Cartography recommendations

[nick mc]

What cartography is everyone using and is there any to avoid?

Just about to buy a plotter for the rib and see theres a few options for cartography!

I'm mostly venturing around the Clyde and west coast of Scotland.

Cheers

[breezeblock]

I use a simrad g07 with navionics card the card is pretty good but the plotter has chucked it so I am waiting on it getting repaired also use a Garmin 45dv as a back up I quite liked the maps that came on it I think its garmins own map

[nick mc]

Yea it's a go7 I'm looking at getting hopefully your issues aren't the same with them all!
I've kinda railroaded myself into going with the simrad with my choice of everything else for the nmea and audio integration, and it's looking like navionics is probably the best option.

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by nick mc

Yea it's a go7 I'm looking at getting hopefully your issues aren't the same with them all!
I've kinda railroaded myself into going with the simrad with my choice of everything else for the nmea and audio integration, and it's looking like navionics is probably the best option.

if it puts your mind at rest, i have 2 x Go 7 xse running with navionics cartography and am very happy with them (in fact i bought a spare one in case i bought another boat!). There's loads to choose from chart plotter wise, but i think they are good value and seem to interface well.

[breezeblock]

the only downside I found with touchscreen was when you are getting bounced around on the waves you tend to hit anything on the screen that you didn't want to

[willk]

Originally Posted by nick mc

I've kinda railroaded myself into going with the simrad with my choice of everything else for the nmea and audio integration, and it's looking like navionics is probably the best option.

Navionics are pretty good and very similar in look and feel to traditional charts. Be aware that Simrad, B&G and Lowrance are basically all the same kit so you have a wider choice than you maybe thought?

IIRC the main difference is target market and price:
B&G = £££ / Well heeled WAFIs
Simrad = ££ / Posh powerboaters/cheapskate WAFIs
Lowrance = £ / Ribbers/fisherfolk/Americans

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by willk

Navionics are pretty good and very similar in look and feel to traditional charts. Be aware that Simrad, B&G and Lowrance are basically all the same kit so you have a wider choice than you maybe thought?

IIRC the main difference is target market and price:
B&G = £££ / Well heeled WAFIs
Simrad = ££ / Posh powerboaters/cheapskate WAFIs
Lowrance = £ / Ribbers/fisherfolk/Americans

[emoji106] personally I'd go Lowrance, the only difference between them is the packaging.

[wellhouse]

Lawrence make some great products but i found them quite slow between functions by comparison with the Simrad/b&g when i was looking. Worth having a play at a dealer before pressing the button to see which you prefer. Don't rule out Raymarine either.

[Gobuchul]

Simrad, B&G and Lowrance are basically all the same kit

They are all part of Navico. Also includes Eagle and Northstar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navico

[nick mc]

Yea I've had a look at the lowrance equivalent but there's actually not much difference in cost between the two infact I think the lowrance is a bit more and it's host not as neat a unit in my opinion.