Chartplotter question

[jonic]

I have a Raymarine 435 plotter at the chart table running Navionics gold charts, which I am very happy with. I also have the card reader for planning on the PC.
Data, not charting, is repeated on a Raymarine graphic in the cockpit. i.e cross track error, cog, sog etc.

I have decided that I would, on occasion, like a plotter display in the cockpit for anchoring and pilotage etc. Rather than ripping the whole system out and fitting E80's, I'm toying with fitting the 435i in the cockpit (same as the 435 but with an internal GPS) as a stand alone unit. Costs would then be about £600. This would mean having to swap the chart cards when needed. I'm off the boat so can't check the manual right now, but would any routes and waypoints in the chart table plotter stay loaded with the chart card taken out, i.e acting as a conventional GPS. And would waypoints etc have been written to the chart card which would then load onto the "upstairs plotter"?

Or does anyone have any other ideas.

 

[Norman_E]

A sneaky thought. Can you copy the charts you own on to a blank card, to save you having to keep swapping cards?

 

[jimg]

No, the Chart cards are read only, you can probably copy them over if you buy a blank card?

 

[crisjones]

Re: Chartplotter question

Your waypoints and routes etc are stored in the chartplotters internal memory, not on the chart cartridge.

However you can copy all the waypoints, routes etc onto a standard CF card and then import them into the second chart plotter.

 

[pvb]

You can transfer via NMEA...

The 435 and 435i can send and receive routes and waypoints via NMEA. Just cable them up and follow the instructions. This also means that any waypoint/route additions/changes you make on your cockpit plotter can be copied back to your chart table plotter.

Waypoints and routes are stored in each plotter's memory, not on the chart cartridge.

 

[Capn Pugwash]

I did see a plug in unit you can use at home to load waypoints/routes etc. Then you take it to your boat and upload it. I will try and find the link/website and post it on.

 

[jonic]

Thanks all /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Richard10002]

Nobody has mentioned the Lowrance, and I'm sure you have considered it.

 

[jonic]

[ QUOTE ]
Nobody has mentioned the Lowrance, and I'm sure you have considered it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I gave it very serious thought but have decided to stick with Raymarine because SWMBO and I are familiar wth the 435 and I like the two yr worldwide warranty.

 

[Robin]

Not Raymarine/Navionics but similar scenario with Navman/C-Map plus older Raymarine/C-Map. We went the route you are thinking of and have a totally standalone plotter in the cockpit and as others have said the wpts and routes etc are held in the chartplotter not the cartridges. In order to transfer or synchronise these between plotters we save and copy the wpts and routes to a user cartridge and then load this into the other plotter. In our case too we have a PC reader with C-Map software so can also backup onto this and plan and so on at home.

However rather than keep switching cartridges from one plotter to the other, we use the immediate next area cartridge on the less used or reserve plotter, this will have many of the same charts included, just not the really large scale or harbour ones and for passage making is fine. In our case the main cartidge is usually on the cockpit plotter. Also for our main area we bought a used cartridge and use this on the chart table plotter but it isn't quite as up to date as the one we use up top, no real problem where we sail which doesn't have moveable sandbanks or the like.

 

[jonic]

Thanks Robin /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif