Upgrading to a chart plotter

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I am now thinking that I should upgrade from my Raymarine RN300 which is, supposedly, a monochrome chartplotter but which in reality is a feature rich GPS locator without the benefit of a chart display.

I have Raymarine ST60's tridata and wind instruments and ST1000 autohelm too, (I do not have and do not intend to install radar),so this lot can all 'talk' to each other, so the question is, on a budget of no more than £700 should I opt for a Raymarine unit, if so which one.

Or should I go for another make and would it be similarly able to 'talk' to the Raymarine instruments.

Also does the choice of chart software providers become a further consideration in the choice of plotter and what is the best brand of chartware anyway?
 
Why do you need it to talk to the instruments?
I can see why you may want it to talk to the ST1000, but in reality you have to hit the "Go" button on the ST1000 before it does a course change so I can't really see the point in that either.
I'd have a look to see what you want out of the CP, where you'd mount it would be a high priority - if it is a direct replacement for the RN300 then you want to find something with similar holes!
 
Hi there,

I have a Raymarine C80, great unit and not to big for a chart table of helm mounting position.

I also happy to know of a brand new one that may be for sale..PM me if you decide to go down that route.
 
Good question, why do I want it to talk.
I suppose the honest answer is that all the instruments are 'daisy-chained' and can do so at present; also one feature of the RN300 is that in addition to the patent Sea Talk junction box it uses separate NMEA wiring to feed a cockpit repeater (RN300 mounted below deck, as will its replacement be. I don't have room in the cockpit for an on-deck display, so I thought I could if necessary monitor depth when below deck, when necessary,too.

Using the RN300 fixing holes is a good proposition
 
Thanks for the recommendation- I think from what I have just read that the C80 is too much machine for my needs- I don't need a fish finder nor shall I have radar. In addition it looks from the rrp as this would be well over budget, for I don't want to exceed £700 and actually I would like to be nearer £500 if at all possible.

Perhaps a less sophisticated model from the same stable might be one option?
 
Ah - Sadler 26 ...

we have a tiller boat as well - and have found the best place for the CP so far is on the sliding hatch in the companion way - it can be seen from the helm and is at its most useful when entering somewhere you are unfamiliar with (I did Cherbourg in the dark in Sept - first time skippering into Cherbourg and it was dark too!). I can't think why you'd want a CP down below - we've just about read a chart on the laptop (15" screen) in the dark before - small CPs would be too small for this.

All new CPs will be sunlight viewable (just check that though).
It has been suggested that if you sail on the side of the country then a portrait CP may be best (assuming you display N up) whilst those sailing mainly E-W will find the landscape displays pretty good.
With a CP on deck you are unlikely to need depth reading down below ... but you will need a lat/long readout down below - we can get this off our VHF or Garmin 152 (completely seperate GPS system!)

Other brand CPs will be able to display your Seatalk data - but will need a Seatalk-NMEA bridge, which can be bought, but IMHO it is reasonably expensive for what you actually get (usage wise) ...

Had you thought about AIS ?
 
I don't really want a CP below as this is far from convenient, especially when alone, but all my lines are lead aft so the boat can be worked from the cockpit, thus rendering the cabin roof inaccessible and my 30w solar panel is sited on the sliding hatch, which is the only realistic position for it

So I'm thinking that if I have to have the CP below, I can at least use it at those times when I'm not single-handed.
When piloting in tight spots, especially at night or alone and unable to go below, I'm thinking that my recently acquired PDA will be able to reassure me that I remain on track, until I can check out the bigger picture. Not at all an ideal situation, I know, but I'm trying to reduce the acrobatics between helm and chart table without breaking the bank and, just as importantly, without creating another new spur to the existing spaghetti junction of electronics wiring which is packed between my double-skinned boat and which therefore makes for very restricted access for more of the same .

I haven't considered adding to the electronics array, for the above reasons and it is only a small boat, particularly below with little useable extra space
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am now thinking that I should upgrade from my Raymarine RN300 which is, supposedly, a monochrome chartplotter but which in reality is a feature rich GPS locator without the benefit of a chart display.


[/ QUOTE ]

Rogue had a raymarine 435, (or something like that), which I gave to the seller as I didnt like it, and felt that a CP at the chart table was a PIA - I wanted one at the wheel where it could be used for pilotage and navigation.

The RM aerial still feeds the course computer and the ST60 instrument panels, which remain linked to the autohelm pilot aswell - so that's all fine.

I bought a standalone Lowrance 3600i plotter, (480 x 480 resolution which is excellent!), which is mounted on a swivel at the helm. All it needed was power, which I took from the compass light, and bobs your uncle. It doesnt talk to anything else, but I havent found this to be a problem.

