Which Chartplotter ?

A

amiller

New Member
Joined
20 Sep 2009
Messages
14
Visit site
Looking to buy an entry level chartplotter to replace a Garmin 128, and looking for any words of wisdom on the subject. I'd prefer to mount where visible from the tiller but not certain of the best way to achieve this (Westerly Merlin) apart from mounting though the cabin bulkhead. A clever portable mounting sounds good but not sure best way to achieve. There's also a Simrad Tillerpilot onboard as well and would want to retain compatibility.

I'm considering the Standard Horizon 180, Garmin 55x, Lowrance 5150 or similar. Wha are the important characteristics and how much consideration to screen resolution ? I know the Standard Horizon will connect up to VHF but screen resolution is lower, Lowrance has got a 640x480 screen. Garmins will do all for money. Would also consider a portable such as the Geonav but a bit wary about the screen size. - What does the panel think ??
 
AIS

I have a Lowrance which has done very well as a chartplotter and was reasonably priced but it does not interface with AIS. I did not think I would ever want AIS when I bought the plotter but now I would like at least the capability.

Were I now buying a plotter I would be certain to buy one that was AIS compatible.

On the other hand the Lowrance does use the cheap and cheerful, but perfectly adequate Nauticpath software ( unless you do a lot of sailing on the west coast of Scotland)
 
I have a Standard Horizon 300i interfaced to a Simrad TP22 tillerpilot and the combination works well. I had a similar set up on my previous boat with the chartplotter on a swinging bracket so it could be read at the chart table or swung out into the companionway to be readable from the cockpit.

This arrangement wasn't possible on my present boat (a Hunter Channel 31) without impeding the companionway and drilling holes in my beautiful new wood so I looked for a different solution. I bought the "i" version of the plotter with integral aerial. This picks up the satellites perfectly well from down below and only needs 4 wires to connect: power + & - and NMEA signal & ground for the tillerpilot. The plotter has a 4 way Bulgin plug on a short wire and there are 4 pin waterproof sockets in the cockpit and at the chart table. I do my passage planning with the unit plugged in at the chart table and bring it into the cockpit when sailing. It mounts on the bulkhead. I also have one of the sockets wired to a 12 volt mains power supply so I can use the plotter at home for armchair voyages in the winter months.

The SH plotter has other NMEA outputs and inputs available for various uses and, if I were doing the installation again, I would use 6 pin Bulgin plugs to make these accessible for possible future use.
 
I have a lowrance 7" and it has performed very well.You can get the new Lowrance HDS 5" for £349.95 inc Nauticpath chart from Marine Superstore.I use Navionics charts but the cheaper(much) Nauticpath will do the job.For fixing have a look at Ram brackets.I have one clamped to my hatchway handrail.There are all sorts so do a search.com. on www.ram-mount-uk.com I have used Standard Horizon on a friends boat and that performed well also.NB New Lowrance are AIS compatible
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all replies - sounds like they're all pretty good very interesting to here a unit with an internal antenna works inside the cabin

. Still not sure about screen resolution, presumably the more pixels the better how significant is it - ie the SH180 screen is 320 x 240, the Lowrance 5150 is 640 x 480, th HD5 is 480 x 480, and the Garmins come in a range to suit your pocket -
 
I would take a trip up to town spending a day at the boatshow in January. This would give you the chance to see them all, play with the buttons see the resolution etc and quiz the manufacturers staff.

Take a shoping list of the top 20 on line prices and ask them what they will do for you and enjoy playing them off against each other. We bought the little Garmin 555 at a good price by doing this. Sadly prices have gone up a bit over the last year.

Pete
 
I have the SH CP300i and have no problems with the resolution at all. I would go for display size first, I tried using a 3x5 pda as a plotter and it is not that good.
 
An irritating feature of my Garmin 292 is that the 'position triangle' i.e where you are on the chart, is always in the centre of the screen.

I don't need to know what's behind me ... I've just been there ! so in effect half the screen is wasted.

Yes, it is possible to keep manually dragging the pointer forward ... or anywhere you want really ... but you have to keep doing it which is a distraction when you're piloting through some of Brittanys hard bits :mad:

You can buy plotters that have the option of centering the indicator OR having it at the edge of the screen, scrolling forward as you move.

That's what I'd go for if I was buying again.
 
They all basically do the same work .. they all interface with VHF's, Tillerpilots etc. It's when you get to resolution that you get differences ... Lowrance generally pound for pound have the higher resolution screens and you usually have bundled Nauticpath Chart card that is good for most purposes. AIS was an issue where Lowrance went the screen and resolution route - giving far higher quality display at expense of lack of AIS input. But I believe this is now addressed and AIS is available ... ( will have to check this ).
Garmin I'm sorry to say - I haven't seen equal screen resolution to a Lowrance unless paying a lot higher price.
Navman - well they went off and name changed to another ... I think Navstar ?
SH - I have had loads of mails asking why they wont talk with certain makes of VHF for DSC data ...

At end of day ... you will have recc'ds that are based on person x uses brand x, person y uses brand y ... with very little real comparison. You will have to swallow the bit and decide what you feel comfortable with ...

Me I have an old Lowrance 3500 ... and I think it's marvelous ... I'm thinkling that later I will upgrade to a HDS dual machine ... real high quality display stuff. The old 3500 will still be in use on another boat I have ...
 
SH 180i by the wheel, it is small (doesn't get in the way) and very visible (easy to see what you need). Works well with AIS and controls the raymarine stuff onto seatalk. So I'd say a good, reliable and relatively cheap solution ....
If you have the space the 300 would be good, but if you are tillering - then the 180 on under the spray hood on its mount will be perfect.
 
Genoa said:
SH 180i by the wheel, it is small (doesn't get in the way) and very visible (easy to see what you need). Works well with AIS and controls the raymarine stuff onto seatalk. So I'd say a good, reliable and relatively cheap solution ....
If you have the space the 300 would be good, but if you are tillering - then the 180 on under the spray hood on its mount will be perfect.
Click to expand...

Sorry to be a pain here ...

But when did SH fit or make compatible with RM Seatalk ? Seatalk is exclusively Raymarine ........... I guess you have your SH connected to a NMEA to Seatalk converter which is a totally different matter and actually usually unnecessary as RM gear will output NMEA / accept ... but sad to say that RM gear is one of the brands that I have had loads of e-mails about problems connnecting with SH gear ...

Dunno why they ask me !! I have Cobra VHF to Lowrance and eTrex back-up ... with Magellan standby ... plus output to feed PC or any other NMEA 0183 that wants it ... and of course in addition NMEA 2000 from the Lowrance ... What would I know !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top