New Member seeking advice or opinions about Chart Plotters

[Wing Mark]

Hi, I'm hopefully about to buy a small yacht. I used to sail yachts quite a lot but not in the last 15 years.
The boat I'm wanting to buy has no nav equipment, I don't want to spend loads of cash, I'm looking at an Onwa 7 inch plotter, but I've never seen one to play with.
What are the charts like?
Can the charts be updated?
Are there any other makes I should consider?
The yotty brands like Garmin and Raymarine seem to charge a lot more for doing clever stuff I don't want?
I think I want a basic plotter which just shows a zoomable map segment with my boat in the middle of it, in the cockpit for pilotage.
I will use Admiralty folio charts for planning and backup, with a second GPS 'downstairs'.
I expect to mostly sail two-up, so don't have to do everything on deck.
But what I do have on deck needs to be properly waterproof and hopefully fool proof?

 

[lustyd]

By the sound of it any plotter would do for your use. I'd look at second hand larger plotters if you have the battery power, just because larger is nicer to look at but otherwise it doesn't sound like you'll get value from bells and whistles.

 

[Mister E]

Look at londonchartplotters.com

 

[RJJ]

Hi, I'm hopefully about to buy a small yacht. I used to sail yachts quite a lot but not in the last 15 years.
The boat I'm wanting to buy has no nav equipment, I don't want to spend loads of cash, I'm looking at an Onwa 7 inch plotter, but I've never seen one to play with.
What are the charts like?
Can the charts be updated?
Are there any other makes I should consider?
The yotty brands like Garmin and Raymarine seem to charge a lot more for doing clever stuff I don't want?
I think I want a basic plotter which just shows a zoomable map segment with my boat in the middle of it, in the cockpit for pilotage.
I will use Admiralty folio charts for planning and backup, with a second GPS 'downstairs'.
I expect to mostly sail two-up, so don't have to do everything on deck.
But what I do have on deck needs to be properly waterproof and hopefully fool proof?

A reasonable option is an Android tablet with Marine Navigator app and charts from "visit my harbour" in a decent waterproof pouch. You can do all that for not much more than £100, and it will do all sorts of things that a plotter cannot (access tide tables, keep all your manuals etc.. as well as whatever else you use a tablet for).

 

[[70521]]

I navigate with paper, there is a chartplotter onboard that keeps people entertained and collects tracks. The charts on it were published 10 years ago as the UK has not moved any measurable amount in that time.

If I was looking to use some new electronic stuff I'd invest in a tablet and use Navionics or Visit My Harbour.

I found it interesting that on a 600 NM trip this summer I could knock out a 150 NM passage and pilotage plan in the same time as somebody using Navionics.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

A reasonable option is an Android tablet with Marine Navigator app and charts from "visit my harbour" in a decent waterproof pouch. You can do all that for not much more than £100, and it will do all sorts of things that a plotter cannot (access tide tables, keep all your manuals etc.. as well as whatever else you use a tablet for).

Or OpenCPN for Android (the paid for version on Playstore, about £9) with oeSenc charts. Needs a tablet with GPS.

 

[Tamar]

I've had a standard horizon CP for the last 15 years, it does everything I want and is used every day. Why not see if you can get a used one on eBay, people are upgrading all the time and selling perfectly good gear

 

[Wing Mark]

I navigate with paper, there is a chartplotter onboard that keeps people entertained and collects tracks. The charts on it were published 10 years ago as the UK has not moved any measurable amount in that time.

If I was looking to use some new electronic stuff I'd invest in a tablet and use Navionics or Visit My Harbour.

I found it interesting that on a 600 NM trip this summer I could knock out a 150 NM passage and pilotage plan in the same time as somebody using Navionics.

Up to the early years of this century I did a fair amount of yachting. chartplotters were a lot of money then and we got by without one.
I recall a few times when one would have been nice, like whizzing through the Channel Islands on the tide, being a little unsure of some of the landmarks.
When things go a little off-plan, it's a lot quicker to look at the screen and see your boat on the map, instead of plotting a lat and long on the chart.
That's the main thing I want really.

I've looked at a couple of boats with old chartplotters, seen some out of date charts and faulty screens.
The rocks might not move, but the buoys and muddy channels do sometimes.
We will be doing inshore and estuary sailing, so good detailed charts on the plotter will be useful.
My sailing partner is less of a luddite than I am.

 

[Moodysailor]

Supporting the advice from a few others above, I'd also suggest that a great budget starter option is a tablet running Navionics (or some other Nav software). If you go with Android, this can be done for as little as £100-150, for a tablet, waterproof pouch, Navionics subscription and a power bank to provide all-day battery (this is what we did).

You can also spend upwards of £1000 for an iPad or similar spec Android tablet if you want.

Either way, this would be where I would (and did) start. Another benefit is that it is upgradable and useful as you add more gear, boat, or even to take on a different boat (charter, etc). I do planning at home (or on board in my bunk) on mine, then send the route to the MFD we have now installed.

 

[superheat6k]

Onwa is the same base unit as the Matsutec. I have had two of these excellent plotters and would highly recommend them. Mine is the 12" HP1228A with built in AIS transceiver.