Chartplotters

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 3:26 pm

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on a low cost chartlpotter with fish finder or depth? I was looking around and it looks like a lot of this stuff is out of my reach. Guys what are your experiences? Thoughts? Suggestions?

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:13 am

Well, I'm a Garmin fan. Be aware though, with Garmin you can only install the charts you buy on two GPS's so if you are a geek that updates toys regularly you will be sorely dissappointed.

Also, depending on YOUR age . . . . . . . .

Color screens make all the difference in the world to my over 40 eyes.
The bigger screen with better resolution also helps but I tell ya, when I went from grey scale to color it opened up a whole new world for me! LOL!

Gawd, I must be getting old!

Scott

OH yeah, decide what you want then watch CraigsList! Some times there are great deals to be had!

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:53 am

I was looking at the Standard Horizon CPF180i, it looks like a nice unit and it will interface with my radio, i'll just have to go find one somewhere to play with...

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:55 am

Scott
Not to promote the Garmin name... but having older eyes myself I'm curious as to what you now have on your Chrysler?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26' 1980
Pandora (for now)

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:14 am

I use a Garmin 60C on Lady Jo.
It carries all the charts in it for the waters I take Lady Jo on.

Scott

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 4:06 pm

I think "low cost" is going to be relative. I use a Garmin 492, which is preloaded with all the coastal charts. I picked it up on closeout after it was discontinued, but honestly don't remember how much I paid. There's a depth sounder option, but too $$ for the value it provides. I have a Humminbird fishfinder instead. Had prob with the Humminbird a couple of years back, so bought another, had the original refurbed, and now keep one on-board as a spare. I will probably mount the second sensor so that I'll have redundancy there, too.

Before the 492 I used a Garmin Legend -- black and white, with the Marine Points of Interest / basemap loaded. Best value there is in a GPS, I think, and the new one has the high-sensitivity SIRF chip. I still bring that along and afix it high as my "heads up" speed/distance/time/heading display.

Being the anal retentive boy scout gear freak I am, I also purchased a Garmin Colorado 400C, a color handheld unit that includes full coastal charts, electronic compass, altimeter, supports a MicroSD chip so I can add charts to it, has a USB interface and can use an external antenna. I also grabbed the Garmin Topo 2008 maps, and downloaded some others somewhere. I load those on both this and on the 492 in my home waters.

Honestly, I'm not wild about the Colorado one. It works well, and is a great value with the built-in charts. Sometimes the pushbutton in the thumbwheel misbehaves, although $100 and a 5 day vacation at Garmin will fix that. The interface and controls are different, and to me seem kind of cumbersome. On the other hand, I've used it sailing and backpacking in virtually all conditions, and it's reassuring to have a full-featured backup along.

I may sell the Colorado, since the Legend plus the ForeTrex 401 I own probably are adequate backup for the 492.

Mario G · Post by **Mario G** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:59 pm

we have the Garmin 172c on the Endevour but I would rather and do use our paper charts. I would look on ebay, theres always good deals, I got a $400 hand held GPS fpr Shaken knot Stirred for $100 including shipping that was more then enough.

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:43 am

Hey Mario,
to avoid hijacking this thread I sent you a PM about your Endeavour!
Scott

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:57 am

Low cost:
Old laptop running SeaClear or OpenCPN with charts downloaded from NOAA. A GPS "puck" (I use a DeLorme) and a small USB monitor for the cockpit which can be weatherproofed in various ways from potting to ziploc bag.

Now add a $70 fishfinder. OpenCPN can display the depth readout, I'm not sure about SeaClear yet.

Charts of the entire USA are free, and you still have the larger laptop screen for use in the cabin for trip planning.

Total cost: ~$200

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:56 am

Thanks for the post, I checked out the laptop software and it looks like just the ticket! I have a Dell mini 10v that I hacked and put Mac osx on, love the little thing , it's just an easy chair toy! From what I can tell, I just need a gps receiver , and I found a Mac compatible one for 40 bucks! There are a bunch of great stuff out there! Check out this link...http://www.dacust.com/inlandwaters/index.html

Now if only I can get a wifi repeated and convince the marina to provide wireless I'm all set ! I will never have to leave the boat!

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:29 am

Some links that I probably should have included in my first post:

SeaClear: http://www.sping.com/seaclear/

Open CPN: http://opencpn.org/

NOAA Raster Charts: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/ ... eement.htm

NOAA Electronic Charts: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/ ... eement.htm

Enjoy.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:33 pm

Just a quick update, I purchased a USB plug, puck gps reciever and gpsnavx software for the Mac. I have a small Dell mini10v that I got used off of eBay and then hacked to run Mac os x (it was very easy and the hack software was free). I installed everything today and it runs like a charm! I got a bunch of charts from the links posted above(thank you) and I'm very satisfied! Maybe some day I'll get a chart plotter/fishfinder but for now I'm quite satisfied and I only spent 100 bucks! If anyone wants any further details on this set up let me know !

astrorad · Post by **astrorad** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:04 am

Thanx to Tom for the great info on CPN and Seaclear.
Downloaded both and tried out CPN with the GPS puck from Microsoft Streets and Trips....it seems to work fine.
I have to try out Seaclear yet and see what the difference is....

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:07 pm

I've used SeaClear in the past and quite like it. Had some probs getting my Garmin Legend talking with it this time, but suspect that's a issue with the Vista driver for Serial-USB.

This time out I grabbed PolarNavy's PolarView and PolarCom at http://www.polarnavy.com. In addition to raster charts (free from NOAA) it also can use vector charts (also free from NOAA), can download map imagery, GRIB weather forecasts and other niceties. I ended up paying to license it to get some additional functionality, but it was only about $40.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:35 pm

thanks for the heads up on polar navy, the software is sweet, now i'll just have to learn to use it so i'll be good to go next season! the bu-353 usb receiver works very well and i cannot believe how inexpensive it was.