Handheld Chartplotter - which?

K

keelbolt

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jan 2007
Messages
165
Visit site
Through gritted teeth am thinking of getting a handheld chartplotter - Cmap or Navionics. Anyone want to sing the praises or otherwise of any current models?
 
The Garmin eTrex range are very powerfull, have good screens and will take chart data either internally or via an SD card.

Expect to pay around 160.00 for an eTrex Venture CX, which is the one with a colour screen and takes the cards.

If you want a bigger screen than is really 'handheld' the 276 and 278 are both truely amazing machines.
 
Don't even think about the Lowrance handhelds. They are toys; the so-called alarms are inaudible and the tidal data is all rubbish with Navionics charts.
 
mine would follow if i accepted everything on here at face value.................Ididn't buy any of my plotters for tidal info ergo I don't have the same concerns as my friend... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Hello, I use an XDAIIi, with a blue tooth GPS I think it works really well, its robust enough to stay in the cockpit and the GPS is always in a good receiving location.
I use memory map /maptech charts.Their technical department is good and can normally talk me through problems. I also take it with me when walking as it has OS maps on it as well. The main program runs on your PC so you can plan routes etc on this. Only glitch is the tidal streams do not work on the hand held unit.
To top it all I was due a phone upgrade so the unit came free.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you want a bigger screen than is really 'handheld' the 276 and 278 are both truely amazing machines.

[/ QUOTE ]

We have the 276 and it really is good. We have the auto kit for in the car and get full turn-by-turn instructions to get to the marina! When we arrive it's taken out of the car, the cartidge is switched to charts, the mode switched to marine and off we go.

We are currently having it's external data leads wired into our new boat, so it will talk to all the rest of the kit down at the chart table, but can then be unpluged and used up at the helm for pilotage work.

Then you can take it home and programme all your waypoints for the next passage in the comfort of your own home.

Can I have a job now please Mr Garmin?

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriously - it is good and I have no connection with Garmin!
 
Can I cast another vote for the Garmin 276C. It's my "spare" chartplotter, and works a treat. It's much easier to use than the "proper" Raymarine E80 that is the main one...

dv.
 
Another vote here. I was so happy with my original 176c, that I upgraded to a 276 some time ago. Brilliant bit of kit that is great to take on trips on other peoples boats with routes already programmed in at home, as well as for use on my own boat.
 
Very interested in this thread..not wishing to hijack but I think answers willl be relevant to original poster. ,.... Having initailly thought of getting a fixed 5" chartplotter such as Lowrnace or Garmin, I am now considering a handheld. Most sailing is daytrip out of Brighton so perhaps a plotter is not necessary except for occasional long weekends and 2- week annual holidays. Not sure about space in cockpit for fixed; handheld perhaps eats up batteries? and is something like the 276 now old technology?? Advice welcome.
 
you can connect the 276 to 12v boat supply, either wired in or just a cigarette lighter type socket.

You can use permanent or removable mounts, so not exactly handheld whilst on boat.

Not sure I'd call it old technology, as it does everything required of a plotter of that type
 
The 276 is getting a bit long in the tooth and is expensive for what it is plus the screen is a bit small. Garmin must be bringing out a replacement soon. I think it is essential though to have the plotter available down below for planning and also up above for steering and navigating. I have not bought yet, as I am uncertain about which software to go for, but my idea is to have something like a Garmin 292 with an internal aerial mounted on a RAM suction mount and with a long 12v lead to a cigar socket enabling it to be used up and down below and without drilling holes for mounting brackets etc. The RAM suction mounts are great and I don't know why they arn't used more. The plotter then could also be taken home for planning etc Sorry to hi-jack, and to return to the original posting, I really think a handheld with a 2or 3 inch screen is just too small for chartplotting.
 
Another vote for the Etrex. I keep it in my sailing jacket at the helm, and can use it with one hand. Does almost 30 hrs even with cheap batteries.
 
The 276 is still a good unit, with most G2 features available to it and a famously easy to use set-up. They are going down in price now that it's successor the 278 is widely available. The 276 can be found for about 400 quid now and the 278 is alot of techonology for around 550 (600 if you want chart data inc).

The screen size is really what makes something handheld, as has been mentioned the ability to pop a plotter in your pocket is very valuable - no one (yet) makes a small unit with a big screen.

I find the eTrex screen fine for one person use, it is the only electronic navigation aid on Cottontail and she has done plenty of sea miles. The small screens are a let down for planning or for discussions where several people want to review the waypoints; but then paper charts come into their own anyway.
 
When you say the G2 features are available to the 276 / 278, do you know which ones work and which ones don't?

I asked this question of Garmin but didn't get an answer, and it is not clear on their website.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top