Chart plotters- vhs

whitstablerib · 07 July 2013, 20:29

Hi, looking to get a chart plotter but want a good sized screen. Can anyone share some advice. Local retailer pushing me to garmin but screen looks small. Need it to talk to VHS

Thanks

Tim M · 07 July 2013, 21:44

I think you mean VHF, that is unless you want to watch some dodgy old videos on it!

whitstablerib · 08 July 2013, 07:06

Yea. Well could've both!!!! Could you imagine the set up!!!!!

willk · 08 July 2013, 08:41

You might tell us what you consider small? Garmin make units from 4" to 15" so there's one there for you somewhere. All plotters will pass position data to a VHF. Some Garmin Plotters have an input for VHS too

gotchiguy · 08 July 2013, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

You might tell us what you consider small? Garmin make units from 4" to 15" so there's one there for you somewhere. All plotters will pass position data to a VHF. Some Garmin Plotters have an input for VHS too

19" now

willk · 08 July 2013, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

19" now

LOL - have you actually measured it Gotchi? You young lads are always exaggerating...

gotchiguy · 08 July 2013, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

LOL - have you actually measured it Gotchi? You young lads are always exaggerating...

at £14k they better have got the measurements right!!!!

whitstablerib · 10 July 2013, 10:07

We were looking at the garmin 551s but screen looks small. Don't want to consistently zoom In or out. Not had one before so not sure what's best.

Pikey Dave · 10 July 2013, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitstablerib

We were looking at the garmin 551s but screen looks small. Don't want to consistently zoom In or out. Not had one before so not sure what's best.

When it comes to viewing charts on a plotter, bigger is better, especially if you start splitting screens & having sonar/engine data, 'n stuff displayed.

whitstablerib · 10 July 2013, 10:28

Which one would you go for?

Pikey Dave · 10 July 2013, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitstablerib

Which one would you go for?

Dunno, it's been a while since I was in the market so I'm not up to date on what's available. I have had Lowrance kit on previous boats & rated them highly, I have 2x 8" Raymarine plotters on the current boat & they are ok but I wouldn't rave about them, but they are last generation, not current models. I've never had Garmin so can't comment, BUT, I don't like Garmin charts, I prefer Navionics, but that is just my preference. If I was shopping around now, I'd be looking for something with a min. 8" screen that takes Navionics charts & start from there.

whitstablerib · 10 July 2013, 12:03

thats great, ill look into that, thanks very much. if anyone else knows or can recommend then feel free!

Leapy · 10 July 2013, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitstablerib

We were looking at the garmin 551s but screen looks small. Don't want to consistently zoom In or out. Not had one before so not sure what's best.

We have a 551 and have never found screen size a problem with respect to what we were prepared to pay. Zooming in or out is only a button press and no big deal - we tend to zoom in when close to shore or port, zoom out when away from shore.

If pressing a button to do this is a problem to you, and your solution to that problem is a big screen, then expect to pay a lot of money.

whitstablerib · 10 July 2013, 12:49

thanks very much

willk · 10 July 2013, 13:33

In terms for bang for yer buck - Garmin 750S (S=sounder onboard)

These are out of production but still for sale. 7" landscape touchscreen, charts onboard, sounder onboard, RADAR ready.

There are very good deals going at the moment. Linky

The plotter only verson, the 750 is a bit cheaper at £590.

They're a good size for a 6.5m RIB.

Pikey Dave · 10 July 2013, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

We have a 551 and have never found screen size a problem with respect to what we were prepared to pay. Zooming in or out is only a button press and no big deal - we tend to zoom in when close to shore or port, zoom out when away from shore.

If pressing a button to do this is a problem to you, and your solution to that problem is a big screen, then expect to pay a lot of money.

Agreed, I find the problems arise when we're in "complicated" waters, e.g west coast of Scotland. You need to be zoomed in to see detail e.g. rocks, (still didn't stop me from hitting one though

) but still need to see the bigger picture to make sure your heading for the right gap in the islands etc. I tend to split the screen & have the chart showing in both windows, one zoomed in & the other out to a larger scale. On anything smaller than 8" (IMHO) splitting the screen gets a bit small, especially with my eyes & bumping along in a RIB.

Leapy · 10 July 2013, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Agreed, I find the problems arise when we're in "complicated" waters, e.g west coast of Scotland. You need to be zoomed in to see detail e.g. rocks, (still didn't stop me from hitting one though

) but still need to see the bigger picture to make sure your heading for the right gap in the islands etc. I tend to split the screen & have the chart showing in both windows, one zoomed in & the other out to a larger scale. On anything smaller than 8" (IMHO) splitting the screen gets a bit small, especially with my eyes & bumping along in a RIB.

PD ... do you use the 'Navigate To' function and so just follow the pink line that the plotter puts up? Might help you avoid hitting stuff in those complicated waters.

I tend to set that for any youngsters on board so they can steer on the pink line and not get into too much trouble.

Pikey Dave · 10 July 2013, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

PD ... do you use the 'Navigate To' function and so just follow the pink line that the plotter puts up? Might help you avoid hitting stuff in those complicated waters.

Nope! I'm assuming you mean some kind of active routing function that avoids rocks/piers/buoys etc & not just a straight line between where you are & where you want to be. If I'm in open water I use the CDI to show my HDG, COG, SOG & bearing & distance to waypoint, this also shows my XTE. If I'm in "busy" waters with obstructions I use the chart plotter.

Leapy · 10 July 2013, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Nope! I'm assuming you mean some kind of active routing function that avoids rocks/piers/buoys etc & not just a straight line between where you are & where you want to be. If I'm in open water I use the CDI to show my HDG, COG, SOG & bearing & distance to waypoint, this also shows my XTE. If I'm in "busy" waters with obstructions I use the chart plotter.

Not a straight line! You have to set it up with depth of craft etc. You tell it where you want to go (POI, point on a map, name of a port etc etc) and it then plots a safe route based on tide, water depth, obstructions, mermaids etc etc. So far for us, so good, although I did chicken out once when at high water it wanted to take me through the Manacles (some lumpy rocky bits half way between Falmouth and the Lizard) rather than around them

Give it a go* ...

* This recommendation not warranted by the writer

Pikey Dave · 10 July 2013, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Not a straight line! You have to set it up with depth of craft etc. You tell it where you want to go (POI, point on a map, name of a port etc etc) and it then plots a safe route based on tide, water depth, obstructions, mermaids etc etc. So far for us, so good, although I did chicken out once when at high water it wanted to take me through the Manacles (some lumpy rocky bits half way between Falmouth and the Lizard) rather than around them

Give it a go* ...

* This recommendation not warranted by the writer

My kit doesn't do it, it's old school.