It has NMEA in and out so I can connect it to the DSC VHF if I want, (I did this for a while, but now have the RM stuff connected to the VHF). If I could be bothered, I could probably use the NMEA to feed the RM stuff and the autopilot, but it's not top of the priority list at the moment.

If I was buying again, I would probably buy one of the waterproof Standard Horizon plotters with internal aerial and mount it at the helm - probably this one with 7" screen and 800 x 480 resolution.
 
It actually may be useful to have the plotter talk to the instruments depending on how you use the boat. I use a lot of routes and the facility to advance to the next waypoint with one button-press on the pilot is very handy, and the ability to display tidal and course vectors on the plotter also quite useful. I get this from my (old) Raytheon equipment, though it will also deal with routes from my separate Garmin GPS.
 
The RN300 was marketed as a GPS receiver, the plotter version was the RC320, which was a monochrome chartplotter of sorts using C-Map cartridges and looked the same as the RN300.
 
Oh, that's a good alternative way to deal with the problem- a standalone with a minimum of extra wiring would certainly be good if I can find a niche for it somewhere in the cockpit area- I'll have another look. It also means I don't have to disturb the existing setup.

Also the price seems OK, although I must check but a friend in the trade says he can supply a CP-300 with internal aerial for around £500- I would hope that's a fair price but no idea at the moment; although he says they retail for quite a bit more?

Thanks for the idea- I'm going to struggle to find a cockpit position but thinking about it I may be able to site an articulated arm inside the cabin which can swing into the companionway area facing the helmsman.
 
The advantage of staying with Raymarine and Seatalk connectivity is the active route programmed on one device (GPS or Chartplotter) also automatically becomes the active route on any other "navigating" device. Thus, if you are keeping an RN300 in the system, adding a Seatalk capable plotter will mean the two are always singing from the same hymn sheet. This avoids possible human error when programming the active route in 2 devices separately.

The only plotter that fits in the same hole as a RN300 would be a RC320, if you can find one (out of production) and poor low resolution graphics. However, you wouldn't have to change the antenna or any cabling, as its the same as that for the RN300, just 4 screws to swap.
 
Yes, I understand and R_F_44's idea seems to deal with the situation inasmuch as I would see myself using the CP-300 simply as a GPS positioner and the'GoTo' commands and selecting routes/waypoints etc.,could still be on the Seatalk bus and the cockpit repeater- there may be a conflict of directions but I reckon I could manage with that.

As to the description of the RN300, I couldn't agree with you more but the handbook confusingly refers to it as a'GPS plotter' which I've always found misleading
 
Thanks for your input, I hear what you say and I want to keep what I am used to, so as you see from the other suggestions the standalone solution seems sensible
 
[ QUOTE ]

Yes, I understand and R_F_44's idea seems to deal with the situation inasmuch as I would see myself using the CP-300 simply as a GPS positioner and the'GoTo' commands and selecting routes/waypoints etc.,could still be on the Seatalk bus and the cockpit repeater- there may be a conflict of directions but I reckon I could manage with that.

[/ QUOTE ]

How many times do you actually use the GPS to control the tiller pilot? Is it really that useful to you?

If I was in your position I'd look at a standalone GPS plotter - tbh, how many times do you program a whole route into the CP? I generally just use the "Goto" function ... I also have a GPS repeater in the cockpit and am looking at switching that between the Garmin down below (as it currently is) and the CP unit (so I can get bigger numbers).
 
[ QUOTE ]
If I was in your position I'd look at a standalone GPS plotter - tbh, how many times do you program a whole route into the CP? I generally just use the "Goto" function

[/ QUOTE ]

Point taken and even when a route has been selected I find myself using the 'GoTo' to shortcut it.

Thanks guys I reckon this discussion has brought me round to installing a standalone which will overcome, in addition, having to rely on a small screen PDA for reassurance when at the helm.

I am obliged to you all for your trouble
 
Which standalone indeed!!. That is a somewhat simpler question now as the criteria will be.
1.. reliability, waterproof integrity, clarity of image
2..features
3.. price

The comparison between portrait and landscape display, especially for East Coast work is another issue to be considered.

So far the SH CP-300 has a vote, I shall look at Raymarine stuff again from my new perspective, and no doubt the other major players too.

I expect that it will all come down to personal preference
 
We have the CP180i (integral GPS Antenna is absolutely fine up on deck or down below) ... it is a great bit of kit (£430 inc UK charts) ... my only complaints are

1) AIS information is a little basic
2) Data transfer to a PC is via the C Card and C Card USB reader (~£100 for a card and reader)
 
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