Mounting chartplotter in small sailng boat

Our plotter is mounted on the chart table (shows the age of the boat!) so that its in view from the cockpit. I cant adjust it from there of course but its very useful to keep an eye on things.
 
Champagne Murphy said:
Our plotter is mounted on the chart table (shows the age of the boat!) so that its in view from the cockpit. I cant adjust it from there of course but its very useful to keep an eye on things.
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I don't think that's a satisfactory compromise; the plotter should be easily visible from the helm.
 
The brackets that are on the Lowrence Elite are similar to car nav mounts, very easy to unclip without undoing side nuts etc, can be unclipped with one hand and very small foot print, worth having a look
 
Daydream believer said:
sits right behind the tiller so it can be seen and used when at the helm along with the autopilot control. buy a pbo mag you tight wads
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I'll have a look for it.

I have considered mounting it on some form of swivel just aft of the tiller. It would be ideal for use when steering but I am not sure if I can then also mount it below. It would need a chartplotter with a single combined data cable that allowed a duplicate and I don't know if a modern multi functional device does that.
 
My Lorenze has 2base stations.one is behind the tiller and does not need to swivel. The other is on a base i made with 3studs that i have made to fit into another plastic mounting with 3 slots like key holes. The plotter bracket can thus be lifted off and is on a wire fitted to a plug over the chart table. This means i can use it at the chart table or whilst lounging in my bunk as well as having it on the other base station at the tiller. The wire over the chart table is only 3 feet long but gives 6 ft of range within the cabin it is all connected to my ais transmitter when on deck and can be connected to my autopilot but as my raymarine autopilot av100 is so unreliable i have not connected it as i do not want the whole lot to go down due to a pilot fault
i bought the plotter and ais from mantsbright in maldon along with the raymarine gear. They are super helpful
 
bedouin said:
That is mounted on a swing out bracket (that used to hold the whirly gig depth sounder) so it can be used from both the chart table and the cockpit.

As it swings out it partially blocks the companionway the is a little inconvenient and limits the size of any replacement - but a permanent (external) mount gives the problem of it not being accessible from the chart table plus there is not much bulkhead space to mount it, not to mention the possible interference with the bulkhead mounted compasses.
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I don't yet have a chartplotter but when I buy one I intend to mount it on a piece of plywood that swings out into the companionway. I was thinking of using those double acting spring hinges (the kind they had on Wild West saloon doors :D) so that anyone going in or out can simply push it aside as they pass. When it's needed at the chart table it can be held back with a cabin hook.
 
bedouin said:
I don't see myself going for a tablet only solution - for a start I think I want a chartplotter with buttons as in my experience touch screens don't work well when wearing helmsman's gloves.
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In my experience, a helmsman should concentrate on helming (and the immediate surroundings of the boat) and leave the faffing around with plotters or tablets to someone else.
 
Tin Tin said:
In my experience, a helmsman should concentrate on helming (and the immediate surroundings of the boat) and leave the faffing around with plotters or tablets to someone else.
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I think one person’s capable of doing both!!
 
Tin Tin said:
In my experience, a helmsman should concentrate on helming (and the immediate surroundings of the boat) and leave the faffing around with plotters or tablets to someone else.
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That is what an autopilot is for. Never had any difficulty in using the chart plotter when single handed. It is all about planning ahead and laying out your cockpit controls so they are easy to use, just as the OP is trying to do. Not always easy on a boat that was designed before all these goodies were available.
 
Daverw said:
On our last smaller boat we had two mountings for our Lowrence plotter, one on the coach roof and the other inside on the bulkhead, the cables were loomed together ang long enough for each position. In the event we hardly ever used it down below.
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In theory I was going to have a dual position, as well, but never fitted the chart table lead, as I never could think of when I might use it. The device lives on a bracket there when not in use

Above the companionway is perfect for me, it is protected from the worst of the elements and is shaded, so the screen is brilliant. No dangling leads either, I hate dangling leads. Sitting alongside my tiller, the screen is just over a metre away, sliding forward it is under 2 feet and within prodding distance.
Most siglehanders have a companionway perch, which is ideal when making plans on the screen. Or when lounging under autopilot.

