Radar Chartplotters???

[Boat44]

Slight different radar question for you all.

I would like to fit a radar with a display that can also take chartplotter overlays at the helm, with the same functionality down below at the chart table, but running on a laptop.

The reason for the at the charttable is weather, tides, email, photos etc etc. Also I ideally only wnat one display there and to save money.

I have had a cursory look and the only one that seems to be able to do this is Raymarine with the E series display. All a bit rich for my blood. Also, I already have Furuno GPS and Navtex so would like the option of other manufacturers.

Display at helm does not need to be big; 8" is apparently big enough!!!

All advise gratefully received and liberal lashings on virtual pints will be passed out.

(Whilst I will try to get to a boat show to kick the tyres, not sure I will find the time! Plus some honest, unbiased, been there bought that T-shirt advise is worth its weight in gold)

 

[Leighb]

Sailing Today Sept 08 has a review of Radar Chart Plotters, a number of models ranging from £1800 to £6000 - ouch /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

PBO Sept 08 has a review of Budget radar, one set is the Garmin GMR18 with GPSMap 3005C for £1000, the other review was the basic standalone Furuno

Another option is Standard Horizon, their middle size plotter can now be interfaced to a Sitex scanner to produce a Radar Chart Plotter combo.

I have no experience of any of these, but having read the articles it seemed to be what you might be looking for.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I may have got this wrong but don't you also need a stabilized (gyro?) compass for reliable plotter/radar overlay? Or is that just for MARPA?

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
I have no experience of any of these, but having read the articles it seemed to be what you might be looking for.

[/ QUOTE ]I haven't read the articles, but I wasn't aware that either the Garmin or the Standard Horizon products you've recommended was able to drive a laptop as a second display.

 

[Anwen]

I believe the Garmin 4000 and 5000 series have a VGA output which can be connected to a remote monitor. I'm looking for similar myself, and don't fancy paying Raymarine E series money.

 

[BAtoo]

The rate gyro is needed to make MARPA as good as it can be but we had marpa without it on the last boat & it was OK but not brilliant - largish fluctuations in CPA, TTCPA etc. Its not needed for normal chart/radar overlay.

 

[Leighb]

Sorry missed the bit about the laptop /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[TonyS]

I have exactly what you want on my boat. It has Radar and colour chartplotter - an RL 72 CRC (5 yrs old) fitted on the binnacle. That is connected to Raytech Pathfinder PC box and card that fits in the laptop. It works fine but quite frankly we almost never use it on the PC on the chart table. If I want to look at a chart down below then I put the chart chip in a card reader that slips into a USB slot. We have done 6000 miles with the setup so far.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Yes to overlay radar onto the chart you need a heading sensor of some kind, I use a Furuno heading sensor

I assume the fluxgate compass is the same as a heading senor, but would imagine a gyro compass with electronic output would do the same.

Mj