Which MFD/Plotter?

[mlines]

With our much loved Standard Horizon CP180 becoming un-reliable I am looking at the plotter market and frankly there is so much choice I am confused.

We are a small boat in terms of most of the boats on this forum so we are not looking for a complete system, however:

1. We have a Standard Horizon 2100 radio that feeds DSC and AIS and takes an NMEA 0183 feed
2. We have a SmartCraft NMEA 0183 feed from the Mercruiser engine
3. We have an NMEA2000 interface to the Fusion sound system

We have charts on a C-MAP card

It must be removeable (bracket mounted) and happy to be exposed to the weather and probably a maximum of 7"

We particularly like the Standard Horizon bold colours as it is very daylight readable and easy to read at a glance in a bouncing powerboat.

Any specific recommendations on devices?

Martin

 

[julians]

Will be interested to hear what you settle on. I'm just using a Sony Xperia z3 tablet with the navionics app at the moment and it suits me fine. I did have a look at dedicated bracket mount plotters,and decided that the raymarine dragonfly 7 inch plotters seemed the best for a small boat. I have no idea If it will integrate with your other kit though, I have no requirement for integration with anything.

 

[bedouin]

I have somewhat similar requirements and am looking at the Raymarine E7 - that is one of the few small plotters that has both NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000.

Can't comment on the compatibility with your charts.

 

[mlines]

It doesn't have to be compatible with our current charts if the built-in ones are truely proper resolution. Some of the "built-in" charts appear to give you a "blob" which is the UK

I am finding it hard to understand what is actually offered under all the sales speak

 

[bedouin]

As far as I can tell with most plotters you will want to purchase add on charts - costs around £30-200 depending above the base price. I don't think the base maps are really appropriate for use even on a 7" screen (but I may be wrong)

Hudson Marine have a good offer on the E7 and are very helpful - you could give them a call. I seem to remember the recommended charts were about £100-£150 above the base price.

 

[wipe_out]

We have a Lawrence HDS7 Gen2 touch unit.. Built in maps are rubbish as you mentioned but it can use a few mapping options.. We use Navionics but I seem to remember C-MAP being an option as well.. I know it has NMEA2000 but not sure about NMEA0183.. My outboard is connected to is and the instrument screens are not bad although I generally show the numbers I am interested in as "overlays" over the map or sonar.. Also since the HDS gen3 series has come out the Gen2 series are a lot cheaper.. Anyway, might be an option..

 

[mlines]

As far as I can tell with most plotters you will want to purchase add on charts - costs around £30-200 depending above the base price. I don't think the base maps are really appropriate for use even on a 7" screen (but I may be wrong)

Hudson Marine have a good offer on the E7 and are very helpful - you could give them a call. I seem to remember the recommended charts were about £100-£150 above the base price.

I spoke to Hudson marine, the E7 is reduced because it is end of line, but its replacement has less connectivity as they are dropping NMEA-0183 support on devices less that 9" inches in the MFD range. So looks like I have to get in pretty quick on the E7 to get the connectivity if its Raymarine that I go for.

 

[aquapower]

I spoke to Hudson marine, the E7 is reduced because it is end of line, but its replacement has less connectivity as they are dropping NMEA-0183 support on devices less that 9" inches in the MFD range. So looks like I have to get in pretty quick on the E7 to get the connectivity if its Raymarine that I go for.

I have just fitted a new ES7 and very pleased with it, has nmea-0183 but you have to buy additional able as its not included.

 

[Sailorsam101]

I have a Raymarine A9 and it's great...works really well and so easy to use.

 

[aquapower]

I spoke to Hudson marine, the E7 is reduced because it is end of line, but its replacement has less connectivity as they are dropping NMEA-0183 support on devices less that 9" inches in the MFD range. So looks like I have to get in pretty quick on the E7 to get the connectivity if its Raymarine that I go for.

You can still use nmea2000 to nmea0184 converter kit E70196 on those with no nmea0183 output.

 

[mlines]

Thanks, the trouble appears to be that the pricing rapidly seems to get out of hand....

