Chart plotter orientation

[NYSail]

Hello all
I have a Garmin 7607….. when moving the boat icon shows the correct boat position, however when the boat is on anchor or in the slip not moving it never shows the correct boat direction? My phone and iPad have no issue with this as long as they are oriented correctly. So what gives with the chart plotter?

greg

 

[kappykaplan]

The GPS in the chart plotter is merely reflecting the subtle movements of your boat from current & wind effects in the slip or at anchor. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Davidasailor26]

In Navico plotters you can choose between Heading Up and Course Up. Assuming Garmin has the same option It sounds like you’re on Course Up, which works basically the same as Heading Up when you’re moving at speed, but when you’re sitting still it wanders with any small movement or GPS noise. Heading Up should be more stable, assuming you have an electronic compass to provide that data.

 

[thinwater]

A plotter is not suposed to display the direction your boat is pointed, it is supposed t show the direction it is moving. For example, you could be drifting backwards because the anchor is dragging. If the phone always shows the direction the boat is pointed... it is wrong.

 

[Davidasailor26]

A plotter is not suposed to display the direction your boat is pointed, it is supposed t show the direction it is moving. For example, you could be drifting backwards because the anchor is dragging. If the phone always shows the direction the boat is pointed... it is wrong.

When in Heading Up mode our plotter has a course indicator line to show the actual course. So if you’re sliding across a current or drifting at anchor you can see the course predictor point in your actual direction. I much prefer that to having the chart orientation spin around when I’m drifting along. It also makes it easier to visualize the effect of current by seeing the course predictor line pointing a few degrees off the bow of the boat icon.

 

[Johann]

You will need a heading sensor connected to the chartplotter. I have my Garmin networked with my raymarine autopilot and it gets HDG info from there.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

If you are not moving, it can't tell which way you are pointed. There is no reason to fret over it when at a mooring or in a slip. If you are pointing backwards while at anchor, check your position!

 

[NYSail]

Thanks for the input...
Yea I do understand that it is based on motion of the boat, however when in slip and not moving it still shows me pointing in the complete wrong direction. Just one of those little things..... And like I said, the phone and ipad always show the exact way I am pointing as long as I have the devise pointing to the bow moving or not so just got me thinking.
I bought a heading sensor.....

Greg

 

[Davidasailor26]

Thanks for the input...
Yea I do understand that it is based on motion of the boat, however when in slip and not moving it still shows me pointing in the complete wrong direction. Just one of those little things..... And like I said, the phone and ipad always show the exact way I am pointing as long as I have the devise pointing to the bow moving or not so just got me thinking.
I bought a heading sensor.....

Greg

The phone and iPad have built in heading sensors, so they’re able to use that for the orientation without needing to rely on the course over ground. Chartplotters don’t, so unless they get data from a heading sensor on the network all they can use is course over ground based on GPS.

 

[LloydB]

My Android phone has a so-called built in heading sensor however it requires relearning position nearly every time I open the applications I use it on. What heading sensor did you buy and how long did it take to install it?