Handheld ChartPlotter GPS

[rfinneren]

I’ve had no trouble viewing my iPad screen in the daylight.

[MV Wanderlust]

Alex, you're plan will work. I'm another one that used an iPad with Navionics to navigate from Jacksonville around to Tampa/St Pete and then for a year cruising the western side of Florida and down to the Keys. Worked perfectly. You should be fine.

[Olddan1943]

Originally Posted by Alex_V

It looks like I will be doing a trip from Annapolis to Charleston on a new to me boat. It doesn't have any fancy electronics other then a auto helm and a compass. I was thinking about using an iPad with Navionics and a GPSMAP® 78sc for backup handheld chart plotter.

Does this seem reasonable, or should I explore other options or models?

You should install a VHF radio, first.

Then buy a couple of hand held VHF with charts installed. That will get you down to Charleston and further if you wish.

Also, either buy the updated paper charts or buy a map book containing the necessary charts. You can make note of your position on the charts as you travel.

[petter5]

If you have a Pc, MaC or any Android device, go for OpenCpn https://opencpn.org/

All US maps can be downloaded for free with the built in chart downloader,

Link to google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....opencpn&hl=en

Originally Posted by Alex_V

It looks like I will be doing a trip from Annapolis to Charleston on a new to me boat. It doesn't have any fancy electronics other then a auto helm and a compass. I was thinking about using an iPad with Navionics and a GPSMAP® 78sc for backup handheld chart plotter.

Does this seem reasonable, or should I explore other options or models?

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by rfinneren

I’ve had no trouble viewing my iPad screen in the daylight.

I find it a considerable problem.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by rfinneren

I’ve had no trouble viewing my iPad screen in the daylight.

I think that if you compare it to a real chartplotter -- even a pretty cheap one -- in full daylight, you will see that the difference is extreme.

The iPad is pretty good compared to other tablets and phones, but it just doesn't even begin to compare to the real, fully-daylight-viewable screens that you get on chartplotters.

[Mike OReilly]

I’ve used a Garmin handheld 76cs as my primary cockpit plotter for over seven years. Works great. I also use an iPad as a backup (running iNavx and Navionics charts).

We have a larger fixed Garmin plotter down in the chart table, which can be mirrored into the cockpit via the iPad. But most of the time the handheld is all that is needed.

[AfterHoursNLCT]

Originally Posted by petter5

If you have a Pc, MaC or any Android device, go for OpenCpn https://opencpn.org/

All US maps can be downloaded for free with the built in chart downloader,

Link to google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....opencpn&hl=en

I use opencpn on a Lenovo tablet as my backup GPS/chartplotter.
Works great with little cost...

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by rfinneren

I’ve had no trouble viewing my iPad screen in the daylight.

Visible in direct, bright sunlight? Then you must have a different iPad than the one I have.

In direct, bright sunlight my screen is more or less invisible to me. Under the bimini, if I shade it with my hands and angle it just right I can more or less see it.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I’ve used a Garmin handheld 76cs as my primary cockpit plotter for over seven years. Works great. I also use an iPad as a backup (running iNavx and Navionics charts).

We have a larger fixed Garmin plotter down in the chart table, which can be mirrored into the cockpit via the iPad. But most of the time the handheld is all that is needed.

Hi Mike,

Did you have to buy an SD card with charts for your 76? Mine came just with what they call the base map which was useless for navigation.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Hi Mike,

Did you have to buy an SD card with charts for your 76? Mine came just with what they call the base map which was useless for navigation.

Yup, I had to buy the chart card as well.

[dwedeking2]

There is a marine version of the 76 that comes with charts. I found the inreach easier to use than the 76 but that maybe just operator error

[Olddan1943]

Originally Posted by dwedeking2

There is a marine version of the 76 that comes with charts. I found the inreach easier to use than the 76 but that maybe just operator error

When the sales person or instructions say, "intuitive" my eyes glass over and I suffer a brain freeze.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Alex_V

It looks like I will be doing a trip from Annapolis to Charleston on a new to me boat. It doesn't have any fancy electronics other then a auto helm and a compass. I was thinking about using an iPad with Navionics and a GPSMAP® 78sc for backup handheld chart plotter.

Does this seem reasonable, or should I explore other options or models?

Can't comment about Navionics and GPSMAP, but the concept is reasonable.

We came from Annapolis to Charleston, in our case using mostly Plan2Nav (C-Map vector charts) as our BACKUP on an Android tablet. Believe it's available for iThings. We also have MX Mariner (NOAA raster charts) on the tablet, and could use that as a BACKUP when we felt like it.

(I emphasized BACKUP to indicate we don't have direct experience using the tablets as a primary plotter. In our case, our installed chartplotter and our ship's laptop (with MaxSea TimeZero) are our main nav aids. FWIW, TimeZero is available to iThings, and it's an excellent plotting app, perhaps $$$.)

Both Plan2Nav and MX Mariner have ActiveCaptain markers layered onto the charts. Shoaling marks were very useful as we came down the ICW. (Although sometimes we were surprised by shoaling reports to, gawsh, 9' depths...)

Our helm is covered, so daylight visibility on the tablets weren't as limited as some have experienced.

Tablet screen react to polarized sunglass; have to orient the tablet the correct direction...

-Chris

[Olddan1943]

I suspect soon the big plotters will go the way of the big computers.
Ideally, a VHF with a mic input jack, they will be stand alone battery operated, will have the option of updating the charts via either a chip or over the air.
The the hand held display will have an output to a larger display and a port for an external antenna input and RADAR input.
Of course, it will also need sturdy mount for near the helm and or nav station.
We are close to that now. It is only of time..... I hope I live to see it and can afford it. Think of the space saving.
The iPhone and iPad is a beginning of a good idea but no ideal