Mounting chartplotter in small sailng boat

johnalison said:
The practical way to deal with this in operation is to engage the autopilot when you want to deal with the plotter, which should be visible enough for most purposes.
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Champagne Murphy said:
Our plotter is mounted on the chart table so that its in view from the cockpit. I can't adjust it from there of course but its very useful to keep an eye on things.
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Iain C said:
There's no right or wrong answer for whether a plotter should be at the helm or not.
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These three views support my own solution, normally single-handed, of the chart-plotter mounted at the chart-table of my small boat. The windvane or the tiller-pilot are almost always doing the actual steering, except in crowded pilotage situations - in which event if I don't know the waters I'll have prepared some sort of pilotage plan in advance. At sea it only takes a short hop or two down below to check or adjust the CP before regaining the cockpit, and in any event I can keep a full lookout by standing on the bottom step of the companionway.

Countless are the twits I've seen 'driving' big boats in and out of the Hamble in heavy congestion with their eyes glued to a screen.
 
RichardS said:
That's what surprised me. I chartered my first yacht in the Ionian in about 1990 and, more or less, every year or three since, and I've never seen a whirlygig. It seems that I was about 20 years too late. :o

Richard
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My first Sadler 25 built in 1980, which I bought in 1986, had a Space Age Electronics whirlygig echo sounder - on a hinged bracket on the companionway. The other side had a Seafarer Log on a hinged bracket, so that you could see how fast you weren't going! I didn't use them inside the cabin, but they hinged back in for storage when not in use. Both powered by big PP9 9volt internal batteries.
It was in the days well before YouTube so we didn't have any expert guidance available:
We were real sailors in those days.:encouragement:

I would argue with the spelling, though. Is it not whirligig? The boat was called Whirligig!!!!!!:D
I didn't ever ask the previous owner where the name came from, but she had an outboard on a bracket and it was great fun spinning the boat round on the spot by turning the drive through 90degrees.;)
Whirligig.jpg

Apologies to the OP for yet more Fred Drift!
 
Sorry - should have said my 2nd Sadler 25 had a chartplotter mounted on a swing out companionway bracket. It could be easily reached/viewed in the cockpit - you could helm from the front of cockpit with a tiller extension. It ran on the main 12 volt power supply and was useful inside the cabin, mainly overnight/at anchor.
 
Another trip to the boat and discussion with the supplier made life even more complicated. Unbelievably chart plotters are not waterproof so cannot be mounted in the cockpit without a waterproof enclosure!!!

I think that means that any mounting in the cockpit has to be pretty permanent - with the associated loss in flexibility and security.

I begin to understand those who suggest a tablet in a waterproof mount - but I would be concerned about battery life.
 
bedouin said:
Another trip to the boat and discussion with the supplier made life even more complicated. Unbelievably chart plotters are not waterproof so cannot be mounted in the cockpit without a waterproof enclosure!!!

I think that means that any mounting in the cockpit has to be pretty permanent - with the associated loss in flexibility and security.

I begin to understand those who suggest a tablet in a waterproof mount - but I would be concerned about battery life.
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Until recently they haven't been waterproof - but they have generally been water-resistant, which is all you'll need for the purpose unless you're going to capsize your boat, in which case your chartplotter will be the least of your problems.

The front panels are clearly designed for operation in all weathers. Rear panels with their electrical connectors may be more vulnerable, but usually come with water-resistant screw-on sockets (so use a water-resistant mating plug) and rubber blanking plugs for the sockets you're not connecting. If you mounted yours on a small rotating monitor bracket inside the bulkhead, to swivel out into the companionway, your coachroof would presumably provide all the protection you needed against serious green water flying aft.

From a quick Google search, modern chartplotters are even waterproof. I see that the new B&G Zeus ones and the Raymarine Axiom ones are both proofed to 'IPX6' (powerful water jet) and 'IPX7' (up to 1m of immersion) standards. Garmin GPSmap and Echomap chart plotters quote IPX7 too.

To choose between this and a waterproof-encased tablet, I would go for the chartplotter every time. The tablet's screen brightness is often inadequate even here at 50°N, and I believe you're pretty equatorial. The tablet needs a permanent power supply in the cockpit if its battery isn't to die pretty quickly while using its GPS - and you'll find copper oxide obstructing its connector port after some use in salty conditions. And tablet software still doesn't match plotter functionality: Navionics refuses to connect with your NMEA data; other apps are significantly clunkier; switching between different apps when you need different functions is far more distracting than a chartplotter, at the time when you most need immediate information.

Good luck anyway.
 
bedouin said:
Another trip to the boat and discussion with the supplier made life even more complicated. Unbelievably chart plotters are not waterproof so cannot be mounted in the cockpit without a waterproof enclosure!!!

I think that means that any mounting in the cockpit has to be pretty permanent - with the associated loss in flexibility and security.

I begin to understand those who suggest a tablet in a waterproof mount - but I would be concerned about battery life.
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That sounds strange. My Garmin 820 is mounted permanently on the pedestal, although it can be removed from the bracket if necessary. It is waterproof to IPX7 which is more than adequate for mounting in the cockpit.

Which chart plotter are you looking at?

A tablet is not a good substitute for a freestanding dedicated plotter. Useful in many ways, but limitations of battery life, poor screen viewing and lack of waterproofing mean more useful fat the chart table or for occasional use in the cockpit.
 
Tranona said:
That sounds strange. My Garmin 820 is mounted permanently on the pedestal, although it can be removed from the bracket if necessary. It is waterproof to IPX7 which is more than adequate for mounting in the cockpit.

Which chart plotter are you looking at?
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Looking at either B&G or Raymarine models - the advice that they are not waterproof comes from the installer. I have been assuming he knows what he is talking about.

