both the plotter and radar down below where they can't be monitored or operated from the cockpit, what use are they there on single handed watch?

An important caveat however IMO. The person on the helm cannot properly concentrate both on steering and monitoring the radar in conditions where the radar is essential. This is because a) an occasional glance is just a snapshot it is the video view of radar pictures that is important b) there is a tendency to think that if you simply point the heading mark away from the target you will avoid it, or even that you can slalom your way through by doing that (say in close quarters in a harbour perhaps) and c) by watching and steering at the same time the course held will be erratic and will screw the relative motion radar video to make it even harder to interpret. Using the autopilot whilst monitoring a wheel mounted radar is better, but still prone to distractions from other demands, like trimming sails or even keeping up a visual watch which is also best done by a dedicated person whose sight has not been ruined by a bright screen.

We (two up always) had the radar, one plotter and 2nd pilot control at the chart table, with a 2nd plotter on the coachroof. In fog we would monitor radar and plotter at the nav table and make course alterations if required via the pilot head situated there. Usually that would have the second person on visual watch in the cockpit, but with a single task to do and no bright radar screen to spoil vision. Away from busy or danger areas if single handed watch keeping, the person on watch could do so quite easily with the cockpit plotter plus it was still possible to see the radar (but not properly monitor it) to see if anything new was coming into range, also with a guard alarm set.

Personal choice of course but I dislike instruments at the helm. When running on autopilot, why have to move or maybe stand in the rain just to see them? I want them where they can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit - by everyone. Our instruments are over the companionway and, when in use the (stand alone) plotter under the sprayhood and the radar has a second mounting bracket so it hangs from the ceiling just inside the companionway.

Yes, me too. We had two Navman plotters either of which could be used in either location, coachroof or nav table. We really only needed the one since you could load routes and waypoints below in comfort and move it out to use at sea, but they were on different battery banks as a precaution and anyway I bought the extra one under half price in a supersale in the USA.

 

[prv]

There is an issue with some plotters being too bright and not being able to dim enough even on night mode

My SH180i is fine at night - the problem is if you turn it off in night mode when you tie up, then when you next turn it on in daylight the screen will be completely unreadable. I didn't even realise it was turning on at all, thought it had broken. I had to put my head (and the plotter) in a bag to be able to see even a glimmer of the display in order to turn it back to day mode.

The answer of course is dedicated physical controls - for example a thumb wheel for brightness - but of course each extra control costs money whereas software is (per extra unit) free.

Pete

 

[Skylark]

Lots of good and valid points already made about pilotage and navigation so no need to comment further.

I have a Lowrance HD7 at the wheel and an HD8 at the nav station.

They were only fitted last year to replace my older Raymarine.

The screen definition is quite remarkable. Daylight vision is good. Night time can either be "turned down brightness" or changed to night light mode.

I'm happy to have two separate plotters although I would have preferred a master and a repeater for lower cost. The constraints of size and availability meant that I had to buy two independant units.

 

[splashman237]

Yes the Navpods etc are pretty expensive for what is just a fibreglass box , guess its like buying insurance - you never know when a F8 is coming ...