GPS Chart Plotter suggestions

[Marceline]

Hi - I am looking to get a GPS Chartplotter for our small sailboat. We don't have any nav instruments apart from the compass and our NASA depth sounder, so something that can be a bit of an allrounder wound be ideal

I'm not wanting to go down the tablet/GPS route (we've our phones which can help with that), and having a dedicated GPS thats viewable in very bright/night and mounted on a swivel arm (so we can see the plotter down below, and swing it across to see when we're in the cockpit etc) is what I'm hoping to figure out

I'd looked at various devices but theres so many. We don't want to do any fishing, and being able to hopefully integrate with other instruments when we get to install them (eg: wind speed/direction) would also be great

I don't think we'll get to use radar/advanced sonar, but tbh if there's a model that can handle those would be a nice to have, but really having something mid/low price thats super reliable is what we're really hoping for.

Any pointers would be very welcome

 

[robmcg]

Something like a Raymarine Element 7 would fit the bill. Under £500 and will do what you ask.

 

[Marceline]

Thanks for the suggestion Robmcg - I'll check it out

 

[Tranona]

also look at Garmin Echo 65 - their equivalent of the Raymarine Element.

Most big chandlers such as Force 4 have working displays in from all 3 major makers in their stores plus often knowledgeable people who can talk you through the devices.

 

[Marceline]

thanks so much Tranona - will check the Echo65 out as well. Will aim to go to visit a Chandlers before I take the plunge

 

[Stingo]

This thread may interest you
My COVID-19 Lockdown Project: 10” Android Car Stereo to Navionics Chart Plotter

 

[Refueler]

Risking attack from 'another' .............

Have a look at Aves Marine .... Alan is good person to deal with - he is the UK authorised dealer for Onwa gear ...

Home

Budget priced but that includes K Charts - which are actually very good. Its also Cmap / Navionics compatible ....

 

[Jonny A]

I have a Raymarine Dragonfly... good little standalone unit at a low price.

 

[superheat6k]

Onwa or Matsutec certainly worth considering, especially as you can add AIS transceiver function for similar cash to many other makes.

I'm on my third Matsutec and love the stuff. I have always bought direct from China with no issues. You do need to purchase the CMAP card separately.

Onwa is the same kit with different labels and firmware, and is sold in the UK direct.

 

[Refueler]

Onwa or Matsutec certainly worth considering, especially as you can add AIS transceiver function for similar cash to many other makes.

I'm on my third Matsutec and love the stuff. I have always bought direct from China with no issues. You do need to purchase the CMAP card separately.

Onwa is the same kit with different labels and firmware, and is sold in the UK direct.

Yep ..... personally I chose Onwa - because of Alan and his support .....

I chose the KP39A with AIS trasceiver ..... excellent ..... but you can get a smaller unit with AIS still or without if cost is a factor. But overall - the Plotter with AIS is priced well below the regular Brands that get mentioned ... PLUS those brands need a separate cost to get Chart card .....

 

[mattonthesea]

Raspberry pi with openplotter and opencpn (both free) is a cheap way to go. Easy to set up and connect to GPS and just about every other thing on the boat?

M

 

[Refueler]

Raspberry pi with openplotter and opencpn (both free) is a cheap way to go. Easy to set up and connect to GPS and just about every other thing on the boat?

M

Yes .... but I would think the OP's description of boat and needs indicates a simple 'box' solution ?

TBH - given the later Navionics Boats and Lakes app - and the chart sectors subscription - its a very good way to get up to date plotting ...
I was never for Navionics or such until this appeared. Now I have it on my Phone and a small 8" tablet ..... App is free ... whole Baltic's charting 39 euros for a years sub .... if I don't continue the subscription - the charts still stay working, I just lose the update service.
Alongside my Onwa Plotter with AIS - I have just about all I need.

 

[Farmer Piles]

Like Jonny A, I have a Raymarine Dragonfly like on my 19ft dayboat. As he says, a great little stand alone unit that is completely weather proof so it can live in the cockpit. A 2 second job to remove it and stow away when you leave the boat and very easy to install.

 

[TSB240]

I found a handheld gps was the best compromise on a small boat.

