Go Back   Cruiser Log World Cruising & Sailing Forums > Cruising Forums > The Bosun's Locker > Power & Electronics
Cruiser Wiki Click Here to Login

Join Cruiser Log Today

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-12-2007, 01:29 AM   #1
Ensign
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 18
Default

G'day folks, I'm looking at buying either a handheld GPS and using charts or a small plotter. The problem with the plotter (Navman 5380) is that it is a small screen. I have seen the same charts on a laptop and have been spoilt. I don't have a laptop nor the room for one. My cruising will be coastal near Brisbane Queensland. I am learning to navigate using traditional methods as well. So choices are handheld with paper charts or the smaller plotter option. I would appreciate any info and opinions.

Good sailing folks
__________________

__________________
triton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2007, 01:41 AM   #2
Admiral
 
Auzzee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Home Port: Darwin
Vessel Name: Sandettie
Posts: 1,917
Default

Hi Triton,

There is some feedback available on this forum regarding the subject. See 'search' at the top right side of this page, click on it and type in 'chartplotter'. On a small craft, the use of a handheld GPS to provide lat/long, transferred to the chart is an excellent way to get around Moreton Bay. You will need to be accurate in transposing the data, but otherwise, no problem. I think a small, cheap GPS is preferable to a plotter with a mini screen.

Cheers

David.
__________________

__________________
"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!


Auzzee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2007, 02:53 AM   #3
Moderator
 
redbopeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Home Port: Washington DC
Vessel Name: SV Mahdee
Posts: 3,236
Default

We have two GPS--one is hooked up to a laptop and we can follow our progress on the screen. Its fun the first time you use it. The other is an old, old (did I say old?) raytheon GPS that only gives us lat/long. Big ol' thing and all you get is lat/long position. Believe it or not, we use the old one all the time because we're used to having the chart out in the cockpit and using paper charts. I just stick my head in the companionway, get the lat/long and then go back to the paper chart. The only time we actually use the laptop one is when I feel like "playing" with something. And, at night I set it up so I can check it when I wake up thinking that the anchor has dragged (one of the many things I can have panic attacks about) and its hard for me to check bearings with the binoculars. Hubby just uses the binos.

Being familiar with paper charts and dead reckoning is an essential skill to have. I wouldn't "spoil" myself with a chartplotter until using the paper charts and plotting was really second nature. I know that technology is great, but I believe dead reckoning should be something that is so ingrained that the GPS just gives you the confidence to keep doing what you're doing.
__________________
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

What we're doing - The sailing life aboard and the Schooner Chandlery.

redbopeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2007, 11:20 AM   #4
Admiral
 
JeanneP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,098
Default

I heartily agree with redbopeep! We have a small chartplotter on Watermelon, and it just doesn't offer the range or information you need to safely cruise, and I just don't use it except to take off Lat/Long. Best example of what can happen is the disastrous grounding of Flying Pig. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFly...og/message/136

Lots of things went wrong on their first passage, but having to work so hard to get a good idea of what was ahead was probably the biggest problem.

Even though I have our charts and a GPS on my laptop computer, I still use paper charts, and consider them the easiest and most accurate way to have a good idea of all that is around the boat, and what the boat is heading for, always available "at a glance."

In order to keep from destroying our charts with multiple rhumb lines and position notations, we mounted a clear vinyl sheet on the chart table under which we laid the chart. We used dry erase china markers to record our positions onto the vinyl. Colored markers could be used to highlight future dangers this way, as well. Replotting our course was easier and more informative this way, and it was easier to see if there were going to be any problems on any person's watch.
__________________
In 1986 we went cruising for a few years. After 20 years and 50+ countries and several oceans, we are STILL "cruising for a few years".

SY WATERMELON |
MV WATERMELON (New) | Cruiser's Dictionary, free ebook

= Cruiser's Dictionary, North America,
JeanneP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2007, 10:02 PM   #5
Ensign
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 18
Default

Thanks for your help guys. I think I will stay with the hand held GPS and practise my skills.
__________________
triton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2007, 11:33 PM   #6
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 58
Default

Just to add my 2c worth:

GPS is one of the things on a boat that I think is worth having backup for. Few of us are sufficiently skilled to be 100% confortable navigating by more traditional methods, so in the (unlikely) event that our primary GPS fails, it is, in my opinion, worth having a secon independent unit. For me, that means a chartplotter installed at my nav station (which, incidentally is connected to a GPS repeater dispay on deck) and a small hand-held GPS and a spare set of batteries in a sealed bag, in case of failure of the plotter.

