Chart Plotter recommendations

[livefats]

Hi Guys,

I'm (I hope!) nearing the end of the buying process for a Bav 30, and having been a paper-and-parallel-rule kind of guy, wondered if our incipient purchase warranted the adoption of modern tech to supplement! Any recommendations of suggestions of tried and tested makes?

Thanks for the assist!

[singlefish]

standard horizon ,

bought 180i few years ago as replacement for 12 " screen raymarine mounted at chart table , although small screen was mountable in cockpit and could be moved inside if needed  as internal arial worked there too , didnt miss big screen , cracking wee plotter , moved to new boat and mounted in wheel consol , new boat also has SH cp300 at chart table , great plotter but rarely used due to location ,

you hear a lot of talk re I pads etc , I too have navionics on i pad and android phone , struggle to see ipad in cockpit , phone runs battery to quick , but both ideal for passage planning in pub or home

[livefats]

Thanks, Singlefish. I have navionics on my iPhone, but not on the iPad as it's the wifi only version, so no GPS. As you say, great for pub planning!

[Nigel]

standard horizon ...

+1

[Odysseus]

I have a series 80 plotter on the chart table but wanted a backup so settled on a Lowrance 5150, it goes on the binnacle or the saloon no problem, however I put the Transas chart chip on it and over the 4 years I have had it I have noticed how much better in detail and clarity over the 80 series it is. In fact I look at the Lowrance in preference as it has such good detail. (I have no connection to Transas.) My chip cost £40 and it covers from Iceland to Spain and having sailed most of that area I know its OK. In fact I puddle hop in some of the harbours I use as I draw 2.3 mts loaded.
Transas is a Russian chart system look them up on google.

Odysseus

[livefats]

Thanks, Odysseus. Finding it difficult to locate Transas - I presume it's not this one - http://tnt.transas.com/combat/3d-cartography !

There's a couple of apps, but haven't located the chip yet. I'll keep looking...

[Odysseus]

Put transas marine charts into google.
Or look at lowrance 5150 plotters and chart chips.

Odysseus

[livefats]

Thanks, Odysseus. Will do!

[Algey]

Hi
We have a Bavaria 30 and have a SH300 fitted at the wheel, also with the Sitex Radar option. Both are very good. We use an ipad in a rammount bracket at the chart table. Very happy with the set up.

[livefats]

Hi Algey,

That sounds promising - is that the CP300 with 7 inch screen? Flush mounted on the binnacle? I'd hope to fit it where the Garmin GPSMAP 172C sits - on the basis that Garmin no longer supports this plotter, and it hasn't got the charts for my area (West Coast Scotland!) A 7 inch screen sounds a good upgrade.

[westward]

I have one Garmin GPSmap 4008 mounted on the binnacle and one in the cabin. They work well and I get AIS and radar superimposed on the chart.

Problems;
- you are locked in to Garmin charts which are good but expensive
- there is no way of suoerimposing grib files on the charts and no news that Garmin intends to do this soon
- the Garmin plotter alone takes nearly 3 amps, a ridiculously high power consumption; I switch my plotter off to conserve energy; not practical as it also powers the GPS and the AIS stops working too.

I think I would go for an ipad based system rather than a purpose built plotter if. I was starting again.

[Algey]

Yes sorry it's the standardhorizon CP300. I picked the plotter based on it's narrow depth and low power consumption for a 7" screen. At the time The Garmin and Raymarine offerings would either not fit (required a mod to the console) or pulled to much juice. I really like the look of the new Standardhorizon range of plotters but have not yet seen them in the flesh. I would post a picture of our current set up if I could figure it out from the ipad    Doesn't seem to want to play.

Al

[livefats]

Thanks, Westward. Yes, I'm a bit cross with Garmin for discontinuing the support on mine (just missed out o a chart chip on eBay last night too!) 3 amps does sound high. I'm using an iPad with Navionics in the cabin, which works very well for planning, but it's too hard to see to be much use to me on deck in sunlight.

Algey, thanks: if you could figure out the iPad, a picture would be great! I really want the plotter to fit on the binnacle, to hide the hole left by the Garmin!

[Algey]

I think I have figured it out, attached should be a pic 

[livefats]

Brilliant, Algey: that looks excellent. Thank you!

Is that a folding wheel I spy? Was it straightforward to fit?

[Algey]

Yep, folding wheel. About as easy as it comes to fit, the unpleasant bit was the price

[livefats]

Which one did you go for, Algey? I thought it might make the cockpit a bit more useable...

[Algey]

Lewmar, same diameter as original.

[livefats]

Thanks, Algey. Just Googled the price - I'll put it on my Christmas list!

[Dream Catcher]

I bought a CP180 for the binnacle on my Bav 40.(2001). I chose that one as it fitted neatly below my 3 ST60s, and it got good reviews in the press. I like the plotter but have had to send it back twice due to condensation or water ingress. The CP180 is not rated to the same "waterproofness" as most of the other units from Garmin. Lowrance, raymarine etc. The CP300 may be the same.

Anyone else had the same problem with water ingress on the CP180?

I still have the CP180 but am careful not to expose it in rain. I bought a spare plastic cover and made a window using clear plastic from an old cd case. That seems to work.

Alastair

[Pan054]

Hi Algey,
Your solution looks great! What instrument pod are you using?

[Algey]

Hi, it's not an instrument pod. It's the original console