Is it worth buying a chartplotty thing?

mbay said:
Onesea how did you manage to get navionics on both devices, when i checked up on play store it appears i can only put the standard version on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S3) or the HD version on my tablet (Asus transformer 101).

I think I've made my mind up (thank you all for your input) I'm heading down the app route for now and see where i go from there.
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I backed up Navionics on Astro file manger on my phone and installed astro on my tablet. Trans-fared back up file to tablet and re-installed it.. Probably not very legal, then I only use it one at a time and TBH I hardly use it on my tablet...

It is worth being able to charge them onboard. The idea of full blown chart plotter is still nice but would I use it? Nah probably become a slave to the technology and it is handy being able to check the tides on your phone down the pub...
See how you get on.

I have not bothered with water proofing my phone then it gets a hard life, rarely do they last 12 months (not due to water YET).... I also have from pre phone days a little Garmin Oregon handheld gps water proof etc, which is normally onboard...
 
I say that a most underrated bit of kit is the Yoeman plotter
Uses standard charts for any part of the world easy to use
Retains the chance to fall back on paper charts in emergency
Or just use paper charts for the fun of it
 
Does Anyone Use a Laptop Onboard Anymore?

I have Open CPN installed on a netbook (Linux of course).
I have an external GPS antenna and keep the pc charged via boat's 12V power.

Are "bangs" inevitably going to damage the HD?

(I have the pc sitting on a thick foam pad and held in place.)

The HD is a conventional one, not one of the newer solid state drives..
 
glashen said:
I must say I wouldn't be without mine, especially in unfamiliar waters. I singlehand a lot and personally think you need in in the cockpit where it can easily be referred to. Doesn't need to have a big screen but does need to be waterproof.
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I don't have one but can see the attraction. However where I sail I know that the the reefs channels islands etc are not always in the places that the plotters show.

Boats come to grief every year relying on a plotter when the mark 1 eyeball and good light is the safer navigational method.
 
mbay said:
Was looking at the pretty colours on them yesterday at the local boaty things shop and wondered if it's worth me spending my very hard earned cash and investing in one.

I have 2 GPS units on board and paper charts, a pilot book and common sense which have always got me by up to now.

I know I can download an app for my smartphone or tablet pc (both android) do they basically do the same thing as a £300 + plotter?
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No, it isnt. I only have a plotter because one came with the latest boat and when it failed I immediately reverted to paper charts. Whatever, dont count on using the silly little screen of a mobile phone for any real life nav
 
mbay said:
Was looking at the pretty colours on them yesterday at the local boaty things shop and wondered if it's worth me spending my very hard earned cash and investing in one.

I have 2 GPS units on board and paper charts, a pilot book and common sense which have always got me by up to now.

I know I can download an app for my smartphone or tablet pc (both android) do they basically do the same thing as a £300 + plotter?
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You have everything you need!
 
TQA said:
I don't have one but can see the attraction. However where I sail I know that the the reefs channels islands etc are not always in the places that the plotters show.

Boats come to grief every year relying on a plotter when the mark 1 eyeball and good light is the safer navigational method.
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Not sure that is a fair criticism of plotters - at least as many would come to grief if their skippers tried to nagigate those same channels on the strength of paper charts and dead reckoning. It is true that having a plotter at the helm can tempt you to steer by the plotter and not do proper pilotage - but that is an example of misusing the plotter, not an inherent shortcoming of plotters.

Sailing short-handed, a plotter at the helm can be a great benefit - easy to reference without having to go below, possibly having to rely on the autopilot at a tricky moment.
 
I am planning on using a combination of plotter and charts (wouldn't be without charts but the GPS is good when visibilty is poor).

IMG_3057_zps23d5648e.jpg


Washboards can be taken out in dry weather leaving lower GPS/VHF section. Instruments are easily relocated to duplicate brackets in the cabin when not sailing and original lower washboard put in place when needed.
 
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Zagato said:
I am planning on using a combination of plotter and charts (wouldn't be without charts but the GPS is good when visibilty is poor).

IMG_3057_zps23d5648e.jpg


Washboards can be taken out in dry weather leaving lower GPS/VHF section. Instruments are easily relocated to duplicate brackets in the cabin when not sailing and original lower washboard put in place when needed.
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That is the best solution I've ever seen to get electronics into the cockpit of a traditional boat. Genius!. No permanent holes in the GRP left behind when the electronics are upgraded and complete removal from the cockpit also possible.
 
