Chart plotters and echo sounders

[divelandy]

We are looking at getting a chart plotter for our new RIB and am looking for recommendations on the different models, such as Color v. Black & White, combined with echo, BlueChart V C-MAP v Navionics charts, brands to avoid.

Thanks,
Steve

[Chris Cherrington]

We are looking at getting a chart plotter for our new RIB and am looking for recommendations on the different models, such as Color v. Black & White, combined with echo, BlueChart V C-MAP v Navionics charts, brands to avoid.

Thanks,
Steve

Colour is better and easier to read. I'd go for echo included too (forward looking if the budget meets it). Plus think about log facilities as this gives water speed vs bottom speed therefore tide.. (Jeez I love spending other people's money!!).

You will have to work hard to go wrong with any of the big brands, all are very very good.

Be aware though that much off the shelf stuff is US based and you need to buy the map(s) for your area. The maps that are fitted often are too big a scale for diving. That is very important if buying mail order...

Chris.

[Neil Radcliffe]

We are looking at getting a chart plotter for our new RIB and am looking for recommendations on the different models, such as Color v. Black & White, combined with echo, BlueChart V C-MAP v Navionics charts, brands to avoid.

Thanks,
Steve

I think the current Practical Boat Owner magazine has a review of 'affordable' plotters - from memory the NAVMAN colour model came out very well. And some others definitely not so well.

You'll also find loads of threads of this type on the seperate RIBnet forum.

Neil

[Matt]

We are looking at getting a chart plotter for our new RIB and am looking for recommendations on the different models, such as Color v. Black & White, combined with echo, BlueChart V C-MAP v Navionics charts, brands to avoid.

IMHO:

Get separate GPS and sounder. The combined displays are a little too small to be useful. Also if something breaks you don't lose your two most important instruments at the same time.

Colour screens display a chart far better than B&W. However, when zoomed in to the sort of scale you need for finding a dive site everything is blue (or white on Blue charts). Also I have yet to see a colour screen which is readable in direct sunlight. The B&W units have much better contrast and I find much easier to read on an open RHIB.

The Garmin Blue charts are very detailed, but expensive. Also the lower end plotters are a bit too slow to update.

Some of the Garmin's have integrated antennas, ideal for a RHIB. The unit is completely sealed hence waterproof.

Yes I like Garmin units. I Have a GPSMap176C in the car and a 162 on the RHIB. They have the most intuitive user interface on a GPS that I have come across.

Chartplotters on RHIBs are a bit of a toy, our club was donated a set of Blue charts hence the 162. If you want to avoid the expense of a plotter the GPS126 is about the best club RHIB GPS being very easy to use and pretty much bullet proof. A good echo sounder is more useful than a chart plotter for diving and personally I would forgo charts to finance a better sounder. Our branch was also donated a Ratheon sounder head unit - hence the GPSMap162.

HTH

[atty17]

:=We are looking at getting a chart plotter for our new RIB and am looking for recommendations on the different models, such as Color v. Black & White, combined with echo, BlueChart V C-MAP v Navionics charts, brands to avoid.

IMHO:

Get separate GPS and sounder. The combined displays are a little too small to be useful. Also if something breaks you don't lose your two most important instruments at the same time.

if you go for colour gert the t.f.t. screen which is readable in sunlight very easily the garmin 182c i found was very good with internal ariel and waterproof a lowrance 3300c is also a nice unit and at the moment very fairlty priced i agree that a combined plotter sounder could be expensive to replace should the worse happen however thats all down to personal choice and available space on the console

Colour screens display a chart far better than B&W. However, when zoomed in to the sort of scale you need for finding a dive site everything is blue (or white on Blue charts). Also I have yet to see a colour screen which is readable in direct sunlight. The B&W units have much better contrast and I find much easier to read on an open RHIB.

The Garmin Blue charts are very detailed, but expensive. Also the lower end plotters are a bit too slow to update.

Some of the Garmin's have integrated antennas, ideal for a RHIB. The unit is completely sealed hence waterproof.

Yes I like Garmin units. I Have a GPSMap176C in the car and a 162 on the RHIB. They have the most intuitive user interface on a GPS that I have come across.

Chartplotters on RHIBs are a bit of a toy, our club was donated a set of Blue charts hence the 162. If you want to avoid the expense of a plotter the GPS126 is about the best club RHIB GPS being very easy to use and pretty much bullet proof. A good echo sounder is more useful than a chart plotter for diving and personally I would forgo charts to finance a better sounder. Our branch was also donated a Ratheon sounder head unit - hence the GPSMap162.

HTH

[divelandy]

We have settled on the Raymarine 435i color chart plotter (pushing our budger a little) and the lowrance eaco as separate units. Hopefully we will be picking up the boat this weekend and maybe next we'll see if it's worth the money :o)

Thanks for your replies.

Steve