Which Chartplotter Should I Buy ?

[gunkylump]

I realize that there will be a variety of opinions.....and I appreciate that!

Here is what we have:

We have a Bayfield 29....we are going to predominantly sail the Great Lakes, mainly Lake Erie. I'd like to be able to continue in fog, heavy rain, etc. I really want something that is weatherproof, so that I can mount it at/close to the helm, and remove it when I'm not on the boat. It should have an audible alarm for approaching waypoints, and be visible in sunlight. Price range....um....$800 to 1500 Canadian dollars. Hopefully this paints the general picture of what we need/want. We saved our vacation to go to the Annopolis boat show in October...and will be looking for the right "deal".

Thanks for your input.

gunk

[goboatingnow]

Garmin.

[MarkJ]

Ipad II with GPS, 3G and then buy the charting package thats very good and cheap.

Mark

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Garmin.

+1, no question about it, love our little 555s. It has taken us across the English channel repeatedly without complaint and adjusts automatically to daylight as the sun comes up.

Pete

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Ipad II with GPS, 3G and then buy the charting package thats very good and cheap.

Mark

I like this idea, or even cheaper, the Garmin 440 with the built in charts. I don't see any merit to the big chunky expensive things that go by the name "Chartplotter".

[goboatingnow]

Only a fool would soly rely on a piece on consumer junk to navigate by. Fine as a backup and to
Impress your friends but not as a sole navigation device

Dave ( iPhone and iPad owner)

[David M]

Given it needs to be spray proof since it will be at the helm, I agree that a chart plotter is what you want. I too like Garmin in that price range.

[Dennis.G]

Garmin GPS Map 526 (or similar model)

By the time you get it installed you will spend the low end of your budget.

[andrewsc]

Garmin 740 is at the upper end of your price range but allows you to add radar in the future if you don't already have it. Also interfaces easily to AIS. If you are spending a lot of time in heavy rain and fog the plotter, radar, ais combo goes along way to keeping you safe.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by andrewsc

Garmin 740 is at the upper end of your price range but allows you to add radar in the future if you don't already have it. Also interfaces easily to AIS. If you are spending a lot of time in heavy rain and fog the plotter, radar, ais combo goes along way to keeping you safe.

This brings back the "interface" question and both responses to this have merit. Of course, you can "add radar" regardless of your GPS if you are the interface. I do choose to keep my own head in the interface position and don't see a great advantage to having the radar screen on the same presentation as the gps chart. Crew is a factor here as well. When we are traveling in the thick fog the helmsman has te view of the GPS and a dedicated person is interpreting the radar screen. Strategies vary, but the plan is essential.

[witzgall]

The new Simrad Nss7 looks interesting, and is at the top of your price range. It can work with their broadband radar, and can take place of an Autopilot control head, making operation easier, and the installation of an autopilot a bit less expensive.

I would not buy anything that is not NMEA 2000 compliant these days.

Chris

[stevewrye]

I agree with Capt Force, separate screens for me are the only way to go, chart plotter at the nav station and at the helm, radar screen under dodger or in dog house for night watch or second person screening, AIS with alarm where ever you think it should go. Having looked at the one screen set up it's easy to get drunk with too much info in one place. I liked our Garmin 3200 or 3300 series of old, one at the helm and one at nav station talked with each other smaller in size but big enough to see from anywhere in cockpit. And a lot cheaper than the the stuff I have been looking at for the new boat. But I'm guessing all the chart plotter companies have good product as chart plotters seemed to be divided up pretty evenly between companies when we crossed the Pacific at few years back.
Good luck in your search

[andrewsc]

I agree with Steve. We are set up with Garmin 740's with one at the helm and one at the foot of the companionway. Usually keep the one at the helm as a plotter and the 2nd as radar. This gives multiple options for on/off watch, second person to monitor radar and also adds redundancy in that both have gps receivers and the ability to perform as plotter, radar and ais in the event that one fails.

The OP is fitting out a 29 foot boat and two chart plotters plus a stand alone radar seemed a bit much.

BTW Steve we are in Portland and I spoke with Jean Francois a few times before we purchased our current boat and really liked the Boreal. Is your boat in HR?

[Andrew M]

Not Raymarine

[sded]

Take a look at the Standard Horizon CP190i for under $500US. Great screen, AIS interface, includes charts. Get a separate radar display when/if required.