Plotter: at wheel or chart table?

[jonic]

I started with a GPS and charts at the chart table.

Later I added a GPS repeater in the cockpit-Brilliant.

Then I added a plotter at the chart table.-Fantastic.

A few years later, the same plotter but with in built GPS had a huge price reduction, so I put one in the cockpit thinking I would use it occasionally for close pilotage, but rely on the "main" one at the chart table.

I don't think I ever used the "main" one again.

Put it at the helm and add AIS. Plan below on paper or a laptop.

(HB isn't it time you bought another boat?)

 

[Marsupial]

We have an electronic plotter at the helm with a radar overlay and the whole capability is a repeated below at the chart table. Its handy in fog to be able to helm and read the radar from the helm. Its handy to be able to plan routes from below, but the piece of kit that gets the most use is a Yeoman sport plotter which can be plugged in on deck or below. Even though we now have a boat that could easily be fitted with a chart table version of the Yeoman, the sport is still, we think, the best navigation solution for lots of reasons most have been done to death on this forum before. That new Hr 310 layout is very similar to the boat we bought the sport for, and it would be an ideal solution for that applcation.

As far the OP is concerned if the choice is up or down only then it must be UP. There is no point in having the information you need out of sight from the helm.

 

[smartcom]

When under way, having it in the cockpit is a great help - whether that is at the wheel or mounted by the companionway or elsewhere depends on your size of boat, number of crew, type of sailing and eyesight! Down below is definitely better for passage planning, and an excuse to go below and navigate when the weather's bad!
I'd use a PC based plotter down below - Maxsea if you have Furuno kit, Raytech for Raymarine, or something like seaPro if you have something else and so can't benefit from coupling of the plotter and software Furuno and Raymarine offer.
Tim

 

[Channel Ribs]

Combine proper paper navigation down below with all the advantages of a compact and tidy all in one chartplotter in the cockpit: RADAR, AIS, SONAR as well as position and cartography can all be displayed on one waterproof screen. (without breaking the 2k mark if you want to!)

 

[boatmike]

Old yachties like me drove with a blindfold for years, then someone invented Decca for yachts, and put it over the chart table. If you have navigated using a compass, with occasional attempts at finding a null on an rdf it is not to difficult to find your way about without constant reference to plotters, most yachts only go at 6 or 7 knots and I can still run faster than that without hitting anything.

Well I am 67 and have been sailing since before Decca too. I have made hundreds of accurate landfalls by dead reckoning alone, but I try to keep up with progress not stick my head in the sand. Modern aids to navigation are great and anyone who refuses to use them on principle deserves to be called a Dinosaur....

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Both if you can afford it, wheel if not .....

/climb on soap box.......

In the YM yacht tests I don't know why boats aren't penalised for a lack of "Pilotage Station" at the helm . They instead seem to be hell bent on penalising any manufacturer who doesn't dedicate valuable interior space to a desk down below .
I find my navigation activities fall into two categories - passage planning and pilotage.
Passage planning is usually done on the saloon table with plenty of space for all the necessary books, charts and instruments - for which even the most well appointed nav station is still cramped.
Pilotage is done at the helm with all information available at my finger-tips.
Unfortunately YM seems to be stuck in a pre-GPS, pre-chart plotter era where you are expected to regularly leave the helm to sit down below with pencils, dividers and parralel-rulers trying to work out where you are. I know we all need to be able to do this and I do practise for fun occasionally. But this is a VERY RARE OCCURENCE!!!! - especially in our increasingly crowded coastal waters.

Come on YM ... this is 2010!!! Please try and reflect reality in your boat tests. Let's see a ranking for "Pilotage at the helm"

/climb off soap box.

Personally I'd go for a pilotage station at the helm over a desk below every time.

 

[Channel Ribs]

Come on YM ... this is 2010!!! Please try and reflect reality in your boat tests. Let's see a ranking for "Pilotage at the helm"

I think they are reacting to there readers expectations.

 

[snooks]

Using a XTE has exactly the same implications as following a line on a plotter. It will still cause an inexperienced helmsman to steer in zigzags as they try to follow an exact line. With all the technology, when it comes to hand steering, a compass is still the best thing to follow.

I find this curious, don't use the XTE page then

Wouldn't it be better to explain to the crew that you've asked them to steer a compass course, and then explain that you expect the tide will take the boat one side of the direct line from where you set off to where you are going, so you expect to see a XTE, but you've allowed for this in your calculations, so there is no need to worry.

Rather then let the button pressers think they know best?

 

[sailorman]

I find this curious, don't use the XTE page then

Wouldn't it be better to explain to the crew that you've asked them to steer a compass course, and then explain that you expect the tide will take the boat one side of the direct line from where you set off to where you are going, so you expect to see a XTE, but you've allowed for this in your calculations, so there is no need to worry.

Rather then let the button pressers think they know best?