Some purists tend to denigrate reliance on modern gagetry, but, frankly, why not take advantage of the available technology, especially since it is not particularly expensive these days?
__________________
You what?
Weyalan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2007, 12:22 AM   #7
Ensign
 
Therapy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 39
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by triton View Post
G'day folks, I'm looking at buying either a handheld GPS and using charts or a small plotter. The problem with the plotter (Navman 5380) is that it is a small screen. I have seen the same charts on a laptop and have been spoilt. I don't have a laptop nor the room for one. My cruising will be coastal near Brisbane Queensland. I am learning to navigate using traditional methods as well. So choices are handheld with paper charts or the smaller plotter option. I would appreciate any info and opinions.

Good sailing folks
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=161&pID=351#

__________________
Therapy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2007, 09:14 PM   #8
Ensign
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Default

Greetings Triton, An intermediate way of using GPS with traditional paper chart navigation, yet gaining the convenience of plotter 'position location', would be to consider use of a Yeoman Plotter. Cheers, Ron
__________________
santeana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2007, 09:03 AM   #9
Ensign
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 18
Default

Thanks everyone for your input. I will probably go down the handheld route with paper charts. I have not forgotten the plotter just a little strapped for cash at present. However I won't let that stop me from getting out there and enjoying the elements. Again thanks.
__________________
triton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2007, 12:15 PM   #10
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Default

I like the combination of a compact chartplotter (with a screen of five inches or more) for close-in work and small scale charts for planning and tracking a passage. These compact chartplotters are more expensive that handhelds, but are still pretty affordable.

Being brought up on paper charts I still find it easier to orient myself on paper than on a screen.

The back up to these are a handheld GPS--and then a dusty sextant.

Spencer

Nottoway

Almerimar, Spain
__________________
Spencer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2007, 01:59 PM   #11
Admiral
 
Nausikaa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,619
Default

I have said it before and I wil say it again, many mistakes are made in plotting positions on charts. It does not matter if it is an astronomical position line passing through a calculated position, a D.R., an E.P. or a position derived by electronic means. By using a plotter one eliminates the possible error in committing a position to a paper chart. I would therefore always advocate using a plotter backed up with a paper chart. This back up is necessary as errors have been found on digial charts and in case the plotter goes south.

An alternative to the above, which I use on NAUSIKAA, is a GPS linked to a computer. I use digital British Admiralty rastar charts as I am familiar with the format which is the same as BA paper charts and they are of the best quality. Unfortunately they are also expensive. I have paper charts as a back up.

Aye

Stephen
__________________
Yacht NAUSIKAA | Call Sign: 2AJH2




WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME?

www.nausikaa.org.uk

= Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania
Nausikaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 03:39 AM   #12
Ensign
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 10
Send a message via MSN to johnnyonspot
Default

The unit pictured above has a MSRP of like $482, but can be found for $325 new by using froogle.com, and even cheaper on ebay, fyi.
__________________
Johnny Neophyte
johnnyonspot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-09-2007, 02:28 PM   #13
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 48
Default

Hi

I had similar concerns. I found that paper charts are much faster to use and more comfortable for me then laptop and even more then tiny chartplotter.

From my experience, electricity fails during bad weather, when carefull navigation is even more important then usual. Working on paper chart one have always dead reckoning as a powerless backup and in emergency one can take a map on the liferaft.

I have Garmin eTrex GPS which cost $80. It gives you position, speed, course, bearing and distance to the waypoint its waterproof and runs on AA batteries. I don't need enything else. As a backup I have Davis Mark-15 sextant for $130 and handbearing compass. All this is less then $250 but requires paper charts and tables.

For me it's the optimum set. The only drawback is the cost of the charts.

Piotrek
__________________

__________________
Piotrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
chartplotter, gps


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Garmin Chartplotter Mav Power & Electronics 1 05-21-2012 07:11 AM
Budget Setup - Navigation Gps / Chartplotter / Notebook newbiesailor General Cruising Forum 24 01-08-2012 12:33 AM
Challenge To The Gps MMNETSEA Power & Electronics 6 06-10-2011 01:47 PM
Gps triton General Cruising Forum 4 05-13-2007 06:38 AM

Our Communities

Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.

» More about our Communities

Automotive Communities

Our Automotive communities encompass many different makes and models. From U.S. domestics to European Saloons.

» More about our Automotive Communities

RV & Travel Trailer Communities

Our RV & Travel Trailer sites encompasses virtually all types of Recreational Vehicles, from brand-specific to general RV communities.

» More about our RV Communities

Marine Communities

Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.

» More about our Marine Communities


All times are GMT. The time now is 04:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
×