Chartplotter?

Tracey64 · 25 July 2016, 13:04

We are fairly new to all this and have just upgraded from a SIB to a RIB. We are going up to the west coast of Scotland shortly and someone advised that we would need to purchase a Chartplotter. At the moment we have a Garmin Echo 201 Fishfinder, which does display the depths. We are not intending to travel too far afield, it will be used more for leisure and fishing locally. Do we really need a Chartplotter ? and if so any recommendations? Apologies if this sounds a dumb question but as I said we are newbies really

JA1000 · 25 July 2016, 13:09

Budget will determine this - charts are useful and you might push to explore - just fitted Garmin 557xs wasn't cheap but now don't leave home without it for charts tide froth etc etc

jonp · 25 July 2016, 13:12

I've been more than happy with my Lowrance hds units in several boats for about the last 8 years. Plotters are much cheaper than full radar and can be invaluable if trying to head home in fog or the dark etc.

Leaving a track on the screen means you can just follow the same track back to where you came from ( just need to watch and listen out for other boats).

The charts which can be used with them are also handy for viewing depths as well as cardinal markers etc.

Jon

Tracey64 · 25 July 2016, 13:17

Thanks for both your replies. Think maybe we should get one, but don't want to be spending too much more at the moment, with all the other bits and bobs we have had to buy. Will do some shopping around :-)

Bucksribster · 25 July 2016, 13:32

If you have an ipad with GPS then just get the Navionics app and a waterproof case.

Tracey64 · 25 July 2016, 13:54

Thank you but have considered this but none of our IPads have GPS sadly and think our phones screens may be too small?

Bucksribster · 25 July 2016, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracey64

Thank you but have considered this but none of our IPads have GPS sadly and think our phones screens may be too small?

Shame. Phones are good as a back up, but maybe not as primary. You could buy a second-hand nexus 7. They all have GPS. The battery goes down quickly though so you may need to rig up power to it.

gareth9702 · 25 July 2016, 15:53

I sailed out from Dartmouth yesterday for a quick trip round the bay. After about an hour low heading out cloud/mist came over from Start Point and the shore disappeared from view. I was watching this develop so I took a back-bearing on the compass to give me a course to steer. However, it was very much easier just to turn on the chart plotter and head happily home with absolutely no concerns. The chart plotter is not strictly necessary but it does make life very much easier even when you are not expecting to use it.

Fenlander · 25 July 2016, 16:01

>>> very much easier just to turn on the chart plotter and head happily home with absolutely no concerns. The chart plotter is not strictly necessary but it does make life very much easier even when you are not expecting to use it.

Very much agree... I've said elsewhere recently one of the greatest safety/convenience devices introduced over my lifetime of smallcraft boating.

I'd try and stretch to one if you can.

beerbelly · 25 July 2016, 16:30

Garmin do some very good budget ones with all uk water maps loaded I have a 451s that is spot on does sonar as well as a plotter .mine has been superseded by an even cheaper one that does side scan on the sonar. Like has been said its very easy to lose your bearings if the weather changes and you lose visibility. And even if it doesn't often one bit of shore looks just like the next if there's no towns ect to head to .I always have a good look at the coastline that I have left from after a few hundred yards out and pick a landmark that I can remember to head back to

Tracey64 · 25 July 2016, 18:11

Thanks everyone, some very advice there. Especially re the fog and losing your bearings :-)

jeffstevens763@g · 25 July 2016, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>> very much easier just to turn on the chart plotter and head happily home with absolutely no concerns. The chart plotter is not strictly necessary but it does make life very much easier even when you are not expecting to use it.

Very much agree... I've said elsewhere recently one of the greatest safety/convenience devices introduced over my lifetime of smallcraft boating.

I'd try and stretch to one if you can.

without dought, also rain, mist, fog even heavy seas all limit visibility & one bit of coast looks the same especially when you start to dought yourself & panic for few hundred quid you will get the chart plotter and down scan sonar making more of your boating.

twigg · 25 July 2016, 19:24

just bought a dragonfly 6 brand new off ebay discontinued model but well impressed came with chart of my choice 5.7 inch screen and fish finder transducer with down vision £350 full raymarine warranty to easy to use

Pikey Dave · 25 July 2016, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by twigg

just bought a dragonfly 6 brand new off ebay discontinued model but well impressed came with chart of my choice 5.7 inch screen and fish finder transducer with down vision £350 full raymarine warranty to easy to use

That's a lot of kit for the money, and at that price there's no excuse not to. That amount of tech would have cost you thousands when I started boating, if it had even been available. My first gps was a Raytheon 1500, no charts or sonar, it literally gave you lat & lon & cost just short of £2k & that was a lot of money in those days🙄

Lions led by donkeys

twigg · 26 July 2016, 18:08

you right there dave couldn't resist replacing the old garmin free post and chart for whole of welsh coast to so easy to use as well bit dubious of ebay bargains but fair play was as guy said guy had 9 of them so anybody else grab a bargain

breezeblock · 26 July 2016, 20:11

we've got a garmin 45 dv with full british map and sonar and fish finder i am quite impressed with that so far it wasn't a lot of money either

Fenlander · 26 July 2016, 20:56

>>> a garmin 45 dv with full british map and sonar and fish finder

Same here... it's excellent.

Uncle Nobby · 26 July 2016, 21:09

Yes, we have the 45dv, however I will go larger next time. Bigger screen is better visibility when bouncing at speed.

jeffstevens763@g · 26 July 2016, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Nobby

Yes, we have the 45dv, however I will go larger next time. Bigger screen is better visibility when bouncing at speed.

agreed I went up to a elite 7 and can have sounder , down scan & chart open at the same time.

idsebby · 27 July 2016, 00:56

Couple of used ones for sale on the forum. I was looking for one myself.