I bought a garmin Montana that could be viewed anywhere in the cockpit or down below and was entirely waterproof and actually floated if required. It came with various mounts and leads and could be networked to a PC, Tablet or repeater instrument by hard wire and later by wifi adapter. More modern hand helds may offer this as standard.
I used the bigger screen of a PC at home or on the boat for planning and creating routes and these could be easily uploaded to the handheld.
Routes and way points can be created on the hand held but the display size makes that pretty difficult. In my view this remains a problem with chartplotters with screens less than 12 inches in size. I prefer a screen that can display my entire route at best magnification.

For a really large chartplotter screen down below I used to connect my laptop to a 24 inch 12v tv at the nav station!

I still have the old Montana and it remains a backup device for our Cockpit mounted C120 chartplotter. Phones and tablets don't last long at full brightness or in rain or if unprotected from the elements and physical damage.

Personally I would hold off on purchasing a dedicated charplotter until you have decided what instrumentation package you need for your expected future cruising plans. Radar and AIS are much better seen and used on a large screen.

 

[fredrussell]

... PLUS those brands need a separate cost to get Chart card .....

No. The Garmin Echomap suggested above comes loaded with charts for Uk.

 

[Refueler]

No. The Garmin Echomap suggested above comes loaded with charts for Uk.

OK - tks - I stand corrected. Nice to see at least some brand thinking of user !!

Out of interest -do they update free of charge or are they a 'one-off' ?

I only ask as K-Charts may not update often - but they do and are free for life.... K vers 3 that is.

 

[Refueler]

I found a handheld gps was the best compromise on a small boat.

I bought a garmin Montana that could be viewed anywhere in the cockpit or down below and was entirely waterproof and actually floated if required. It came with various mounts and leads and could be networked to a PC, Tablet or repeater instrument by hard wire and later by wifi adapter. More modern hand helds may offer this as standard.
I used the bigger screen of a PC at home or on the boat for planning and creating routes and these could be easily uploaded to the handheld.
Routes and way points can be created on the hand held but the display size makes that pretty difficult. In my view this remains a problem with chartplotters with screens less than 12 inches in size. I prefer a screen that can display my entire route at best magnification.

For a really large chartplotter screen down below I used to connect my laptop to a 24 inch 12v tv at the nav station!

I still have the old Montana and it remains a backup device for our Cockpit mounted C120 chartplotter. Phones and tablets don't last long at full brightness or in rain or if unprotected from the elements and physical damage.

Personally I would hold off on purchasing a dedicated charplotter until you have decided what instrumentation package you need for your expected future cruising plans. Radar and AIS are much better seen and used on a large screen.

Think you overestimate his boat size ...

Even my 25ft'r - I would be at pains to carry what you suggest ... apart from the Hand Held of course.

I do think your quote about 12" and plotting routes is a personal bias matter. My previous plotter - Lowrance was a 5" ... Globalmap 3500, replaced with 7" Onwa KP39A ... both I am happy enough to plot my routes on .... even a full 10 day job in the Swedish Islands ....
I can of course do all my planning on a PC if I have time .... then upload to plotter.
Its all down to what space you have on the boat ... how serious are your 'cruises' .... and area you envisage sailing in.

 

[LadyInBed]

mounted on a swivel arm (so we can see the plotter down below, and swing it across to see when we're in the cockpit etc) is what I'm hoping to figure out

This is my arrangement

 

[fredrussell]

You pay for updates with Garmin Echomap plotters I think. Haven’t done it yet as plotter less than a year old.

I was all set to buy an Onwa - the price is unbeatable, but I wasn’t sure about the quality of the connectors. My plotter is outside - or at least under the spray hood and this pic of Onwa rear did not give me much confidence:

 

[Refueler]

You pay for updates with Garmin Echomap plotters I think. Haven’t done it yet as plotter less than a year old.

I was all set to buy an Onwa - the price is unbeatable, but I wasn’t sure about the quality of the connectors. My plotter is outside - or at least under the spray hood and this pic of Onwa rear did not give me much confidence:

Cannot comment on the connectors for exterior use as my plotter sits just inside companionway on top of engine box - but TBH - apart from a few rubber boots - I see similar on other brand gear. I was a bit iffy about the SMA GPS antenna connector ... but to be honest - all my FPV flight Video / Antenna gear is SMA and that survives pretty bad conditions.
If worried - can always grab a can of Corrosion X ... which is a spray designed to protect delicate electronics from the elements. Many RC modellers who have boats / waterplanes / cars etc. use Corrosion X ... spray all the servos / Receivers / ESC / BEC's ...