A marine GPS chartplotter is essential for boating navigation, providing accurate positioning and detailed mapping to ensure safe and efficient travel. When choosing a chartplotter, you need to consider various key features such as screen size, resolution, mapping options, and connectivity. This article aims to guide you through these features and help you select the best chartplotter for your specific boating needs.
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Marine GPS chartplotters come in two primary types: Multifunction Displays (MFDs) and standalone units.
These devices integrate various functions, including GPS navigation, fish finding capabilities, radar, and more. They are ideal for those who need a comprehensive navigation solution.
These are dedicated GPS devices focusing solely on navigation without additional features like sonar or radar. They cater to users needing a straightforward navigational tool without the extra functionalities.
Depending on your specific boating activities, different types of chartplotters may be more suitable:
Screen size plays a crucial role in navigation ease. Larger screens offer better visibility, allowing you to see more map details at a glance, which is essential when plotting routes or identifying hazards.
A high-resolution display enhances clarity and readability, especially in bright conditions. This ensures you can easily read the chartplotter without straining your eyes, even under direct sunlight.
When choosing the optimal screen size based on boat type:
Selecting the right screen size and resolution combination ensures you have a reliable navigation tool suited to your boating needs.
Marine GPS chartplotters come preloaded with a variety of mapping options, including coastal maps that detail shorelines, ports, and navigational aids. Popular services like Navionics and C-MAP offer comprehensive cartography to enhance your boating experience.
One standout feature is Auto Guidance+, which helps you plot the safest and most efficient routes by analyzing navigation data. While these technologies significantly aid navigation, it's crucial to maintain safe practices, such as keeping an eye on weather conditions and manually verifying your course against real-world landmarks. This ensures technology complements your navigational skills effectively.
Sonar technology in marine GPS chartplotters is changing the way anglers find fish. By sending out sound waves and analyzing the echoes that come back, these devices can create detailed images of what's underwater.
Wi-Fi connectivity is crucial for ensuring your marine GPS chartplotter remains up-to-date with the latest maps and software updates. It also facilitates seamless data sharing with other devices, such as smartphones and tablets, enhancing the overall boating experience.
NMEA connectivity is another vital feature for modern chartplotters. This standard allows integration with various onboard electronics, including autopilots and AIS (Automatic Identification Systems). The benefits include:
The marine environment is notoriously harsh on electronics. Saltwater, high humidity, and constant exposure to the elements can severely impact the longevity of your equipment. For this reason, marine GPS chartplotters must be built with durability.
Waterproof ratings (IPX0-8) are crucial indicators of how well a chartplotter can withstand water exposure. For instance:
High-quality materials used in construction, such as corrosion-resistant metals and UV-protected plastics, also contribute to the durability of your device. Choosing a chartplotter that meets these standards ensures reliable performance even in challenging conditions.
A user-friendly interface is critical when operating a marine GPS chartplotter on the water. Intuitive controls ensure quick and easy navigation through menus, reducing the time spent fiddling with settings and increasing focus on boating activities.
These elements collectively enhance the boating experience, ensuring ease of use and efficiency.
Enhancing safety on the water is essential. Distress signal capabilities in marine GPS chartplotters can be a lifesaver. Look for units that integrate Digital Selective Calling (DSC), allowing you to send distress calls with your exact location. Man Overboard (MOB) functions are also crucial, enabling quick marking of a dropped person's position for fast retrieval.
Other essential additional features include:
These enhancements not only bolster safety but also elevate the overall boating experience.
Choosing a marine GPS chartplotter from established brands provides quality assurance and peace of mind.
Investing in a reputable brand ensures you receive a product backed by industry expertise and dedicated support.
The main difference between GPS (Global Positioning System) and a chartplotter lies in their functionality and purpose in navigation:
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- A GPS is a satellite-based system that provides location data (latitude, longitude, speed, etc.) to determine your position anywhere on Earth.
