Which chartplotter is the best in rough wet conditions?

[Fjordrafting]

I need a chartplotter with eccosound and a big screen. And it has to be fast enough, close to 60 knots. I have done some reading on the net and in the Rib International, and it seems to be very difficult to find a chartplotter which can take the abuse it gets in a small and wet boat.
Is there any plotter out there which is good enough? Is there something in particular to be aware of when buying?
Martin

[Petrov]

I am using the Lowrance X-18 combo, it has echosounder and plotter and it`s in colour, i also used the X-15 and 16 and i think they are great in, they have no problems to ´hang in when you driving over 50knots.
Good display and a lot of functions.
I also ordered the same GPS on my new boat because i was very found of the first i had.

Regards

Petrov

[quinquarimarine]

RIB electronics, esp for the commercial users are prone to water ingress and shock.

Many are marketed as waterproof but the need to load charts always leaves a port which the manufacturers cover with a rubber plug. This area is unfortunately prone to condensation that will slowly take over the whole set.

Raymarine manufacture a good range of units and the radar and plotter are well matched. Try and avoid a combined unit as if you get a failure then all electronic nav aids are down.

After trying many options we fit on all of our own 10 & 11m RHIBS (and most of the ones we supply) a standard horizon set. 100% reliable and suprisingly the cheapest on the market (B&W at about £300 retail). Small screen but we douple couple up to a Raymarine Radar.

Final bit of advice - allow no fuses - fit ETAC or similar waterproof circuit breaker switches throughout - ditto terminal connections - insist that all connections are soldered.

Att. Photo of one of our standard expedition consols with Raymarine Radar and Standard H plotter insitu.

Cheers

John

[Pete7]

I agree, the two bits of info you really need are course and speed, the rest is just nice to have.

Anything with numbers smaller than say 1 inch high are difficult to read in a big sea when you want to be constantly looking at the waves.

Pete

[Petrov]

There is a time after the trip also, i remember some years ago i talked to a guy at ribex and he told me that the world map in the gps is perfect to navigate after, when i told him that we had 30,000 islands in the stockholm archipelago he said oopps.
And i know you have a lot of islands and stuff in Norway also.
Wich means that it`s often flat water and than you as we drive, FULL SPEED with the EYES on the GPS very often when you driving very close to the islands.
I had a Raymarine on a boat last year and when i passed 50 knots it had some trouble to hang in to thoose speeds.
And as i understand you will use your boat for rafting in Norway in high speeds + 60 knots.

[Garygee]

Hi Martin

Garmin 2010C

Used it for 6 months now and think its the dogs bits

I dont think I could ever go back now.

Agree thay they are prone to water ingress, even the "waterproof" ones. Mine is behind the screen and seldom get wet but if I mounted one where ther was less protection I would be tempted to make somthing, a lift up clear cover etc to give it some extra protection.

Regards Gary

[Lester McCarthy]

Has anyone used a Yeoman on a rib

[Petrov]

I tried Navman and they worked really well.
Very good price for the plotters in colour.

[chrisallse]

Raymarine is built like a brick SH..got a plotter/sounder on my boat and its great. (not cheap though )

[Charles]

Originally posted by chrisallse
Raymarine is built like a brick SH..got a plotter/sounder on my boat and its great. (not cheap though )

Could not agree more!

[Fjordrafting]

The main suplier of plotters here in Trondheim claims that the new Simrad CE 44 is the best plotter when it comes to good map, speed an realiability.
I think is is important for me to by the plotter here in Norway, because it seams that this is the single item most prone to mailfunction.
Has anyone tried the Simrad 44?
Martin

[Petrov]

But a friend of me is using that one with radar in the same screen, he is really happy with the plotter.
I know that a lot of rescue teams are using the C44 in Sweden.
It seams to be a very popular GPS for commercial use but i think it`s even more expensive than the Raymarine.

[Michaels]

Just bought a RayMarine C120 with sounder module and GPS. It works very nice for us. Not tested in 60 knots. Great screen, lots of features and settings. I am loving it !!!!!!!

[Andy Gee]

Originally Posted by Michaels

Just bought a RayMarine C120 with sounder module and GPS. It works very nice for us. Not tested in 60 knots. Great screen, lots of features and settings. I am loving it !!!!!!!

I've got its little brother a C80. Its the first Raymarine thing I've bought, normally Furuno or Lowrance, but after looking at them all I went for the C80 and find it superb. The Digital Sounder Module is a fantastic bit of kit especially for wreck hunting and shotting, with you being able to switch frequency for clarity.
It does however take ages to get it set up to your preferences. Just sawing up now to buy the Radar to suit.
Andy

[matt owen]

The only people that really build a sounder for the sort of speed that you are doing is lowrance their big screen plotter/sounder is the LCX 104c check out www.lowrance.com. (i have seen this unit working at 70mph +)

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by matt owen

The only people that really build a sounder for the sort of speed that you are doing is lowrance their big screen plotter/sounder is the LCX 104c check out www.lowrance.com. (i have seen this unit working at 70mph +)

And this man would know that too!!

Mind you the Garmin worked ok in the wet last weekend, even when you covered it in coke!!

Regards

[matt owen]

told you it would stop the saltwater drying on the screen though didn't i !!!