Dec. 23, 2024
What is the best navigation or chart plotter solution for sailboat cruising? Is an iPad with Navionics good enough for bluewater sailing? Are there such things as free charts? What is the best low-cost navigation system?
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from HUAZHONG.
These and other similar questions many ask when beginning to contemplate navigating outside of their local area, are important to answer. I think the answer depends on your needs and sailing type to determine what is right for you.
Let&#;s start by examining the options we have available to us.
An iPad or Android tablet with Navionics is perhaps the easiest solution that is ready to go out of the box. It is really good and paired with a cell /wifi-enabled tablet surprisingly accurate. A bonus is the sonar charts, which we really like and have found to be very helpful in less well-charted areas. We cruised for almost a month in Lake Michigan, North Channel, Georgian Bay, and Lake St. Claire with just that. But, there are some issues, the biggest of which is rain or spray. Most tablets combined with Navionics, or other apps, become worthless when wet, too hot, or too cold. This is generally when you need that nav data most, critical conditions in bad visibility.
Budget: $
Pros:
Easy Setup
Easy to Use
Lower Cost Charts
Cons:
Extreme Conditions Loss of Function
No Weather Routing
Not quite as plug and play, but also another cheap option. If you happen to have an old laptop lying around your house, this is just about as close to free as you can get. OpenCPN is a really good open-source software that has been developed over many years by real sailors. It can be downloaded online and will run on most laptops. Charts for most areas can also be downloaded for free. It does take a small learning curve, and some of the charts may not be as full-featured of commercial offerings. We use OpenCPN as our backup PC-based nav/chart program aboard s/v Sweet Ruca.
Budget: $
Pros:
Free to Download
Real Sailor Dev Community
Customizable & Expandable
Cons:
Higher learning curve (compared to Navionics/iPad)
Still need on deck display solution
The Garmin GPSMap 72 or 78 is the tried and true standard here. There are other similar models from other manufacturers. You can pick one of these up on eBay for less than a case of beer! Although the screen is microscopic by today&#;s standards, this unit is almost bulletproof. It usually comes preloaded with charts for your cruising area. It can slosh around in the bilge and still work on command. I&#;ve sailed thousands of miles with one of these bashing around the cockpit floor, and still keep one as a ditch bag backup.
Budget: $ &#; $$
Pros:
Usable in All Weather Conditions
Fast Learning Curves
Durable
Cons:
Small Screen
Perhaps the most expensive option, but also most reliable when the conditions get snotty. Most chart plotters (Multi-Function Displays or MFDs) by the major instrument manufacturers are pretty much the same these days. Charts are usually more expensive to purchase for these because the manufacturers make everything proprietary. They do work very well though for real-time sailing navigation, especially when combined with radar and a full instrument package.
Budget: $$
Pros:
Reliability
Usability in Extreme Conditions
Instrument / Radar Interfaces
Cons:
Expensive and Require Installation
No Weather Routing
This is what the big boys use, usually in conjunction with MFDs and instrument/radar packages. We use Expedition and C-Map charts aboard Sweet Ruca as our primary navigation source. This gives us the ability to log everything in one place. It also allows us to use our boats&#; polar speeds in conjunction with weather and current information to choose the best sailing routes. This has a high learning curve, but when making multiple week passages, it can cut days off your route and allow you to dodge serious weather. Data is relayed on deck via an iPad running remote desktop and the system is integrated with our MFDs and instrument displays. If you want to up your sailing game or simply want to have the same capabilities as the sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race and Vendee Globe do, this is it.
Budget: $$$
Pros:
Weather Routing
Commercial Support & Training
Best Capability
Cons:
Highest Cost
Learning Curve
There are quite a few that make use of RPi, mini PCs, etc, and combine them with waterproof touch screens. One can build a pretty capable navigation system using DIY parts. Most government charts can be downloaded for free on the web. Combine these things with some open-source software and you can build your own killer app. For us, although it would be really fun to explore this route, there are too many other boat projects to allow time for this.
Want more information on marine navigational aids manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.
Budget: $-$$$
Pros:
Budget Flexibility
Custom Features
Ultimate Freedom
Cons:
Time, no plug and play
Highest learning curve
So what is the best navigation option for you and your boat?
The best thing to start with and build upon is perhaps a small handheld GPS with charting ability such as the Garmin GPSMap78.
If you are a sunny day sailor and don&#;t venture out of cell range, apps such as Navionics on iPad or Android are probably your best bet. If you venture further from land or spend more than a day at a time at sea, a combination of at least two methods provides some redundancy.
