Good chart plotter for the TN River?

[Snotter]

I am in the market for a chart plotter. Currently I am using MapTech on a laptop. MapTech uses raster scanned Army Corp of Engineer charts of the TN River. This software has the limitation that it can only display position on only one digitized paper chart at a time. This is fine if I am in the middle of a chart; however, it is underwhelming, to say the least, when I am on the edge of the world and cannot see over the edge. I do not want to buy a chart plotter that has this same limitation.

There is one Boating store in my area--Boater's World. They have a number of chart plotters on display. However, not a single unit has charts of the local waters. Furthermore, the salespeople couldn't even tell me if any chart software corresponding to the TN River is available for the units. (Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling for Boater's World. No wonder why their parking lot is always empty.)

Can anyone tell me what I should buy? I'd like a color screen and something that won't take up too much room on my steering pedastal. Also, I'd like to feed NMEA out to my Raymarine autopilot and to my DSC VHF radio. I'd like to keep the price under 600$.

 

[petersea]

I also have a laptop set up and I think what you are experinceing is the charts not "quilting" Upgraged software will fix this if you don't want to purchase a dedicated chart plotter. Check out the newer software. If you still want one I recomed the garmin models.

 

[agaliha]

I'm using a RayMarine 535

on the Tennessee River. I bought a Navionics Gold "Chart chip" (it's in a Compact Flash format) that has all the inland rivers east of the Mississippi. I bought the unit with an external antenna so that I could mount it in my steering pedestal on my Beneteau 361 which is under a bimini most of the year. It works great. I have it linked to my autopilot and digital VHF radio.
Agaliha

 

[Snotter]

Re: I'm using a RayMarine 535

Agaliha, does the Navionics Gold "Char chip" have the locations of the buoys, bottom contours, and bridge and wire heights? If it does then my search would be over.

 

[sailingdog]

You might want to check out the Garmin x3x series of chartplotters... the middle digit being a 3 indicates that it is pre-loaded with the inland water charts for the US. The 430, 530 or 535 are all good choices, but you'd need to call Garmin or better go to the store to see if they actually cover the specific waters you require. Boater's World probably sells them.

I am in the market for a chart plotter. Currently I am using MapTech on a laptop. MapTech uses raster scanned Army Corp of Engineer charts of the TN River. This software has the limitation that it can only display position on only one digitized paper chart at a time. This is fine if I am in the middle of a chart; however, it is underwhelming, to say the least, when I am on the edge of the world and cannot see over the edge. I do not want to buy a chart plotter that has this same limitation.

There is one Boating store in my area--Boater's World. They have a number of chart plotters on display. However, not a single unit has charts of the local waters. Furthermore, the salespeople couldn't even tell me if any chart software corresponding to the TN River is available for the units. (Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling for Boater's World. No wonder why their parking lot is always empty.)

Can anyone tell me what I should buy? I'd like a color screen and something that won't take up too much room on my steering pedastal. Also, I'd like to feed NMEA out to my Raymarine autopilot and to my DSC VHF radio. I'd like to keep the price under 600$.

 

[agaliha]

I'll have to check

to see if the wire and bridge heights are shown. I have a great wire bound paper chart of the entire river from TVA that shows that data, so I haven't noticed if it's on the electronic chart. I will look this weekend and get back to you.
Agaliha

 

[cmtpres]

Re: I'll have to check

I have the inland waterways CD from Garmin for use on all their chartplotters and loadable gps units. There isn't any bridge or wire/powerline clearance information on these charts. The ACE chartbook is the only place I've found it.

 

[Ross]

Re: I'll have to check

Also try these folks. http://www.rivercharts.info/forums/index.php

 

[agaliha]

No overhead data

Sorry, Snotter. I finally checked and my Raymarine does not display any bridge clearance or overhead wire clearance. Most of my obstacles in this part of the river are well marked with river gauges...and I do keep the paper charts on board with all this detail. I really like my Raymarine 535 mounted in the binnacle. I've even used it to sail at night (as long as I keep an eye out for tugs and barges!). Should I add radar? If so, I don't think the 535 will display the radar image. I'll have to upgrade to a larger unit.

 

[zeehag]

i havent seen any overhead clearance on any electronic charts--they dont have the notes either--these are on the paper charts. goood luck. my garmin doesnt have these either--isnt boaters world that is at fault--is the electronic charts lol.....radar doesnt hurt--but ye need to know bridge heights before hitting them......radar won't tell how the bridge clearance is--some bridges have marked on them but that doesnt help in the planning phase....

 

[Snotter]

Since I've initiated this thread, I've bought an iPhone and paid the $9.99 for the Navionics app. I am getting by with using my lap top which uses the old army corp of engineer charts which were originally scanned in from the paper charts. I keep the laptop on the nav table down below. The electronic army corp of engineer charts do display the bridge clearances. The laptop can talk to my autopilot. At the helm I use the iPhone. The navionics app displays depth with respect to the surface, negating the need to subtract bottom elevations from pool hight, which is necessary when using the laptop. My setup isn't great, but it is fine for now. This system wouldn't work if I didn't have a cigarrette lighter at the helm to plug my iPhone into to keep charged.

 

[Chuckbear]

So what happens when your cell phone coverage drops out?

 

[Snotter]

It doesn't affect the app.

 

[Chuckbear]

I know that, but if you are running a GPS enabled phone and you loose cell phone coverage you loose the GPS where that does not happen with a dedicated plotter.

 

[Snotter]

Chuck, I'd rather have a nice chart plotter running Navionics Gold; however, what I have is working for me. I'd rather take the money for a new plotter and put it towards something more needed--like a new reverse-cycle AC.

 

[sailingdog]

Not true...many newer cellphones have a full-fledged GPS chipset in them and do not need the cellular connection for their location.

I know that, but if you are running a GPS enabled phone and you loose cell phone coverage you loose the GPS where that does not happen with a dedicated plotter.