I am moving to the coast soon and am looking into a chart plotter and/or navigational software for a laptop. Are these items really useful or just expensive? John Jorgensen
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My opinion!
John: I think that they are very helpful. You can use the nav software on a laptop with the GPS you will know where you are (whereever you are). I would think that this would be very bennifical if you are moving to an area that you may be unfamiliar with. When you have these hooked together you can actually see the boat moving across the bay, down the river/canal etc. The charts have the depth (just like your paper charts) so getting in trouble becomes more a problem with stupidity than the fact that you got lost. I am using the Capt. on a Pentium 233 laptop. You can get these laptops for $300-600 on the used market.
John: I think that they are very helpful. You can use the nav software on a laptop with the GPS you will know where you are (whereever you are). I would think that this would be very bennifical if you are moving to an area that you may be unfamiliar with. When you have these hooked together you can actually see the boat moving across the bay, down the river/canal etc. The charts have the depth (just like your paper charts) so getting in trouble becomes more a problem with stupidity than the fact that you got lost. I am using the Capt. on a Pentium 233 laptop. You can get these laptops for $300-600 on the used market.
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Bryce Grefe
laptop
I agree with Steve. I too use the Cap'n, integrated with my GPS and autopilot. The new raster and digital charts give great detail, make course plotting a snap and make entering new areas and harbors relatively easy. But even with the techie approach one still needs to do the basics like keep a watch etc. The new Cruising world had an article about the problems of relying solely on the technology. Bryce
I agree with Steve. I too use the Cap'n, integrated with my GPS and autopilot. The new raster and digital charts give great detail, make course plotting a snap and make entering new areas and harbors relatively easy. But even with the techie approach one still needs to do the basics like keep a watch etc. The new Cruising world had an article about the problems of relying solely on the technology. Bryce
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bob
raytheon chartplotter
last fall i installed a new raytheon color chartplotter, and love it...i went with the chartplotter rather than a pc with nav software because i wanted the system to be at the helm rather than down below...i certainly agree that you shouldn't overly rely on electronic nav, but it really is helpful when you are sailing in unfamiliar shallow waters....
last fall i installed a new raytheon color chartplotter, and love it...i went with the chartplotter rather than a pc with nav software because i wanted the system to be at the helm rather than down below...i certainly agree that you shouldn't overly rely on electronic nav, but it really is helpful when you are sailing in unfamiliar shallow waters....
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Ron Parkes
Raytheon 420
My own personal preference was a Raytheon 420 mounted on top of the pedestal (on my Hunter 320). I also had a line run down to the Navstation for possible future addition of a PC. The use of the chartplotter at rge wheel is nice, but I use the ICW daymarkers rather than the chart when piloting on the rather narrow ICW here in Florida. A color chartplotter would be "cool" , but I elected to keep the cost down with a good monochrome display and spend the extra money on a handheld GPS (with chart) - a Garmin as backup. Good luck and welcome to the coast! Ron Parkes s/v Contemplation
My own personal preference was a Raytheon 420 mounted on top of the pedestal (on my Hunter 320). I also had a line run down to the Navstation for possible future addition of a PC. The use of the chartplotter at rge wheel is nice, but I use the ICW daymarkers rather than the chart when piloting on the rather narrow ICW here in Florida. A color chartplotter would be "cool" , but I elected to keep the cost down with a good monochrome display and spend the extra money on a handheld GPS (with chart) - a Garmin as backup. Good luck and welcome to the coast! Ron Parkes s/v Contemplation
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Colin
Look at Fugawi
I use Fugawi linked to my garmin GPS and have found it accurate and easy to use. As with the Cap'n, Fugawi works on just about any laptop.
I use Fugawi linked to my garmin GPS and have found it accurate and easy to use. As with the Cap'n, Fugawi works on just about any laptop.
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Don Baker
Chartplotter
I just bought a ratheon 420 chartplotter and added a navionics chip for my area (n florida) I have an old hunter 33 that I purchased last fall. We had an offshore race this weekend, from Jax to Fernandina The plotter kept track of our sog,xte,eta,depth,boyage,marina facilities,tides, times,and much more I would not be without this little gem, In fact I am considering sleeping with it.
I just bought a ratheon 420 chartplotter and added a navionics chip for my area (n florida) I have an old hunter 33 that I purchased last fall. We had an offshore race this weekend, from Jax to Fernandina The plotter kept track of our sog,xte,eta,depth,boyage,marina facilities,tides, times,and much more I would not be without this little gem, In fact I am considering sleeping with it.
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Richard
why not
I sell yachts here in Florida. About half of the people end up cruising. The ones with Plotters love them and won't be without one. Think about night time sailing or off shore with no sight of land. GPS is great but it only tells you where you are and where you want to be. Paper charts require complete attention. A Plotter allows for quick refferences, but you should maintain a paper plot also as a back up.
I sell yachts here in Florida. About half of the people end up cruising. The ones with Plotters love them and won't be without one. Think about night time sailing or off shore with no sight of land. GPS is great but it only tells you where you are and where you want to be. Paper charts require complete attention. A Plotter allows for quick refferences, but you should maintain a paper plot also as a back up.
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