I currently have an old Garmin which I believe is waterproof but it is mounted in a more sheltered location than I can use for a larger plotter.
 
I love my ipad, but its not a seafaring chartplotter even in its water proof case and the only way to keep it charged for more than few hours use is to stick charging cable through hole in said waterproof case. Great below deck but must be taken below for safety in splashy weather. I would advocate a swing out mounting as used on the old echo sounders. (Modern echo sounder can simply be bulkhead mounted so pointless to have then on swing-out). If you have any kind of modern radio it links to your GPS to give position for emergency DSC Mayday calling. The radio displays GPS position so that what you get in the cabin when you consult charts if plotter still swung out for the Helm
 
bedouin said:
Looking at either B&G or Raymarine models - the advice that they are not waterproof comes from the installer. I have been assuming he knows what he is talking about.

I currently have an old Garmin which I believe is waterproof but it is mounted in a more sheltered location than I can use for a larger plotter.
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Look around any new boat and they almost all have their plotters mounted in the cockpit, some on brackets and some semi-permanently in a panel. All the plotters I have looked at are either IPX 7 or 6. Suggest your installer is either not aware of the standards or is being cynical.

Manufacturers specifically design these instruments to be used outside, reflecting the change in pattern of usage. Bit of chicken and egg, though - which came first, the usage outside or the improved water resistance (plus viewing of the screen and handling the interface with the software).

Whichever it was, it has resulted in good functionality for cockpit use as many of the previous posts have shown. Does not solve the location difficulties in boats designed before such things existed, though.
 
Tranona said:
Plotter at the helm is almost universal now.
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Oh, I agree - a plotter by the helm is almost universal.
But that does not necessarily mean it's a good thing.

Babylon said:
Countless are the twits I've seen 'driving' big boats in and out of the Hamble in heavy congestion with their eyes glued to a screen.
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This has been my experience too.

But, as ever, whatever floats your boat.
It would be a boring old world if we were all the same.
 
Tin Tin said:
Oh, I agree - a plotter by the helm is almost universal.
But that does not necessarily mean it's a good thing.



This has been my experience too.

But, as ever, whatever floats your boat.
It would be a boring old world if we were all the same.
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Why should anybody be concerned about what other people do? unless they inconvenience you.

Generally in this world if a practice becomes popular it is because it meets peoples' needs. Strange to then say it is not a "good thing", particularly in this instance where it is adopted by many very competent people who are quite capable of making up their own minds. So why be disparaging about others' considered choices while reserving the right to make your own?
 
Tranona said:
Why should anybody be concerned about what other people do? unless they inconvenience you.

Generally in this world if a practice becomes popular it is because it meets peoples' needs. Strange to then say it is not a "good thing", particularly in this instance where it is adopted by many very competent people who are quite capable of making up their own minds. So why be disparaging about others' considered choices while reserving the right to make your own?
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And countless are the times when Tranona just can't resist eventually ratcheting virtually every discussion, containing a diversity of largely well-meaning and good-natured expressions of different opinions and experiences, into a wholly-unnecessary personal hit designed not to contribute but to provoke a reaction. However knowledgable and experienced you think you are, this oversteps the mark and is akin to the algorithm of a troll.

I used to enjoy regularly participating in this forum, warts and all. Spending longer stretches of time away from it as I've done in recent years, does however give a broader perspective where patterns of individual and type behaviour get thrown into sharper relief.

With apologies to the OP and others who've expressed their technical opinions - which I've enjoyed reading.
 
Babylon said:
And countless are the times when Tranona just can't resist eventually ratcheting virtually every discussion, containing a diversity of largely well-meaning and good-natured expressions of different opinions and experiences, into a wholly-unnecessary personal hit designed not to contribute but to provoke a reaction. However knowledgable and experienced you think you are, this oversteps the mark and is akin to the algorithm of a troll.

I used to enjoy regularly participating in this forum, warts and all. Spending longer stretches of time away from it as I've done in recent years, does however give a broader perspective where patterns of individual and type behaviour get thrown into sharper relief.

With apologies to the OP and others who've expressed their technical opinions - which I've enjoyed reading.
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Sorry but I am only responding to the other poster who diverged from the discussion which was generally following the lines that you advocate.

It is not personal, just questioning the attitude that it is OK for "me" to be different, but not for others.
 
Tin Tin said:
Because, on several occasions, I only narrowly avoided a collision with a helmsman in 'playstation mode'.
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That is not a reason for you not to have the benefit of one at the helm of your boat - if you believe it is a benefit as almost all the contributors to this thread have explained.

I can think of many situations where one could argue (as Babylon has) that they can work with a plotter at the chart table that is visible from the helm, or types of sailing where there is little benefit in having such a capability at the helm. These are sound reasons that suit the individual.

Your helmsman in playstation mode is at fault, not the instrument so no reason to criticise the instrument or its placement.
 
Tin Tin said:
Because, on several occasions, I only narrowly avoided a collision with a helmsman in 'playstation mode'.
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You should get yourself a better helmsman then - or keep a better eye on him.

However in general I would choose not to sail with someone who had "narrowly avoided collision several times". A competent skipper would not be caught out that often however bad his helmsman was. Says all we need to know about your sailing skills.
 
bedouin said:
You should get yourself a better helmsman then - or keep a better eye on him.

However in general I would choose not to sail with someone who had "narrowly avoided collision several times". A competent skipper would not be caught out that often however bad his helmsman was. Says all we need to know about your sailing skills.
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It was unclear as to whether Tin tin meant 'a collision with another helmsman...' or 'a collision, with my helmsman...'. Without the comma, my impression was that he meant another boat, in which case we have no information about his competence or otherwise.
 
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