Chartplotters

[reedbr]

OK, I've spent all winter teaching navigation classes using GPS and chartplotters.  Maybe before I take my week cruise in August it is time to upgrade my aging Magellan GPS 310 and get something from this century.  I let my Practical Sailor subscription expire, so I can't go there for reviews.   I'm looking for advice.  

I've talked to friends and found many have and like their Garmin 182C's.  Several said they tried to save a buck and get monochrome display units only to upgrade it to color within a year or two.  Apparently visibility was much better with the color.  I don't want a hand-held chartplotter as they look to small to be useful.  I have a laptop so I could use a GPS interfaced to a PC, but I'm not sure I want a PC on my boat.  I'm leaning towards a dedicated chartplotter at the helm, hard wire it and call it a day.  My budget is $1,000 but less is always better.  Low current draw would be nice too.

So, any advice out there?  I didn't see a bunch when I did the search.  Sorry if I missed any threads.  Thanks.

[Ray & Sandy Erps]

Having a P.C. on the boat has a few advantages over a dedicated chartplotter.  As well as the chart plotting functions, I have important contact info stored, "How To" articles stored, scans of important documents stored, copies of Coast Pilot Chapters stored, Aerial Photographs of favorite anchorages stored and it plays DVD's and music.  

Something I really like about the P.C. Base Chart plotter software is the brand I have has a "Dead Reckoning" mode in case your GPS goes Tango Uniform.  You can plot LOP's, plug in estimated velocity and couses and all that other stuff that you do on paper charts.

As far as GPS's go, I'm a big fan of Garmins.  I've tried other brands and the user interfaces haven''t been as intuitive as the Garmins I've used and that's all I'm going to say about that.

[John Langford]

I have had the small Standard Horizon (CP-150 now CP-155) for two years and I love it. I have it right in front of my face at the helm. It refreshes very quickly and is easy to use. The C-Plus charts are very much like paper charts and the screen is excellent even in strong sunlight. I have to remind myself to look up at the real world sometimes!

A friend has the equivalent size Navman which seems fine at least at the dock. It has the advantage of having the antenna in the body of the plotter so you don't have to run another wire for the antenna.

[reedbr]

Thanks for the feedback so far.  Any difference in the chart chips these things take?  Most seem to take C-Map.  Is that the standard and are they expensive?

I noticed Navman 5500 and 5600 series are running $175 rebates through June, but besides the one comment above, I haven't heard much about them?  Any other feedback on Navman products?

The issue with the PC is that I can't put it at the helm.  I could use it to upload waypoints to a GPS, but I would have to buy a new GPS that accepted uploads anyway.  Of course, a new GPS at $200 and PC software at $100 would still be cheaper than a chartplotter...  

Thanks.

[Roc]

Brian, I'm not an expert in chartplotters (I have a Garmin Map76).  But, this past weekend, talking to a friend who's looking at upgrading his 16 year old electronics, was telling me that Raymarine has the new 'E series' chartplotters.  You might want to research this further.

[Ken Juul]

Maybe it's just my pre GPS helicopter training, but I prefer to nav from paper charts.  Lay out my course, figure out my speed and lay out dead reckoning/turn points.  I do back my self up with a hand held Megallen for actual position/sog/cog just in case the DR isn't quite right.  Nothing more satisfying than having that bouy show up right on time.    I do use some of the free web mapping services to make paper charts of unfamiliar harbors large enough to read without digging out the reading glasses.   Can't help you with model specifics, but offer a different opinion.

[Rick Johnson]

I agree with the idea of plotting using paper charts, but I use the Raymarine Raynav 300 GPS so I can tie everything together via Seatalk.  Besides, it's cheaper than a chart plotter!

[reedbr]

Speaking of paper charts, for Maryland Chesapeake Bay sailors, the Maryland Cruising Guide charts (Williams & Heintz) are available again from BoatUS in the area.  These were better and cheaper than the ADC books, but were hard to find in the last 2-3 years.  The Rockville store recently got them in stock.  

Yes, I've been a paper chart/hand bearing compass junkie for years.  I've spent more on paper than electronics in the past 10 years.  However,  these classes alerted me up to some new options that I couldn't easily do with paper before.  For instance, setting up a route and using XTE alarms to determine where to tack when the wind is coming from your destination.  Or, setting up a danger zone or NLT/NMT bearing for a shipping channel.  On paper, this would take more time than steering itself, so I'm going to try to use the new technology without giving up my old skills.  I told my students how to know if they rely too much on their electronics-- turn them off for a day.  If they can't figure out where they are with some accuracy, it's time to review the basics.

By the way, the salesperson at BoatUS also showed me the Garmin 192C, the new model which replaces the 182C.  He noted the biggest difference is the 192C has the entire US built in, plus tide tables, with no chart chips to buy.  The detail right out of the box of my home port was pretty good, actually very good.  Price was just shy of $900 (ouch).

I'm still open to more feedback.

[Robert Savinell]

I bought a NAVMAN 5500 this winter, and have been using it for about  a month now.  I love it.  keep my racing marks displayed, and it works great to visualize the course.  Only problem is sometimes the buttons stick.

[Mark Van Bunnen]

Well I know very little about GPS and Chartplotters,so I am not sure that this would be a good choice or not.  I have been looking at the new Lowrance GlobaMap color Chart Recorder 3500c.  If anyone has any feed back on this let me know.  Seems like like it has a lot to offer for a $499.00

[Mark Van Bunnen]

Sorry I forgot yo include this URL for the 3500c
http://www.lowrance.com/Outdoor/Products/GM3500C.asp