What chartplotter??

[alistairh]

Im looking at buying a new chartplotter as my broken cobra one need replacing. I really dont know what to buy as they are all so diffrent.
Im looking for a plotter under £500 with at least a 6" display
Easy to use
Take c-map max charts
Have an internal gps antenna
VHF Interface.
It also would be good it it will not break after one year my old cobra one.

I was looking at the Standard Horizon ones but the too look like the might break after a year or so.
Have any of you got any good ideas of what to buy.

 

[Aeolus]

I'm sure you could break a SH plotter if you tried but I've had mine (180) permanently mounted in the cockpit for a year and half so far and it's been excellent. It's not designed to be bashed but then none of them are.

 

[AliM]

Very happy with the SH180i. It's reasonably tough, so far anyway.

 

[Malcb]

I've been running a Navman for the last 2 years. Very happy with it, does what it says on the box. The only weakness, for me at any rate, was the GPS Aerial connection. As I mount (dismount) the plotter in the cockpit, I eventually 'strangled' the plug on the aerial cable. At that time I couldn't get a 6" screen plotter with a built in aerial. If I was looking now I might be tempted by the Standard Horizon.

 

[ozzyb]

Just got a SH C180i with a c-max chart for a very good discounted bundle price. I wanted it near the helm as opposed to my existing c-map gps at chart table, it shows no effect on the compass. Very easy to fit just +&- and away you go. Seems pretty useful unit and came top in recent tests of comparable units.
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PS: C180i is not 6" screen, SH C300i is about 7" and around £500 without chart.

I understand C300 also has video capability.

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PPS: Forgot to say Standard H comes with 3 yr Warranty, B hell! I'm not even in sales!!!
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[retsina]

I have the Standard Horizon 300i; the screen is very large, able to see and plan easily, cost is appr £620 with the mega wide c charts included. The screen on the 300 is superior to the 180 in resolution and size.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Have a look at the Garmin GPSMAP550, only 5" screen but more than adequate and I have "old eyes" At under £400 including complete UK Chart coverage and with the build quality of Garmin.

Steve B

 

[richardabeattie]

My technique is to look out of the window and check I can still see the Isle of Wight. Generally speking if I can see it out of the larboard window I am heading West.