Help with navigation, fishinding, sonar ect equipment.

[BIG.SMOKE]

Hi All,

Being new to boat electronics, I need some help please!....

I spent a load of time looking through here and on google with regard to navigation equipment last night, but im still confused about a few things;

Firstly I think I'm going to settle on a Gamin 750s (I beleive the "s" is added for the optional sonar transceiver) chartplotter, can someone confirm if the optional sonar transducer would be what I need when it comes to fishfinding? I'm asking as im sure I read a half decent fishfinder would be a better option on here a couple of times though??

Secondly how exactly does a chartplotter work, say for instance I wanted to go from the river crouch in Essex to say Clacton. Or at a later date go to France!!? Would it be a case of entereing co ordinates?

Lastly, can someone please explain to me why anyone would need radar with a chartplotter? Is this just so you can see large objects that are not base loaded on the GPS map? (i.e large boats).

Thanks if you got this far anyway,

Brad.

 

[gjgm]

Hi All,

Being new to boat electronics, I need some help please!....

I spent a load of time looking through here and on google with regard to navigation equipment last night, but im still confused about a few things;

Firstly I think I'm going to settle on a Gamin 750s (I beleive the "s" is added for the optional sonar transceiver) chartplotter, can someone confirm if the optional sonar transducer would be what I need when it comes to fishfinding? I'm asking as im sure I read a half decent fishfinder would be a better option on here a couple of times though??

Secondly how exactly does a chartplotter work, say for instance I wanted to go from the river crouch in Essex to say Clacton. Or at a later date go to France!!? Would it be a case of entereing co ordinates?

Lastly, can someone please explain to me why anyone would need radar with a chartplotter? Is this just so you can see large objects that are not base loaded on the GPS map? (i.e large boats).

Thanks if you got this far anyway,

Brad.

Not to be rude, but your questions suggest you need to get an understanding about boating,pilotage and navigation for before leaving the pontoon... RYA do plenty of good introductory books that will help you. Electronics are only tools to assist the understanding-they wont give you that knowledge on their own.
Anyway.. you need something to show depth. Different countries and manufacturers use different language, but at simplest a transducer sends an echo out and measures the time/distance to the sea bed. That gives you a very accurate depth reading. "Sonar" draws a visual picture- such as a fishfinder, but its not always that intuitive at first. You dont need this unless you are into fishing, but f/finders are very cheap as USA crew just love that fishin' lark.
You can move in sophistication up to a "chartplotter". This is multifunction- if you add the sensors. At the top end it has radar, video, auto route planning, music etc etc. Radar-which really isnt intuitive at all- will give you a reflection- that might be another boat, or a cliff, or with top gear, even rain storms.
A plotter is a scrolling chart of the sea area, giving depths,land,bouys etc etc. You add in waypoints (stepping stones) and then link them together to make a route (though langauge differs a bit with manufacturers). You then start the route, and the plotter will draw the route, tell you how far off the route you are, how far to the next waypoint,time etc etc. But if you plot to go over some sticking up rocks, it will indeed crunch you right onto those rocks.
Before you buy any equipment, but a paper chart £15 of your local area and buy a few books and understand what the electronic equipment is representing, what it can do, and what it doesnt do. Southampton boat show would be a good place to see lots of gear and push the buttons. You might have a personal preference for one set over another.
I'm sure others will add more suggestions.

 

[BIG.SMOKE]

Ahh, the RYA do day courses aswell, think I'll sign my self up.

"Essential navigation and safety" for two days looks the ticket.