chartplotter - helm or chart table ?

Think youve all convinced me that cockpit is going to be best - helm is wheel steering with Binacle , so prob mount at helm .

Still no feedbacl on the new e7 guess its a bit new to be being used much, looks smaller that the C70, E80 , E120 other plotters etc, still would like an iPAd to play with down below rather than another plotter.
 
splashman237 said:
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 ?
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I have a Jeanneau 32 and have the radar and chartplotter at the nav table. This arrangement is definitely very inconvenient when coastal cruising, particularly when making landfall at night.

However, I find it a better arrangement when on a long passage when I use the radar alarm as lookout while I sleep. I also find it more convenient when at anchor for setting anchor alarms etc.

Probably if I were to start again, I would try to mount everything on the bulkhead at the forward end of the cockpit - that way radar and plotter woudl be visible from the helm and cockpit, but would be relatively convenient to check when down below.

I guess a lot depends on what sort of sailing you intend to do. If you hand steer and have a crew, then probably best at the helm. If (like me) you single-hand a lot, then cockpit mounting would be best.
 
I have never favoured the trend for chartplotters and instruments mounted where only the person on the helm can see them. This only encourages possible confusion about who is in overall control, a common modern error discussed here from time to time is to equate 'having the helm' with 'being in charge'. If the helmsperson is the only one ho can readily see the plotter/echosounder readout/wind instrument that just encourages them to think they are in charge. When doing any difficult pilotage I would always prefer to put someone else on the helm, while I concentrate on the overall situation. I commend the use of a sign where the helm can see it saying 'Just Effing Steer'.
 
rotrax said:
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.
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I'm going to have to do something similar as the Binacle hoop is too short to take another dedicated plotter pod above the existing instrument pod - alternative is a new instrument pod combining the plotter and windex/log - whats the best value for money on pods ? Navpod, IPX, scanstrut, or others ?
 
prv said:
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.

Pete
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Pete,
I had this issue for ages until I realised I can adjust the brightness and contrast by pressing the power button quickly, can't see the display initially but use the cursor control pushed right then up to set the brightness and contrast to max, the screen is then visible. Without doing the contrast it's impossible to see which option is highlighted.

Going back to the thread...
I have two SH180 plotters, one in cockpit on bulkhead, one at nav table. Primarily use the cockpit one, it's ideal for pilotage and checking vmg, ttg, bearings/distance to objects etc whilst helming although ttg on the SH180 can be flakey.
One at the nav table is used to support paper charts, double checking position etc and tidal information.
 
There isn't one answer to suit all is there. Cockpits are very different, helming positions alter between some tiller and then some wheel positions. How we use our boats and what situations we find ourselves in because of the different ways we use our boats may determine how we set up instruments.
Those with a tiller will probably find that positions near the companionway entrance are the only places to put instruments close to the cockpit.
If you wheel steer and the companionway is a fair distance away it is probably more preferable to have the plotter on the binacle or close to. This I found a distraction to my sailing when I tried it on a friends boat and it tended to dominate my attentions a bit too much........ a bit like if the t.v. is on in a room then you are likely to watch it.
I suppose if you wish the screen to always be on you could always stick the cover on.... not sure if a heat build-up would be a problem though....anyone know/is it in the manuals? On the other hand..... ther's always the 'off' button.
In the other thread I mentioned earlier I have since found the SH300i I now have, can be darkened down far more than the old SH175, so that's an improvement.
 
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Scotty_Tradewind said:
There isn't one answer to suit all is there. Cockpits are very different, helming positions alter between some tiller and then some wheel positions. How we use our boats and what situations we find ourselves in because of the different ways we use our boats may determine how we set up instruments.
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Agree on which thought for those of us with who want a multi purpose devise.

Presently I have a:
Garmin Oregon 450

But was eyeing a:
http://sites.garmin.com/montana/

Although the screen is a little small you can with a little thought plan your passages at home.

Mine is even been used from home to home.... IN the Car then on the boat and walking round town...

It gets adequate signal below its just a shame the anchor alarm is quite...

OK No AIS input no depth input no radar input but for smaller boats I would say its ideal...

Ideal in the cockpit you can just pass it around, we have found it sufficient for our use and on a smaller boat you do not clutter our cockpit...

Just an idea but I would not leave home with out mine (some people think I would get lost).

