Chartplotter in cockpit or Nav station - Opinions

[Molteni]

My Moody 376 came with a single Raymarine C80 at the helm which would also be my preferred position for a single plotter.
I've now hardwired a second C80 at the chart table ( and have a loose additional C80 in a cupboard as a "spare"), Apparently routes etc can be comfortably set up on the chart table plotter and "transferred" to the one "upstairs" but I've yet to discover how to do it!

 

[Graham376]

Gosh, having sailed into Milford a few times in the days before chart plotters existed I now realise that I don't deserve to live. Which rocks exactly were you worried about hitting? And what speed were you doing? At 6kts it would take ~11 minutes to cross from West Blockhouse to Rat Island (it's over a mile). You had time to make a cup of tea for God's sake!

But did you do it for the first time at night in bad weather or fog? That's when plotter and radar visible from the helm make life far easier and safer.

 

[lustyd]

But did you do it for the first time at night in bad weather or fog? That's when plotter and radar visible from the helm make life far easier and safer.

Agree, some of us want more than "didn't die" as criteria for our trips Enjoyment is certainly on my list alongside easy and safe.

 

[jdc]

Of course I agree that a plotter's a good thing to have! It's what we all agree on, it's why anyone contributes to this thread ffs!

But the 'I've done more irresponsible things than you have' kind of boasting doesn't much attract me: the idea that a plotter is some kind of fighter-pilot's Head Up Display distorts what should be a reasoned discussion. If, in a sailing boat, you are ever in the situation where taking an extra 20 seconds to get a plotter position (and using your senses wouldn't do) makes that much difference, you've got yourself into a pickle. Not that I'm immune to this myself you know, but what proportion of your time is it? 1 hour in 10,000? In fact I'd go further to say that if, by virtue of mounting the plotter at the helm, you are more likely to act irresponsibly, then maybe the plotter should not be at the helm.

 

[lustyd]

That’s just the thing though, with the instrument there it’s not irresponsible because you have the right information at the right time.

 

[Stemar]

In fact I'd go further to say that if, by virtue of mounting the plotter at the helm, you are more likely to act irresponsibly, then maybe the plotter should not be at the helm.

I'd go further and say that maybe that person shouldn't be at the helm. He (or she, don't want to be sexist) is probably the same person who drove a 38 tonner down a single track road because the GPS told him to.

I wouldn't be without my satnav in the car, but I make sure that brain is engaged before using it. Same at the helm. A plotter's a useful tool that gives you far more information than the Mk 1 eyeball but, if you don't use the Mk 1 eyeball it's time to hoist this flag

 

[lustyd]

He (or she, don't want to be sexist)

You can use the gender neutral word "they" to avoid these kinds of problems.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I'd go further and say that maybe that person shouldn't be at the helm. He (or she, don't want to be sexist) is probably the same person who drove a 38 tonner down a single track road because the GPS told him to.

I wouldn't be without my satnav in the car, but I make sure that brain is engaged before using it. Same at the helm. A plotter's a useful tool that gives you far more information than the Mk 1 eyeball but, if you don't use the Mk 1 eyeball it's time to hoist this flag
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I agree. Personally if I'm in unfamiliar waters I want every piece of information to hand - including Mk1 Eyeball and a paper chart, pencil and double-rulers (can't remember what the correct term is). The old saying should always be in the mind - "Pride comes before a fall".