If you expect bad weather or cruise in areas of the Northern USA, at least one built-in chart plotter with buttons from a well-regarded manufacturer such as Raymarine, B&G/Simrad, or Garmin would be recommended.
If you are venturing into new anchorages or crossing oceans, a PC-based navigation option, in combination with apps and chart plotter/radar/ais/instruments, allows for the best passage planning, redundancy, and real-time sailing data like wind, depth, and current.
If you intend to race at all, or really enjoy performance sailing, Expedition Navigation Software is where it is at!
If you have a low budget, you can put together a safe, capable, and redundant navigation system for a reasonable cost via DIY. Just don&#;t expect all of the bells and whistles, and realize it may have its limits in bad weather or if you are less technically apt.
If your budget can afford it, or you are venturing into areas where safety is paramount, get the best system you can.
If you are really cheap and an old salty dog, there are always the tried and true paper charts, ruler, dividers, and sextant! Paper charts and books actually get pretty costly though if you venture far and wide. We do recommend having some type of redundancy wherever you go, but in our opinion, paper charts are a little dated.
For any system, don&#;t skimp on training time. Read the manual, get screen time, and/or take the training classes. Most navigation failures occur due to user error, it is important to have a good understanding of your equipment before you set sail.
See you on the water!
Selecting a marine GPS system suitable for your own boat involves some research into the capabilities of the various systems available. There are a number of manufacturers, and each GPS unit may have some features that are different from others. You may find that some of the units have an electronic charting display, and some can be interfaced with your boat radar, which will show you not only your destination, but also a visual display of the progress you have made. Other GPS receivers have the capability to link to your fish finder or autopilot. The boating GPS system you select will depend on how you want to use it.
Marine GPS systems are handy to use on a boat, rather than relying on maps, which can be cumbersome out on the water. Boating GPS units are related to those you can use in your car, and in fact, some waterproof hand-held GPS units can be used in an automobile or on a boat. In either setting, GPS devices will provide a sound way for you to easily determine your exact location.
Marine GPS Systems Features
Before you select a GPS system for your boat, find out what you need in a unit. If you travel between United States ports, or into other countries&#; ports, the system you need will be much different than a boater who only navigates on local lakes, and may just be trying to find the nearest campground.
You will also want to ask yourself who will be doing the most programming of the unit. The more complex units are more suitable for experienced mariners, and if you&#;re a pleasure boater, those units may not only be out of your price range, but they will probably also have features on them that you don&#;t need. You should select a unit that has only the features that you want and need.
One feature that is commonly found on marine GPS systems is a navigate-to-point feature. The display of the &#;path&#; you follow will be included on each unit. You may also be able to use your navigate-to-point features to follow a track already saved in your unit memory. This is especially handy if you are cruising in reduced visibility and can&#;t see familiar landmarks or sea markings.
Another helpful feature is called &#;MOB&#; which means &#;man overboard,&#; and this will let you mark the position of the incident by touching one button.
Each marine GPS unit should provide you with an accurate reading of your speed, the distance and time to your destination, and a course that is easy to read. Many units also have digital compasses on them.
Advanced GPS Features
Some of the more complex marine GPS units have a chart plotter display, which basically tells you where you are currently located. High-end recreational and commercial boat GPS navigation systems include satellite imagery, tide information and auto-guidance for the GPS-autopilot link up.
Some GPS systems even include customized alarms that can be linked to your radar, which will advise you when you are coming to a turn, or when another boat is entering your route on the water. In the latter case, you would need to contact the other driver by radio. You can use GPS devices systems for customized charts, which offer you more geospatial information that isn&#;t normally displayed.
Check to see how easy your prospective GPS unit is to program, including points of navigation. How easy is it to use the functions on the unit? One touch programming is not usually available for every function, but your GPS unit should be easy to program, especially since you may encounter poor weather conditions while you&#;re out on the water.
Boat GPS Size and Display
The size of the GPS unit you select will affect the display size, and may also limit the areas on your boat where it can be installed. The characteristics of the display, contrast, and brightness are essential for you to be able to easily see important navigational information. The value of the unit to you is not very good if you can&#;t easily read the display.
The ease of installation of your GPS system, and whether it can be interfaced with other marine electronics or not, is important to consider, if your boat has radar, a single band radio receiver or an autopilot function. This equipment should all have the capability to be linked to your marine GPS unit, to make your boating experience more enjoyable.
Source: www.boats-florida.com
Contact us to discuss your requirements of marine navigational aids company. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )