Plotter charts

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billiew

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I am considering buying a chartplotter but am a bit confused about the types of chart offered.Can anyone clarify for me the pros and cons of the different ones and which plotter manufacterers they are compatable with?
Thanks
Bill
 
I purchased a Raymarine C80 with Navonics charts last year.
To date I cannot fault it. He says as he touches wood. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Navionics chart is lovely, but pricey. The Nautic Path chart is cheaper but has shallow water detail stripped away.

Not an issue if you don't do creek crawling.
 
Some of the Raymarine plotters come with a "free" Navionics chart. I did that, and have no complaints
 
I will only be using plotter,not onboard PC.Where do the Garmin G charts and Jepperson C charts fit in or are these Navionics badged differently?
Bill
 
[ QUOTE ]
I will only be using plotter,not onboard PC.Where do the Garmin G charts and Jepperson C charts fit in or are these Navionics badged differently?
Bill

[/ QUOTE ]

Different plotter manufacturers tend to make their plotters compatible with only one type of chart.

If I was buying a plotter today, I would be looking very seriously at the Standard Horizon range, with C-Map charts.

In 2006, I bought a Lowrance plotter with Nauticpath charts, which are just OK, but no good for a lot of close to the shore/ditch crawling.

I use C-map charts on my Laptop, and they are Ace.... but I would buy the plotter before kitting up a laptop... and make sure it's a waterproof plotter.
 
Jepperson bought C-Map a while ago, so they are the same. I think Navionics and C-Map are almost on a par with each other. I bought C-Map to work with SOB on my laptop. I almost wish I had bought Navionics as they would work on my plotter.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Yes that looks cheap,is a 5in screen big enough?

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It's more to do with resolution than size at these levels. The SH 180 has a 320x480 resolution, whereas the Lowrance 5150 has 640x480 for the same 5in screen.

My Lowrance, (older model but same res.), is very viewable with its 5in screen, and has seen us from Glasson Dock to Malta.

Having looked again, I think I would be tempted to spend the extra money on the SH 300, or might even consider the Lowrance plus the expense of Navionics charts.

http://www.force4.co.uk/4448/Lowrance--5150C-Chart-Plotter.html?referrer=froogle
 
We have a 5" screen Navman and yes you can manage but there is a problem with a small screen. Once set up all is fine but if while sailing you zoom out to select your next waypoint very often the machine removes detail from the chart or the screen would be too cluttered with the result that the buoy you were going to enter is no longer displayed. Yes you can scroll across at the original magnification to find the mark but it is surprising how often you miss the mark and have to start again. We would seriously consider changing to an 8" screen but guess what ? they cost a lot more.
 
I too have a 5" Navman (which uses C-map) and to date I have found it fine. If it went awol I would probably replace it with the Standard Horizon which seems to be very good value and which would let me use my existing chart cartridges. The point about zooming is valid, but since I mainly use paper charts for planning I do not find it a big problem. A bigger display is a double edged sword: nicer to look at, but harder to find room for. Given a choice I would actually prefer a smaller unit (assuming, of course, good resolution) since it would take up less space.

One thing I have done is to spend quite a bit of time laying out a series of "strategic" routes on both paper charts and plotter, making legs and waypoints serve for multiple purposes as far as possible. This means that I can easily switch between routes to accommodate all sorts of journeys. These are seldom followed slavishly, but do mean that meaningful info to a new waypoint is nearly always available.
 
I am also looking to buy a plotter at the moment. I was leaning towards a Standard Horizon CP300i but then came across MES who are offering a Raymarine 435i for £260. Raymarine use navionics charts. The price for the 435i, which has a 6'' screen, seems very good value to me. Any comments form anyone who has a 435i plotter?
 
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Raymarine 435i for £260. Raymarine use navionics charts. The price for the 435i, which has a 6'' screen

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Havent seen one, but the resolution at 320x240 is pretty crappy, and possibly the reason it is cheap, (for Raymarine).

The resolution of the SH 300 is 800x480 and, as above, the smaller 5in Lowrance is 640x480.... which I know looks OK.
 
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