Chartplotter

[baasboat1]

I am thinking of buying a chartplotter for my SeaRay, it needs to be weatherproof of course, but I dont understand what base maps these come with and if you need to buy electronic charts to be able to use them effectively, or areb the base maps good enough. Has anyone got any advice on makes/ models/ maps that would be good to use. My current GPS is a Garmin GPS2 (now 12 yeras old) and whilst still totally reliable I would like a decent chart on the screen as well. I only need detailed charts of Cardigan Bay (Barmouth to Bardsey) as I dont venture further than that.
Any advice greatfully received, thanks in advance

regards

Simon (baasboat1)

[Rinker]

There are plenty models suitable for open sports boats avaiable and it's very much you pay your money and you take your choice. However my advice would be to shop around as some of the suppliers are giving a free chart with some models, this can save you a wad of cash and may actually make a more expensive model compete on price with a cheaper one which does not come with a map.

[wavelength]

the base maps are useless for everyday use. Get one with a chip for your patch, or preferably more, or preloaded. WhenI got my garmin 192 it was on an offer preloaded with all uk and ireland charts. Had a prob with it recently way out of warranty and garmin replaced it with a new one and a new uk/ireland chart chip for £140 all in which seemed a good deal compared with buying a new one. Only experience with garmin, magellan and navman really in gps. Garmin and magellan fine on after sales-navman were a nightmare so never again though things may have changed with the takeover some time back.

[Noddy]

I have a Standard Horizon CP180i. It uses C-Map Max charts available on a memory card (approx £120 for English Channel - larger and smaller areas are available). It came with the boat so I have not compared it to other brands. It has loads of info available (tides, marinas etc) and a clear screen even in direct sunlight, the controls are easy to use, even at speed. Some aspects (like route planning) are not as intuative as they could be. I like the tidal flow arrows and it is the perfect size for a sports boat. I also have a Garmin GPSMAp 76CSx handheld; a great, easy to use unit both on the boat and ashore - gives me faith that Garmin would be the first brand I would look at for a full size plotter. If I was in the market for a new plotter I would go along to Southampton Boat show and try them all.

[baasboat1]

Anyone got a view on a Garmin GPSMap 551s chartplotter with fish finder?

[Ed]

Yes got practically the same one. I like it a lot. Was good fun showing it to my friends kids when we were out on the boat too. They took a surprising interest in it.

[baasboat1]

Hi Ed

Thanks for the reply, are the maps any good? are they like a normal admiralty chart? Is it relatively easy to use in map and sounder mode or does the screen get too small to be unusable?

Any advice gratefully received thanks

[dpb101]

I have played with the 451 which I think is the same but smaller screen.
Chart looks familiar compared to a paper chart.
Whilst not used in anger on the boat yet, I have seen that there is a split screen navigation feature which looks like it might be quite useful, where the screen is split in two with a larger scale on one half and a small scale on the other. If this was shown with the depth gauge aswell it must get a bit small to see even with your larger screen.
Remember that in our boats we can be bouncing around a bit so it must get harder to see the detail if too much is on the screen.
Mind you I already had a sounder unit so the choice was made for me!

[Ed]

I'm not experienced enough with charts to say how good it really is. But it seemed great when I took it out, I have the g2 vision card and ifs full of info. In fact going out after without it you feel positively blind. I half wonder how I coped at all without any NAV for the first few months of boat ownership. You just feel totally vulnerable to anything.

[ian h]

Was at the boat show yesterday and looking at the ipad and navionics software.
I have this on my iphone and it works really well.

Now if only they could make a waterproof ipad or case then for £400 - £600 you would have a multipurpose bit of kit that you get for a lot less than some chart plotters,
Also if another company bought out better software you are not tied in to 1 supplier like on a conventional chart plotter you can easily upgrade to different software.
And if using the ipad you can check weather tides ETC ETC
Any other people been thinking along these lines?

[ian h]

this looks like the ideal cover to keep I phone or Ipad dry while out on the boat

http://www.lifeproof.com/lifeproof-stor ... cases/ipad

Navionics soft ware on ipad way to go