If the OP is blessed with a steering wheel, then the issues are more complex.
 
pvb said:
And if you're singlehanded???
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Tranona said:
That is what an autopilot is for.
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AP - but I feel that it's better for the plotter or tablet not to be at the helm.
Before you know it, the helmsman goes into 'playstation' mode - and becomes so engrossed in his electronic toy that he's oblivious to his immediate surroundings.

These days, I engage the AP and have a quick look at the tablet I keep under the sprayhood.
In olden days, I kept my prepared pilot notes/plan at the helm.
If I was unsure of my position, I popped down below for a quick look at the plotter to regain my bearings.
 
Tin Tin said:
AP - but I feel that it's better for the plotter or tablet not to be at the helm.
Before you know it, the helmsman goes into 'playstation' mode - and becomes so engrossed in his electronic toy that he's oblivious to his immediate surroundings.

These days, I engage the AP and have a quick look at the tablet I keep under the sprayhood.
In olden days, I kept my prepared pilot notes/plan at the helm.
If I was unsure of my position, I popped down below for a quick look at the plotter to regain my bearings.
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If you are the (singlehanded) helmsman then I am sure would be able to contain your urge to go into "playstation" mode. If you are skipper with a crew you would instruct your helm likewise.

Plotter at the helm is almost universal now. I have been operating in that way for 15+ years and use the plotter for checking progress and pilotage while keeping fully abreast of my surroundings and in control of the boat. Never seen any conflict in achieving this. The plotter in that position enhances my control over the boat rather than diminishing it.

Like many people I also have charts and a plotter at the chart table but they perform a different function supporting planning and and recording.
 
There are an awful lot of 'shoulds' floating around in this thread. As far as I'm concerned, it's my boat and I'll manage it how I wish, thank you. It will be a sad day when all boats are the same and their skippers likewise.
 
Tranona said:
If you are the (singlehanded) helmsman then I am sure would be able to contain your urge to go into "playstation" mode. If you are skipper with a crew you would instruct your helm likewise.

Plotter at the helm is almost universal now. I have been operating in that way for 15+ years and use the plotter for checking progress and pilotage while keeping fully abreast of my surroundings and in control of the boat. Never seen any conflict in achieving this. The plotter in that position enhances my control over the boat rather than diminishing it.

Like many people I also have charts and a plotter at the chart table but they perform a different function supporting planning and and recording.
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Totally agree - I have a bulkhead mounted cockpit chartplotter and refer to it all the time. It's also a repeater for sailing instrument data eg wind speed, depth etc On previous boats, my chart table plotter remained unused. I now also have an iPad pro in the cabin for passage planning.
 
I've recently mounted an Axiom at my helm and love it...the way it integrates with the rest of the electronics is very cool. I have an iPad on a lorry bracket at my chart table running RayRemote, and if I want it, my iPhone running the same, so I can even check where we are/windspeed/SOG/DTG/rudder angle without leaving my bunk/the heads if I have any concerns over who is on watch. Also very useful for anchor "watch".

There's no right or wrong answer for whether a plotter should be at the helm or not. I'm sure people can work out for themselves whether "playstation mode" is a good thing or not. I borrowed a boat for RTIR 2016...the really windy one where no other bugger wanted to drive...and soon worked out that if I glanced at the binnacle plotter for just a moment we'd be in trouble so I soon gave up on it. However I find the comments about "popping down below to get your bearings" totally counter intuitive unless you are totally out of sight of land in a totally dark night with nothing whatsoever on any horizon. Mk1 eyeball is still the best navaid money can't buy.

Plotter at the helm for me every time. My car satnav is also in my dashboard...not in the glove box.
 
bedouin said:
I have been considering the tablet as a solution for working at the chart table and so concentrating on mounting the chartplotter for visibility in the cockpit. I don't see myself going for a tablet only solution - for a start I think I want a chartplotter with buttons as in my experience touch screens don't work well when wearing helmsman's gloves.
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...plus, as a subscriber of Navionics myself, I find the app really badly designed....it's like Garmin have owned them for years already!
 
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