Siting a chart plotter

[davidivorwynphillips]

I've recently bought a yacht with a raymarine c80 chart plotter above the chart table. Would like to move it to the cockpit.

Problems: pod for the steering binacle horrendously expensive.. bulkhead too small and far away from the helm (wheel steering).

Thinking about putting it on the side of the cockpit to the left of the helmsman - anyone done this? Successful or not?

 

[sailorman]

I've recently bought a yacht with a raymarine c80 chart plotter above the chart table. Would like to move it to the cockpit.

Problems: pod for the steering binacle horrendously expensive.. bulkhead too small and far away from the helm (wheel steering).

Thinking about putting it on the side of the cockpit to the left of the helmsman - anyone done this? Successful or not?

leave it where it is & get a good autohelm

 

[FullCircle]

Get a GPS repeater like the Silva or the NASA and use it to display all the GPS info, and a rolling highway with XTE.
Works just as well, and under a hundred quid.

 

[Simondjuk]

I can't help but have concerns about people who have their chart plotters visible from the helm a la car sat nav.

 

[FullCircle]

I can't help but have concerns about people who have their chart plotters visible from the helm a la car sat nav.

A lot of people have concerns about me, you apparently, have just joined the list.

 

[JayBee]

I can't help but have concerns about people who have their chart plotters visible from the helm a la car sat nav.

Me too. I have wind and power operated devices to take care of 95% of the steering, which leaves me free to do other things, like trim sails, make a cup of coffee, consult the chart at the chart table and look at the radar/ chartplotter from time to time. Oh, and also look under the foot of the genoa at regular intervals.

Apart from a small backup chartplotter under the sprayhood, with the wind instruments, log and depth sounder, all my electronics are at the chart table, out of the spray, rain/bright sunlight, where they should be, IMHO.

 

[Kelpie]

Thinking about putting it on the side of the cockpit to the left of the helmsman - anyone done this? Successful or not?

Erm, do you mean setting it into the coaming? It will be brilliant. On one tack.

 

[FullCircle]

Me too. I have wind and power operated devices to take care of 95% of the steering, which leaves me free to do other things, like trim sails, make a cup of coffee, consult the chart at the chart table and look at the radar/ chartplotter from time to time. Oh, and also look under the foot of the genoa at regular intervals.

Apart from a small backup chartplotter under the sprayhood, all my electronics are at the chart table, out of the spray, rain/bright sunlight, where they should be, IMHO.

Small backup chartplotter in the cockpit?
I have the large chartplotter in the cockpit, and the small (backup) one down below, so it correlates to the paper charts.

Why, pray do you feel the need to keep your equipment where you cant see it in times of visual need?

 

[Simondjuk]

A lot of people have concerns about me, you apparently, have just joined the list.

I'd wager you don't foolishly assume it can be used in the fashion of a sat nav though, which is where my concern arises.

 

[prv]

Thinking about putting it on the side of the cockpit to the left of the helmsman - anyone done this? Successful or not?

Never seen it, but I'd worry about it getting kicked, or stood on when the boat is heeled over.

Think you'll have to bite the bullet and get a binnacle pod - perhaps something can be modified rather than buying the pukka expensive item?

Pete

 

[FullCircle]

I'd wager you don't foolishly assume it can be used in the fashion of a sat nav though, which is where my concern arises.

Dunno, there aren't many bridleways marked on my chartplotter to drive up.
Can't think of a single marine chartplotter that tells you to turn left up the Ray Sand Channel. They tend to let you make your own mind up.

 

[ghostlymoron]

leave it where it is & get a good autohelm

According to this thread autohelm . An auto helm for wheel steering is thousands - just depends what your budget is.

 

[prv]

all my electronics are at the chart table, out of the spray, rain/bright sunlight, where they should be, IMHO.

You must have a very old chart plotter if it's not rain and spray proof. I think mine claims it can be submerged to a depth of one metre.

Pete

 

[FullCircle]

You must have a very old chart plotter if it's not rain and spray proof. I think mine claims it can be submerged to a depth of one metre.

Pete

Do not try this at sea, children!

 

[JayBee]

Why, pray do you feel the need to keep your equipment where you cant see it in times of visual need?

I can see it in times of visual need. It's not that far away.

 

[FullCircle]

I can see it in times of visual need. It's not that far away.

So why the need for a backup that's closer?

 

[Simondjuk]

Dunno, there aren't many bridleways marked on my chartplotter to drive up.
Can't think of a single marine chartplotter that tells you to turn left up the Ray Sand Channel. They tend to let you make your own mind up.

Yours doesn't give voice instruction? How charmingly last century.






Actually, I meant in visual terms. As in the 'That's where the picture on the screen says we are, so that's where we must be' conduct their pilotage with their eyes on the plotter soon to be firmly aground types.

 

[FullCircle]

Yours doesn't give voice instruction? How charmingly last century.






Actually, I meant in visual terms. As in the 'That's where the picture on the screen says we are, so that's where we must be' conduct their pilotage with their eyes on the plotter soon to be firmly aground types.

With viz down to 50m, short chop waves at 3+m high and narrow channels less than 300m wide, and 30kts of breeze I really enjoyed pre-chartplotter days when I owned an Evo 25. Kept a chart in a knee pad.
I like that I can take a minute out now to make a brew without getting paranoid.
I am reading Roger Taylor and find myself not agreeing with some principles
I must be getting old.

 

[GeorgeTina]

I have tiller steering and have mounted my chart plotter in the corner of the cockpit. It has been there seven years and is still working. No one has trod on it and it continues to work in spite of rain and the odd spray. Useful for info on speed, time to go, position of rocks etc. without having to go bellow. Works for me.

 

[JayBee]

You must have a very old chart plotter if it's not rain and spray proof. I think mine claims it can be submerged to a depth of one metre.

Pete

It's three years old - Furuno. I don't need it to be out in the elements, cluttering up the cockpit, so that's where it isn't. When the boat is laid up I take it home, to spend the winter in a nice warm, dry cupboard.

Probably the same inate instinct that causes me to remove my 100m waterproof watch when swimming. Just an old habit, but waterproof seals have been known to fail, or is this now a complete impossibility?