Plotter info overload?

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Hi all.
We have just taken charge of our first plotter, its a Raymarine RC435 and runs the Navionics gold chart.......second hand yes, but it works a treat and the price for the combo was good!

My question to you all is do you have EVERY available bit of info turned on when you use it? I fired it up last night at home just to see what the charts look like but was almost overloaded with information....lables, information ect...it just looked too much if thats possible!

Of course I need all the depth contours and bouyage ect, but do I need a lot of the other stuff it was giving me?
What do you have turned on or off?
Can I make it easier for a first timer?
Any tips or hints on the charts greatly recieved

Many thanks
TDPB.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Use the de-clutter command to select the amount of information displayed. I'm not familiar with the RC435 but most plotters have an 'auto' setting which displayed less info as you zoom out.

 

[pvb]

If you go into the "Chart Set Up" menu, you'll find you can alter lots of the settings to minimise the information shown. Change a few and see what effect it has on the display. Different people have different preferences. You'll probably also find that, as you become more familiar with using your plotter, you'll revise your choice of settings.

 

[Kelpie]

Glad the card is working for you!
We used it in a handheld plotter with a 3.5" screen so information overload was a pretty big problem. It was absolutely essential- not just advisable- to check your route on the chart- but it was a good habit to get into.

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Thanks guys,as I said we are new to the plotter so a few hours messing about with the menu may be the answer.
The card is fine thanks Rob!.....amazed at how much info is packed into it, and have already seen a few areas to fish in the summer. It can become addictive this "toys for the boys" thing can't it!