Chartplotter inside or outside

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Sandero

Tablets and smart phones take one hand to hold and another to USE and that leaves one with no more hands to hold on or to steer. These portable hand held devices are only sensible in the most benign weather conditions.

Indeed. Behind the helm I think one needs a real marine MFD. The new 7" ones are dirt cheap, no more expensive than a tablet.

Ironically I spend very little time underway behind the helm. Whoever is on watch is mostly sitting at the front of the cockpit under the spray hood. Behind the helm really only entering or leaving harbors, tacking, etc. I do use a tablet under the spray hood -- a waterproof Sony Xperia.


But it is exactly close pilotage -- those relatively few moments entering or leaving harbors, etc. -- where you really need a waterproof, daylight visible, reliable device which you don't have to hold in your hand. Worth its weight in gold.

[RaymondR]

I am using a netbook with OpenCPN tied into the autopilot via a USB to RS422 converter on the nav table to do the heavy duty work mainly because I like OpenCPN and can prefer making routes using a mouse. However I also have a Sony tablet (internal GPS) using Navionics charts which I use in the cockpit.


The Navionics charts tend to have better depth detail than the CM93 charts I use with OpenCPN but I like the redundancy of two separate systems and the touch screen on the Sony tends to go crazy with rain or spray.

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by Sandero

Tablets and smart phones take one hand to hold and another to USE and that leaves one with no more hands to hold on or to steer. These portable hand held devices are only sensible in the most benign weather conditions.

A RAM mount not only solves that particular issue, it also has a lot going for it compared to a fixed mount.

Sent from my SGP521 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Do people actually do this? Nobody is keeping watch?

It seems pretty unsafe to me and illegal as well.


To the OP, put the chart plotter where you can see and operate it while operating the boat. You can get two and network them if you really wand another one inside.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that many sailboats have limited power budgets. Big screen and multiple MFD units are all very nice to have, but will add a significant contribution to daily amp hours consumed when run 24/7. If you can power them without issue, multiple units are a great solution otherwise it can be impractical.

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[StuM]

Originally Posted by Sandero

Tablets and smart phones take one hand to hold and another to USE and that leaves one with no more hands to hold on or to steer. These portable hand held devices are only sensible in the most benign weather conditions.

Originally Posted by Dockhead

have to hold in your hand.

I've said it before. RAM mounts or similar.

[RolfP]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Indeed. Behind the helm I think one needs a real marine MFD. The new 7" ones are dirt cheap, no more expensive than a tablet.

Which ones are these .. Best price I've seen is $1100 US - about double an iPad.

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Ironically I spend very little time underway behind the helm. Whoever is on watch is mostly sitting at the front of the cockpit under the spray hood. Behind the helm really only entering or leaving harbors, tacking, etc. I do use a tablet under the spray hood -- a waterproof Sony Xperia.

Movable iPad on a Ram Mount - under the dodger, at the nav station.

Originally Posted by Dockhead

But it is exactly close pilotage -- those relatively few moments entering or leaving harbors, etc. -- where you really need a waterproof, daylight visible, reliable device which you don't have to hold in your hand. Worth its weight in gold.

Which is why I want on of those dirt cheap 7" jobs - where do you get them?



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[Pizzazz]

You guys are getting really worked up over the wrong question. Tablets and smartphones have their place on the boat. The benefits are much faster processors, easy to use, zoom in/out, overlay weather, the charts are just as good as the dedicated plotters. I remember two years ago we charted a boat that only had a depth meter. Everything else was done on,an Android phone with Navionics. Having said that, if a sailor wants to have the convenience of an MFD, go ahead and do it.


The question was, where to put it. The first choice is to have one at the helm. Next, budget allowing is to have a connected display at the nav station. That's it, let's go sailing.


One last thing, try not to mix MFDs and tablets. The mirroring is painfully slow, you have no autopilot control, and basically it is a frustrating experience. I do not recommend it.


Pizzazz

[Rustic Charm]

You guys suggesting MFD's are dirt cheap must be well off because ive just ordered a 7 inch MFD and its $2000k aud and another $200 for the gos antenna.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

You guys suggesting MFD's are dirt cheap must be well off because ive just ordered a 7 inch MFD and its $2000k aud and another $200 for the gos antenna.

RAYMARINE a78 Multi-Function Display with DownVision Sounder, CPT-100 CHIRP Transducer and Navionics Gold Charts, Non-WiFi | West Marine

$699.

There are two cheaper ones -- Vulcan 7 and 5 at $650 and $450 respectively.

[Nicholson58]

Chart plotter down; dumb display repeater on deck; wired remote on deck to the plotter below. Most times for day sail We use a Dakota hand-held. It does most of what we need in familiar areas and runs 15 hours on two AA rechargables.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

RAYMARINE a78 Multi-Function Display with DownVision Sounder, CPT-100 CHIRP Transducer and Navionics Gold Charts, Non-WiFi | West Marine

$699.

There are two cheaper ones -- Vulcan 7 and 5 at $650 and $450 respectively.

Your quoting AMERICAN Dockhead the A78 here is $1429.

[Reefmagnet]

Best 7" mfd price in Oz I know of

http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/B...n-Display.html

My tablet was a couple of hundred less and I can't order pizza on an mfd.

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[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Best 7" mfd price in Oz I know of

B&G Zeus Touch 7 Multifunction Display 6 inch MFD

My tablet was a couple of hundred less and I can't order pizza on an mfd.

Sent from my SGP521 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Not yet give it time. A marine MFD is coming that will have a web browser

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

RAYMARINE a78 Multi-Function Display with DownVision Sounder, CPT-100 CHIRP Transducer and Navionics Gold Charts, Non-WiFi | West Marine

$699.

There are two cheaper ones -- Vulcan 7 and 5 at $650 and $450 respectively.

Just realised they are without charts too.

[Reefmagnet]

The link I posted includes charts.