First post and waiting for the my first flaming :D
 
We have two mounting points for the SH Plotter, one at the helm which is the normal position, and one under the sprayhood beside the radar. Both are wired in parallel. The VHF (also SH) displays the GPS position at the chart table, so most angles are covered. For planning I have a power only cable that just needs a 12V supply.
 
We have an RL70 at the helm and an RL80 at the nav table. Both oldish Raymarine units. We normally sail just wife and I and we primarily use the chartplotter at the helm, mounted in the binnacle behind our wheel. When passage planning we use charts because navigationally important objects may not be shown when zoomed out on a plotter screen. The chartplotter at the nav table is used perhaps once an hour when getting data to write up the log book but if it wasn't there I am not sure we would miss it that much. The real benefit of a chartplotter at the helm is when doing pilotage into somewhere new and the ability to overlay radar (and AIS on newer systems) on the chart. Our boat is wheel steered and in this setup we find having the charplotter to at the binnacle best so we can easily see or interact with it. If we had a tiller steered boat I think we'd have the chartplotter mounted on the bulkhead at the the front of the cockpit.

We also use an iPad on board with Navionics charts to check and plan passages. A useful backup in the event the main system goes phut. Trouble with the iPad is that it's not weatherproof and the screen is hard to see in bright sunlight but it is still a fantastic aid for navigation and for weather downloads (as long as you have a phone signal).

The Raymarine e7 looks good to me and may give you the best of both worlds.
 
island163 said:
We have an RL70 at the helm and an RL80 at the nav table. .
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Hi, I have one of the RL radar/plotters too. I've not used mine in earnest yet, how do you find it? A pity they don't accept AIS.
Thats the only reason I spent out on the new SH plotter. Now pleased I did as running parallel cables to a second position gives me a great deal of flexibility.
 
maxi77 said:
We have two mounting points for the SH Plotter, one at the helm which is the normal position, and one under the sprayhood beside the radar. Both are wired in parallel. The VHF (also SH) displays the GPS position at the chart table, so most angles are covered. For planning I have a power only cable that just needs a 12V supply.
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Hi Maxi......not a criticism - just interested....
What advantages are there to have two in the cockpit area?
Wouldn't a second position near the nav'desk be better?
I suppose another spur of cables off to that area with a stand could always be added.
 
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splashman237 said:
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 ?
Click to expand...

I put mine in the instrument pod over the companionway - I had to stretch it a bit from a flat top to a domed affair (highest in the middle) to take the 7" plotter. I like the look of it, it's great for pilotage and it has an AIS feed which is very useful. It also gets some protection from the elements from the sprayhood. A bit of a stretch to reach the buttons with the standard Arpege tiller extension when not on autopilot/wind_vane but I have just picked up a Spinlock telescopic helm extension second-hand to solve that problem.

Considering a standalone radar this year (probably Furuno 1715) that will be mounted down below. If it is foggy I want someone on the tiller/visual watch and someone down below working radar plots - mostly looking for fishermen and other yachts as the big boys show up on the AIS. Can't afford to throw everything out and go for an integrated radar/AIS/plotter combi.
 
RobbieH said:
Can't afford to throw everything out and go for an integrated radar/AIS/plotter combi.
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I think there's a lot to be said for keeping things seperate.
If you have one instument 'go down' you may still have the others.
Just make sure they're not all from the same main fuse. Try and run them from seperate fuses after the busbar if possible.
 
Robin said:
The person on the helm cannot properly concentrate both on steering and monitoring the radar in conditions where the radar is essential.
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I cheat, the autopilot does 95% of our steering and we have a wired remote so can steer from under the sprayhood whilst watching radar. Having said that, if we are close enough to be on quarter mile range then I do go on the helm.
 
GrahamM376 said:
I cheat, the autopilot does 95% of our steering and we have a wired remote so can steer from under the sprayhood whilst watching radar. Having said that, if we are close enough to be on quarter mile range then I do go on the helm.
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If something of any size other than a buoy was close enough to be on quarter mile range, my remote had better work from the liferaft.. :eek: However the autopilot is the best helm when watching radar seriously that is for sure.:)
 
splashman237 said:
Think youve all convinced me that cockpit is going to be best - helm is wheel steering with Binacle , so prob mount at helm .

Still no feedbacl on the new e7 guess its a bit new to be being used much, looks smaller that the C70, E80 , E120 other plotters etc, still would like an iPAd to play with down below rather than another plotter.
Click to expand...

There are other ways of hooking up an iPad if you would prefer a different plotter...
 
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