I personally dont want to sail a "Games Console"

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Solitude, scenery, silence and a ripping good sail can also be enjoyed on a yacht bristling with electronics - just switch them all off.

It's quite fun to put the plastic cover over the plotter, hand the kids a chart and ask 'Where are we?"

Remove the cover to reveal the answer - hours of family fun for all and it's amazing how intuitive they can be.

 

[Quandary]

Well I am 67 and have been sailing since before Decca too. I have made hundreds of accurate landfalls by dead reckoning alone, but I try to keep up with progress not stick my head in the sand. Modern aids to navigation are great and anyone who refuses to use them on principle deserves to be called a Dinosaur....

Thanks for the compliments, though I think they are misplaced. If you had perhaps read my posts on this thread you might have understood the point I was making. I have no problem with modern technology and have it on board. The thread was discussing location, was it not?
I steer from the coaming usually with a leg either side of the wheel and the mainsail controls in my spare hand because that gives me best performance, vision, control and comfort. In light conditions I like to sit right down to lee. From either position I could not see a plotter in front of the wheel, but because I can navigate by dead reckoning and can still remember data, I don't need to get up to look at the plotter very often, I usually tack on bearing/distance/depth. However I sail where ships and fog are both rare though rocks are common, so I am not dependent on AIS or radar. I would have a different attitude if I sailed a motorsailer type yacht where you always stand or sit directly behind the wheel driving it like a truck and perhaps get someone else to watch the sails if you ever bother with them. Nearly all our motoring is done with the Autopilot as steering a motor boat is boring and the machine does it better, so we are rarely behind the wheel then either.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

@Quandary

You're right the thread was discussing location. If it's behind the wheel or at the chart table, you still can't see it from either of your favourite helming positions.

But you have to admit it is easier to check something from the cockpit than leave the helm and climb down the companionway steps.

I'd steer well clear of any boat that put the sheet winches down below for example.

 

[JayBee]

Our boat (36ft) is tiller steered. Unless we are in a manoeuvring situation the steering is almost always done by the tillerpilot or the Aries. The wind vane works much better on a tiller than on a wheel, where there is more friction in the system. The tillerpilot can also be hooked up to the Aries, giving a lot of servo-assisted power for minimal amps.

Favourite on-watch location is seated in the shelter of the sprayhood, where we can conveniently see the all the usual instruments. The Radar/Chartplotter, VHF and the AIS display are at the chart table, very secure, out of the weather and easily accessible from the companionway.

We do have a small backup chartplotter on a RAM mount, to one side of the main instrument pod, forward of the main hatch. (Not binnacle - purleeze.. ). This normally just displays GPS data.

We find the whole setup extremely practical and we have never understood why people would want to stand or sit behind a wheel most of the time.

 

[Jamesuk]

Both,

Chart plotter at helm. When coming into a port you know little about having a good plotter at the helm gives you an excellent guide, I also have a paper chart to hand for those "tricky" ports - worked a treat when going into Cape May, New Jersey.

To add I would prefer to have Radar at the helm aswell.

 

[biscuit]

Thanks for all 53 replies so far all make very good sense, and all different opinions. Just how it should be, very interesting and entertaining.............now a question about anchors....................

 

[sailorman]

Thanks for all 53 replies so far all make very good sense, and all different opinions. Just how it should be, very interesting and entertaining.............now a question about anchors....................

Fisherman stowed in the stem Hd

 

[RAI]

Thanks for all 53 replies so far all make very good sense, and all different opinions. Just how it should be, very interesting and entertaining.............now a question about anchors....................

Lowering the keel onto the bottom usually stops the boat from drifting - tidal anchor.

 

[Woodlouse]

I find this curious, don't use the XTE page then

Wouldn't it be better to explain to the crew that you've asked them to steer a compass course, and then explain that you expect the tide will take the boat one side of the direct line from where you set off to where you are going, so you expect to see a XTE, but you've allowed for this in your calculations, so there is no need to worry.

Rather then let the button pressers think they know best?

I was only commenting on XTE because someone else bought it up. The best way of stopping button pushers, is to not give them any buttons to play with. I find this works admirably.

I'm also a bit confused here about the number of people who don't seem to like taking the helm when sailing. Isn't that a big part of the fun of it all?

 

[snooks]

I was only commenting on XTE because someone else bought it up. The best way of stopping button pushers, is to not give them any buttons to play with. I find this works admirably.

Ah you're a convert to touchscreen as well then!

Buttons are so last season Dahling!

I'm also a bit confused here about the number of people who don't seem to like taking the helm when sailing. Isn't that a big part of the fun of it all?

Indeed it is...Autopilots have their place, mostly in the locker on our boat, though for cross cross channel or longer full day sails I wouldn't be without it

 

[Woodlouse]

Ah you're a convert to touchscreen as well then!

Buttons are so last season Dahling!

Can't say i've had the privilege of trying a touchscreen chart plotter yet. Do they make them work like the iphone yet? How easy would selecting, scrolling and zooming be then?