Cheap Chart Plotter?

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

10.26" Android 12.0 Car Radio GPS Navi CarPlay Android Auto WIFI BT 2+32GB | eBay

 

[B27]

I'd look for something with a less 'letterbox' screen aspect ratio.
I have a generic Android stereo with Navionics on it. It's good, with a few reservations:
The Android is some numpty edition with less control over 'settings'
The top 10% of the screen is lost to a menu/toolbar.
It draws an amp at full brightness.
You need some sort of box to protect the non-waterproof connectors on the back.
The screen resolution is coarse compared to an ipad.

Choosing exactly which one to go for is fraught, but in general it's worth thinking about.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

I'd look for something with a less 'letterbox' screen aspect ratio.
I have a generic Android stereo with Navionics on it. It's good, with a few reservations:
The Android is some numpty edition with less control over 'settings'
The top 10% of the screen is lost to a menu/toolbar.
It draws an amp at full brightness.
You need some sort of box to protect the non-waterproof connectors on the back.
The screen resolution is coarse compared to an ipad.

Choosing exactly which one to go for is fraught, but in general it's worth thinking about.

You mean this:
My COVID-19 Lockdown Project: 10” Android Car Stereo to Navionics Chart Plotter

Note the OP.....

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

My thoughts where:
12v
Has its own case and bracket
Looks like it runs Android

 

[Refueler]

Standard Android tablet ..... no need for expensive ... Banggood and other sites have plenty of good high spec chip tablets to run Navionics Boating and Lakes app. Navionics chart subscription is peanuts ...

A dedicated plotter ? Onwa ... Matsutec ... are two examples that provide versions that incl. built in AIS Transceivers ... cost of which is far lower than 'brands' that then require a separate module to even just receive AIS !! AND they have free K-Charts .... which so far I have compared with my Navionics and found them to agree on all trips so far ...

 

[B27]

My thoughts where:
12v
Has its own case and bracket
Looks like it runs Android

I see the advantage of it being bracket mount instead of needing a case made.
The wide format is OK if you mostly sail along the South Coast?

I assume it actually has a built-in GPS, so much of the blurb is about pairing with your phone, I wonder if it leaves the phone to do all the hard work?

The brightness of these car displays is a real advantage over a tablet in the cockpit. Also our android tablet had heat problems and turned its brightness down in the sun the other day. I guess the workings of a tablet are insulated by the battery, so cooling becomes an issue in bright sun.
The equivalent to my car unit looks to be well under £100 now.
I was looking for a new bracket/holder for the tablet under the sprayhood, anything robust looking isn't cheap.

I've not got around to mounting my android car unit on the boat, I was going to move the wind instrument and bulkhead mount it but I'm having second thoughts.
There's not actually much space on my little boat when you want to avoid getting in the way of winches etc etc.
Previous owners have installed other stuff without allowing for this!

 

[coopec]

I'm going down this track. I'm feeling my way so I have no idea if it is the way to go.

Marine Toughbook with GPS & nautical charts - Navigation Laptops

 

[coopec]

I was on a yacht recently when the Chart Plotter gave up the ghost at a critical time as we were negotiating reefs.

As back-up would one of these be worth-while to plot your position on a paper chart?

Garmin GPS 73 Handheld Marine | eBay

 

[B27]

I was on a yacht recently when the Chart Plotter gave up the ghost at a critical time as we were negotiating reefs.

As back-up would one of these be worth-while to plot your position on a paper chart?

Garmin GPS 73 Handheld Marine | eBay

I have an old Magellan handheld GPS, which I like for simple COG, SOG course and distance to waypoint functionality.
For getting a quick readout of GPS position, I have an 'anchoring alarm' app on my phone which fires up quickly and gives a lat/long. That's free.

I suggest trying a free trial of Navionics on your phone. I think you get 2 weeks completely free.

Many modern VHF sets will give a lat/long readout from an internal GPS.
I'm looking at an AIS receiver which has a built in GPS.

As I said, I really like the simplicity of my HH GPS ,but these days it would not be high up the priority to buy one, because so many other things have GPS. The older tech ones also eat batteries something fierce. I have a 12V adaptor for mine.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I was on a yacht recently when the Chart Plotter gave up the ghost at a critical time as we were negotiating reefs.

As back-up would one of these be worth-while to plot your position on a paper chart?

Garmin GPS 73 Handheld Marine | eBay

An app' on a phone with GPS works well Clive.

