Chart Plotters

[Andy]

There are many ways of displaying a map, and knowing where you are, including a paper version, but not very usable on a sib.

My VHF has GPS but its not really a chart plotter, same as my fishfinder.

So apart from your mobile phone, what's the best way forward ?
I take it all these devices need to have maps purchased, so what's also the best maps ?
My phone is not really an option as the screen is far too small, and I have no intention of buying a huge mobile.

[harrison]

Something like a Garmin Echomap Plus 45cv combi chartplotter/fishfinder seem popular with sibbers. Quite popular on here I think...other makes are available. They come with maps included but no transducer. I’ve seen a few posts where people have made some neat battery packs....hopefully they may be along shortly.

http://www.cactusnav.com/garmin-echomap ... th=1117_32

Andy, thought you already had a Garmin?

[chris moody]

I have the Garmin 45dv on my rib, and paired with a decent transducer it is superb. On my rib it still manages to display depth information at full throttle (33 kts) and the downVu sonar is good (I need to go and find some shipwrecks to go and look at).

I have tested the depth transducer extensively and it reads accurately from nothing to 112 metres, at which point it gives up (I'm guessing the signal can't travel more than 224 metres, which is reasonable.

The charts are Navionics, and look the same as in all the Garmin plotter range.

A 45dv could be mounted on a Sib seat, with a battery box strapped under the seat, so all pretty much self contained to the seat assembly other than the transducer wiring and transducer itself.

[Mitch]

I’ve got a Garmin 55, bigger screen so I can see it, put on top of my seat & the battery underneath.
There are loads out there so have a good look around.

[Martin]

iPad with Navionics installed, vexilar sounder & app working in conjunction with navionics..
Works for me
The transducer is pretty useless anything over 10mph, but then again if you’re likely to be in shallow rocky ground you wouldn’t be going like an F1

[mm289]

I am using a 45DV as well, had it on the SIB at Poole. Really happy with it - the screen is a bit small but with my eyesight it would need to be the size of a widescreen telly for me to be able to read it without glasses on anyway

Picking up on one of the suggestions on here, I have made a mounting that allows it to be attached to the front seat and a portable battery box as per this this thread [url]viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3101[/url]
[attachment=0]2019-01-14 00.11.50.jpg[/attachment]

The Garmin comes with a map installed where as most of the bigger nav units you need to buy the map as well. The navionics app seems well regarded also, although I prefer to have a dedicated marine unit rather than using a tablet etc but they do seem to work well for others.

Interestingly Garmin bought Navionics last year and I think there are a lot of people waiting to see if the Navionics mapping (which seems to be a bit better than Garmin) gets migrated onto the Garmin hardware.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Andy]

Something like a Garmin Echomap Plus 45cv combi chartplotter/fishfinder seem popular with sibbers. Quite popular on here I think...other makes are available. They come with maps included but no transducer. I’ve seen a few posts where people have made some neat battery packs....hopefully they may be along shortly.

http://www.cactusnav.com/garmin-echomap ... th=1117_32

Andy, thought you already had a Garmin?

Yes, I have a Garmin 7SV, but its mainly a fishfinder. It has GPS but its not a chartplotter.

[Andy]

I already have a fishfinder, Garmin 7SV, but its not any good as a chartplotter, it only has basic GPS.

I am not sure, but I think you can link your mobile phone to the Garmin through some software, but again, if you use maps its a very small screen on a mobile.

iPad with Navionics installed, vexilar sounder & app working in conjunction with navionics..
Works for me

I presume, and perhaps someone knows about this, that if you buy a chartplotter, you still have to buy the maps ?
Bearing in mind the cheapest chartplotter is about £250, then as Martin said, above, why not buy a 7 or 8 inch tablet and a watertight housing, rather than a zip bag, available off fleabay? The software to load up the maps is free, there are many, then just buy maps for it ?

So...... if this being true, anyone got any advice about the map-chart software, which is the best ? Do any show as much info like on the Imray charts ?

[chris moody]

A lot of chartplotters come bundled with charts, but you do need to check the details carefully before purchase as some don't. My Garmin 45dv came with charts for the whole of the UK.

Also some plotters with DownVU or SideVU sonar come the the transducer, but most don't. So factor in the cost of the transducer if not bundled with the plotter

The main problems with tablets in a waterproof housing are the screens are not as good in direct sunlight as a dedicated chartplotter.

[daveh]

I run a Raymarine Dragonfly with C-map charts. I've had it a few years and it's not missed a beat, very reliable.