bedouin
Well-Known Member
At present I use an old Garmin GPS that has a basic built in Map - fun to use but not really adequate for navigation. I am wondering about replacing it with something with better charts to help with pilotage. I don't have room for a large chartplotter visible from the helm so I will continue to rely on paper charts for serious planning but as I often sail single/short handed it is very reassuring to have a chart display visible from the helm while piloting in unfamiliar waters - it can be very tricky popping down to the chart table to check the characteristics of a light!
I was looking at small chart devices such as the abovementioned Garmin GPSMAP 620 - it seems like a good compromise of size/functionality for my location but I am really put off by the cost of the Charts! About £230 for each set - and my normal cruising grounds would require 2 of them. The price itself is not too bad - but it doesn't go well with the small screen of the GPSMAP 620 as you could never use that as your only nav tool.
Compare that with the Navionics on my Android Phone that came with more charts for the princely sum of £20. I do on occasion use that as a backup for pilotage, in a waterproof case hung round my neck, but it is clearly not ideal either.
Has anyone any good suggests for a more cost effective solution? I'd be happy with a Raspberry PI / Android type solution if I could find an appropriate waterproof daylight-visible display
I was looking at small chart devices such as the abovementioned Garmin GPSMAP 620 - it seems like a good compromise of size/functionality for my location but I am really put off by the cost of the Charts! About £230 for each set - and my normal cruising grounds would require 2 of them. The price itself is not too bad - but it doesn't go well with the small screen of the GPSMAP 620 as you could never use that as your only nav tool.
Compare that with the Navionics on my Android Phone that came with more charts for the princely sum of £20. I do on occasion use that as a backup for pilotage, in a waterproof case hung round my neck, but it is clearly not ideal either.
Has anyone any good suggests for a more cost effective solution? I'd be happy with a Raspberry PI / Android type solution if I could find an appropriate waterproof daylight-visible display