KellysEye said:
>Is it worth buying a chartplotty thing?

I've said this many times, since you have to buy charts as backup in case of failure they are a waste of money.
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They may be a waste in your view but experienced navigators find them very useful and beginners can safely get out there and learn. How often have you had one fail??
 
KellysEye said:
>Is it worth buying a chartplotty thing?

I've said this many times, since you have to buy charts as backup in case of failure they are a waste of money.
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If it is a choice either / or, governed solely by budget then you have a point about buying paper charts and no plotter.

I can only assume from your post that you have little experience of modern plotters. Do you not believe a navigator should use all tools at his disposal to ensure safe passage?

I believe so and where a technology aids safe navigation I will use it if I can afford to fit it.

One of the most valuable functions of my plotter/auto-pilot is that it will follow a corridor, regardless of leeway or tides, so I can guarantee it will miss anything outside the corridor which is an excellent aid to safe navigation. Of course I regularly cross check to ensure it is where it thinks it is and can happily say it has worked faultlessly so far. While not so important in the Med as the tides aren't much to write home about, it's fantastic in more northern waters. Obviously you need to know when to use this feature over a straight compass course and have an understanding of tides to make it safe, any system is only as good as its user. It's also invaluable in fog.

My advice would be if the budget can stretch to a plotter then it will be an excellent addition to paper charts.
 
As I said, you have to experience using a plotter in order to realise what pleasure it can give. Of course, you can sail safely and enjoyably without, but neither I or especially my wife would wish to abandon this expensive but now indispensable addition to our sailing experience.

The addition of AIS makes a plotter even more practical for Continental sailing, and radar also, though I don't find the overlay gets much use.

Several things have come in while I've cruised, GPS, autopilots, furling jibs, AIS and plotters. All reduce tiredness and stress and thus contribute to my safety. None of them is essential.
 
KellysEye said:
>Is it worth buying a chartplotty thing?

I've said this many times, since you have to buy charts as backup in case of failure they are a waste of money.
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Might as well ditch the echo sounder as well you only need a lead line..

The GPS's Can go as well you have tide tales compass, charts, compass bearing? water log?

Oh wait who needs a water log, just throw the odd beer can over the side you will get the hang of it.

People navigated successfully like this for centuries, whats the issue.
 
Baggywrinkle said:
If it is a choice either / or, governed solely by budget then you have a point about buying paper charts and no plotter.

I can only assume from your post that you have little experience of modern plotters. Do you not believe a navigator should use all tools at his disposal to ensure safe passage?

I believe so and where a technology aids safe navigation I will use it if I can afford to fit it.

One of the most valuable functions of my plotter/auto-pilot is that it will follow a corridor, regardless of leeway or tides, so I can guarantee it will miss anything outside the corridor which is an excellent aid to safe navigation. Of course I regularly cross check to ensure it is where it thinks it is and can happily say it has worked faultlessly so far. While not so important in the Med as the tides aren't much to write home about, it's fantastic in more northern waters. Obviously you need to know when to use this feature over a straight compass course and have an understanding of tides to make it safe, any system is only as good as its user. It's also invaluable in fog.

My advice would be if the budget can stretch to a plotter then it will be an excellent addition to paper charts.
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Be careful - your autopilot/plotter may put you on a great circle route, which could mean that you are significantly further north of the straight line track. At least one boat has come a cropper because of this - thinking they would pass well to the south of some rocks and didn't
 
As a frequent single-hander I find the chartplotter in the cockpit is invaluable, though power usage is something I need to keep an eye on - I've only got the one battery.

Zagato - please tell me, how does your lower washboard hold itself together with the 'split' in it?
 
Corribee Boy said:
Zagato - please tell me, how does your lower washboard hold itself together with the 'split' in it?
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Nothing surprisingly as it waggles by only 3mm as it is held at the other end! I fitted it and took the picture to suss out the best way to hold it in place but got on with other work as it wasn't an immediate problem.

I will probably just simply put a catch on the inside to keep it flush. The trick is to make the wood the right thickness so it doesn't waggle in the slot too much. If you want to make it absolutely waterproof you could either route out a lip or put on some windscreen rubber surround or similar or beading on the actual surface or cut it at an angle. It's an easier arrangement than I thought it would be...
 
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