 

[Ingwe]

I installed an android car head unit on a boat about 4 years ago all worked fine even had ais display working within Navionics via WiFi. The one big draw back was the power draw - we didnt measure it but it was using a signifficant amount of power even in standby so ended up taking it off the instruments circuit breaker and onto a seperate one so it was only powered on when we actually needed it.

 

[dunedin]

I was on a yacht recently when the Chart Plotter gave up the ghost at a critical time as we were negotiating reefs.

As back-up would one of these be worth-while to plot your position on a paper chart?

Garmin GPS 73 Handheld Marine | eBay

Most people use their phone and/or tablet as backup navigation device.
And probably worth researching tablet options these days rather than a ruggedised laptop?

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

I installed an android car head unit on a boat about 4 years ago all worked fine even had ais display working within Navionics via WiFi. The one big draw back was the power draw - we didnt measure it but it was using a signifficant amount of power even in standby so ended up taking it off the instruments circuit breaker and onto a seperate one so it was only powered on when we actually needed it.

Mine draws about 1A...

 

[Bristolfashion]

We have 3 tablets & 1 phone - all cheap as chips and all run Navionics perfectly well from one subscription. As further redundancy, we have an old school handheld GPS for lat / long / SOG and a Garmin chartplotter.

Navionics just does what it says on the tin really well.

 

[B27]

Mine draws about 1A...

Mine is about 1A on full brightness, dimming the display can reduce this to 650mA or so.
You only need full brightness when solar power is ample.
Tablets use a lot less power, even without using low power modes which may suspend GPS tracking.

 

[coopec]

Most people use their phone and/or tablet as backup navigation device.
And probably worth researching tablet options these days rather than a ruggedised laptop?

I lived in a fishing port. The local computer expert told me to get a Panasonic Toughbook as the tablets have a short life on a lobster boat. (Judging by comments here that does not seem to be a problem?)

 

[PaulRainbow]

I lived in a fishing port. The local computer expert told me to get a Panasonic Toughbook as the tablets have a short life in a marine environment.

One of my tablets is about 6 years old, still works fine, despite me dropping it a year ago, leaving a sizeable dent in the back of it.

For the price of one of those toughbooks you could buy a proper plotter, depending on models.

 

[dunedin]

I lived in a fishing port. The local computer expert told me to get a Panasonic Toughbook as the tablets have a short life on a lobster boat. (Judging by comments here that does not seem to be a problem?)

I have a dedicated Raymarine chart plotter at the helm to handle the “rugged” needs.
The tablet has a cheap waterproof case, but rarely used. I don’t like a salty damp cabin so try to avoid wet people / oilskins outside the heads and galley area.
Never had a problem with phone or tablet on board over 10 years or so except for user stupidity - ie when (a) I stepped between boat and dock when derigging, with phone in pocket and (b) on way home after that using iPad waiting for a ferry delayed by severe storms, the iPad literally blew away off my lap in said severe storm and smashed screen!
Also carry standard laptop for domestic and boat admin purposes. It is about 8 years old and done about 15k miles on board fine - kept in bow cabin wardrobe, very dry.

 

[coopec]

I have a dedicated Raymarine chart plotter at the helm to handle the “rugged” needs.
The tablet has a cheap waterproof case, but rarely used. I don’t like a salty damp cabin so try to avoid wet people / oilskins outside the heads and galley area.
Never had a problem with phone or tablet on board over 10 years or so except for user stupidity - ie when (a) I stepped between boat and dock when derigging, with phone in pocket and (b) on way home after that using iPad waiting for a ferry delayed by severe storms, the iPad literally blew away off my lap in said severe storm and smashed screen!
Also carry standard laptop for domestic and boat admin purposes. It is about 8 years old and done about 15k miles on board fine - kept in bow cabin wardrobe, very dry.

I was trying to avoid the cost of a Raymarine Chart plotter because of the cost ($1350?)
I bought my car 7" GPS for around $80: why can't they produce an equivalent one for the marine environment?

When we sailed Helen from Hillarys Marina to Two Rocks Marina I had a look at the laptop we used to find our way through the reefs. It was almost impossible to read the laptop at the helm (but fine inside the cabin) But the software provided all sorts information- marine chart of the area, waypoints, ETA, speed..........

Just now I discovered this:




A week after we sailed out of Hillarys Marina a couple aboard their 52ft yacht weren't so lucky.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Or if you don't already have AIS : KP-39A - ONWA Marine Electronics Co. Ltd.