- GPS devices display your position on a basic map or give coordinates without detailed navigation charts.
- It is primarily used for location tracking and can be integrated into various devices like phones, cars, and boats.
- A chartplotter is a navigation tool used mainly in marine environments that combines GPS data with nautical charts to provide a detailed view of the boat's position relative to surrounding waters.
- It shows navigational information such as water depths, coastlines, buoys, and other maritime features, making it ideal for plotting courses on water.
- Chartplotters are more specialized for marine navigation, helping with route planning and ensuring safe passage in complex waterways.
In summary, a GPS gives raw positional data, while a chartplotter combines that data with detailed maps, designed specifically for marine navigation.
The U.S. Coast Guard stresses the importance of following the guidelines provided by them to promote boating safety. Those guidelines advise boaters on how to be prepared and ready for almost anything on the water by taking the guess work out of boating safety; and among other things has determined what is considered required boating safety equipment and navigational aids.
Marine navigational aids would consist of maps and charts, knowing the 'Rules of the Road', a two-way communication system, and a Global Positioning System.
It would be hard to find a person who is not familiar with what a 'GPS' is and what they are used for. Many people have one in their automobiles and the number of those people with GPS for boats is growing.
Is it a good idea to have a GPS for boats, as part of the marine navigational aids on board your boat? Sure it is ' but, maybe not as a stand-alone all in one navigational aid.
As a boater, you could use a regular GPS for your boat, whether it is a hand held or stationary mounted model. Since both the regular GPS and the GPS for boats will tell you where on earth you are and both will either have maps already downloaded or for a small fee, you can get maps downloaded from the Internet, either one would work in conjunction with the charts and maps.
But, when deciding which is best for you there are a few things you would want to keep in mind. Marine GPS for boats do have a few or a lot of other tricks designed for boaters, depending on the amount of money you want to spend, such as:
So, depending on the bells and whistles you require will determine the cost of the gadget. Any way you go, the GPS will be a good addition to your navigational aids.
It is said that maps and charts are the most important part of any navigational aids. Sailors have been exploring this world with the aid of maps and charts for centuries ' that has not changed.
Maps and charts are very different from one another. Charts show what is beneath the surface of the water, what cannot be seen just by looking, but is necessary to know for safe and effective navigation, while maps only show the surface, and cannot be used to plot your course. There are too many things that weather and man has had effects on and maps are stagnate, charts are not. Charts and maps can be purchased online.
The next part of your Marine Navigational Aids is knowing the 'Rules of the Road,' which is essential in boat navigation. The USCG states 'Aids to Navigation Are the Waterways' Road Signs.' Safely driving a car would be nearly impossible if you did not know street signs, stop signs, barriers, detours and even stop lights.
The USCG has a pamphlet ' U.S. Aids To Navigation System ' which they recommend be printed and kept on board as part of the navigational aids.
It is important to know the basics at least, and the more you know, the safer you, your family, and your boat will remain. You will learn what to do when you have to interact with other boats and how to read the charts ' symbols and colors ' which you will encounter on the water.
For instance, when in a channel, and you are heading to shore with open water behind you, make sure the red colors and lights remain on your starboard side (right side) and when heading out to open waters, the green colors and lights remain on your starboard side; some boaters use the '3R Rule' which is 'Red, Right, Returning.'
When coming up to another boat, head to head, each would preferably pass port to port side with one short horn blast to alert your intent, and one short blast for agreement. If it is necessary to pass starboard, then two short horn blasts from both boats.
It is always the preference to pass on the port side with one short blast.
It is also imperative to learn the colors and images for warnings. Each color and design is there to give warning that for whatever reason, a boat is not allowed or permitted in an area.
Taking these extra steps, learning the 'Rules of the Road,' is only part of the Marine Navigational Aids.
It is also recommended to have a two-way communication system of some sort on board. We all know that cell phones do not go every where and often lose their connectivity when out on the water.
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