...you actually want to plot something then maps are extra
...you actually want to connect to something, connections are extra.

I think I am looking lower down the market place.

 

[bedouin]

Thanks, the trouble appears to be that the pricing rapidly seems to get out of hand....

...you actually want to plot something then maps are extra
...you actually want to connect to something, connections are extra.

I think I am looking lower down the market place.

+1

You can add hundreds to the cost of the installation with various cables and convertors.

 

[CLB]

Thanks, the trouble appears to be that the pricing rapidly seems to get out of hand....

...you actually want to plot something then maps are extra
...you actually want to connect to something, connections are extra.

I think I am looking lower down the market place.

How about something like a lowrance HDS.

 

[julians]

Thanks, the trouble appears to be that the pricing rapidly seems to get out of hand....

...you actually want to plot something then maps are extra
...you actually want to connect to something, connections are extra.

I think I am looking lower down the market place.

This is why I just ended up with a waterproof tablet running the navionics app. Does the job of simple chartplotter fine,but its not without its downsides - mainly the fact that in the Peak of summer the med sun can cause it to overheat.

The raymarine dragonfly 7 looks to be a good cost effective option if you can live without the nmea connectivity.

 

[adey]

I have just fitted a new ES7 and very pleased with it, has nmea-0183 but you have to buy additional able as its not included.

I've just bought an E9 but not fully fitted it yet. I thought nmea0183 was part of the power/data cable that comes with it? The Seatalk cable is extra.
Also, the Silver chart that comes with it doesn't look detailed enough for any kind of navigation so I wouldn't pay extra for a plotter with it. You need a gold or platinum chart (on micro SD).
The wifi feature looks really good, making an I-pad a repeater.
Slightly controversial, maybe, but I think if you will eventually want to sell the boat with the plotter installed most buyers will want Raymarine kit simply because it's the most popular brand and they will have almost certainly used it before and know what it is.

 

[aquapower]

I've just bought an E9 but not fully fitted it yet. I thought nmea0183 was part of the power/data cable that comes with it? The Seatalk cable is extra.
Also, the Silver chart that comes with it doesn't look detailed enough for any kind of navigation so I wouldn't pay extra for a plotter with it. You need a gold or platinum chart (on micro SD).
The wifi feature looks really good, making an I-pad a repeater.
Slightly controversial, maybe, but I think if you will eventually want to sell the boat with the plotter installed most buyers will want Raymarine kit simply because it's the most popular brand and they will have almost certainly used it before and know what it is.

Nmea0183 is part of power cable on the E9, the ES is the replacement for it and cable is extra, the retail cost of the new models is same as the out going models, I bought mfd without pre loaded chars and bought a navionics card at same time, think for about £180.
It really depends what you want but there are cheaper plotters that will do same job and would have done that if I was using as stand alone plotter but I bought whole package including mfd, fish finder, ais, auto pilot, depth/speed log and I70 display. I'm really pleased with the whole set up.

 

[skipper680]

Recently bought a Simrad GO7 XSE with Totalscan. Great piece of kit. Has inbuilt WIFI which allows you to mirror the image on any Android tablet, or even use the GPS data with the Navionics app. Icing on the cake Lowrance/Simrad have a free C-Map chart offer which iirc runs till the end of June. Only NMEEA though

 

[steve930]

Just bought the lowrance elite 7ti with total scan for my new boat, fitted it last weekend but not had chance to play with it yet.

Pricing seemed fair and I like the idea of being able to control some functions by the buttons as well as the touchscreen when in rough waters

 

[gjgm]

Have a look at simrad go 7. I paid about 600 with an unwanted transducer and charts all the way to spain.given i just paid 450 for udating and new garmin charts alone...it is really very very good. If this is a basic simrad, i will look at them again very closely next time...

 

[Robin B]

I have a Simrad NSS12. It's good, but my mate's Garmin is better. It scrolls much faster, routes more intuitively, just seems a lot smoother and faster reacting.
When I change I will go for Garmin. The Navionics Platinum memory card is great for me.