Touch screens on chart plotters

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I'm surprised. My old 1st gen Zeus Touch from the same era is fine in the rain.

My Zeus is fine as well, and my old Garmin was too.
I think some companies do touch screens better than interns apparently.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by marlin driver

. . . If you like cursor buttons the way some people cling to paper charts, then fine by me. A reasonable argument can be made that some prefer buttons in rough seas on small boats. However, to avoid touch screens out of concern they won't function when wet is uninformed and incorrect.

I prefer buttons even on a big stable dry boat. If I had a choice, both my plotters would be non-touch.

However, modern touch screens work fine even when wet. They don't work well when you have gloves on, however, which is one of several reasons to prefer buttons.

There are plenty of good reasons to use paper charts, too.

[a64pilot]

Our Zeus's are touch screen, but I guess I'm old cause I always forget that and default to the buttons

[alctel]

My Simrad NSS 8 touchscreen works surprisingly well even in heavy rain.

However as others have mentioned, trying to hit the correct damn option or even scroll around is a massive challenge in heavy weather. Luckily it also has a scroll knob and buttons so I can use those!

[barnakiel]

I too have heard some very hard words from an unhappy Ray user. I am nearly sure he had e7.

barnakiel

[CaptRory]

Going back to the grubby finger prints, it might require cleaning more and cleaning should be done VERY carefully. Salt and any particulate will scratch the surface coatings.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by CaptRory

Going back to the grubby finger prints, it might require cleaning more and cleaning should be done VERY carefully. Salt and any particulate will scratch the surface coatings.

Year's back when the first large commercial touch screen ARPA RADARS came out, studies showed that while the Mates loved it, the Masters did not.

One reason... was the grubby finger prints and scratches from rough cleaning.

But the 2nd key reason, was a subtle protocol issue.

Masters walking onto the bridge, could not easily appreciate the Radar details while the mate was waving his hands around the touch screen.

Normal protocol by Captain is to just observe and let the official watchkeepet operate the equipment.
They found themselves taking over when not necessary, just to see a better radar picture.