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Post by johannes on Feb 5, 2019 11:01:32 GMT
Our boat came with a huge Garmin GPSMap 5012. I hate it, for several reasons:
- No internal GPS receiver, needs an external antenna/receiver - Draws a lot of power - Chart rendering is exceptionally slow. When sailing in the Swedish archipelago, you have to zoom in and out all the time. It can literally take more than 30 seconds to re-render the screen when you change the scale - I like to keep north up when navigating, and then you can only have the boat position centered. That means that at least half the screen is not used, since I am not interested in seeing the chart behind me - It weighs a ton - Very poor screen resolution (compared to a tablet)
New chartplotters are better, but not great. The difference in user experience between smartphone/tablets and chartplotters have grown to the point that I question the point of having a dedicated chartplotter at all. There are still a few advantages with chartplotters: brighter screen, waterproof, and direct integration with other instruments. On the other hand, a new iPad Pro has 600 nits of brightness, up from 450 nits in previous generations. You can get a very nice waterproof casing for it. I am not really that interested in instrument integration since all instruments have their own displays anyway.
What do you use for navigation?
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Post by Bora on Feb 5, 2019 14:17:33 GMT
What network do you have onboard? Is it NMEA 0183 or 2000? Either way it's pretty straight forward to put a Yacht Devices YDWG on the network and have all the data fed to your iPad. Then you can use apps like Navionics and iNavx to view all your data. I've done this on both my current and previous boats, more just to have access to the info on my phone or iPad when i'm down below, but it would certainly work as a main nav system. I've got fitted chartplotters but unless i'm at the wheel i'll be checking things on the Navionics app from my phone or ipad. www.yachtingworld.com/ipad/ipad-navigation-apps-tested-61366
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Post by johannes on Feb 5, 2019 15:08:31 GMT
It's a mix but the oldest stuff is on NEMA 0183 I think. Thanks for the tip!
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Post by so32foot on Feb 5, 2019 15:28:59 GMT
I use Navionics on my Android tablet. The chart of Sweden is very detailed and charts for tablet are relatively cheap.
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Post by ForGrinsToo on Feb 5, 2019 18:44:48 GMT
We are using iNavX on an iPad Mini 4 as the only chartplotter on board. The internal GPS is a backup. A Brookhouse iMux pulls NEMA0183 (fixed GPS, VHF/AIS receiver) and SeaTalk for display on the iPad. We have an older Mini 2 as backup, and a waterproof case. We only take the iPad to the helm when navigating narrow passages, and secure it with a bungee cord.
Geoff
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Post by jy51 on Feb 5, 2019 19:32:13 GMT
My previous boat was commissioned in 2006 and had Raymarine E series chart plotters with navionics charts, at the time cutting edge technology!
My new boat is being commissioned this week and I have been down to the boatyard to have a look at her, she has two Raymarine Axiom Pro’s they don’t call them chart plotters anymore, they are multi function displays and operate similar to an iPad with touch control and apps to control every single navigation instrument, they can also control music and video cameras! Compared to my old E's they are ultra fast at refreshing and opening files.
I believe they connect to the internet and have wifi and bluetooth connections. I can imaging passing a night-watch tucked up under the spray-hood with the boat sailing herself on autopilot while I watch everything including the digital radar on my iPad or iPhone from the comfort of my sleeping bag while tweaking the helm with my bluetooth autopilot remote. How times change!
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Post by johannes on Feb 6, 2019 8:55:11 GMT
Raymarine Axiom Pro seems to be a great option, but the 12 inch version is almost 5000 euro. When commissioning a new 45+ foot yacht OK, but as a replacement on an older yacht, a bit steep! Especially when you can get a 12.9 inch Ipad for 1/4 of the price.
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Post by jy51 on Feb 6, 2019 9:40:42 GMT
Raymarine Axiom Pro seems to be a great option, but the 12 inch version is almost 5000 euro. When commissioning a new 45+ foot yacht OK, but as a replacement on an older yacht, a bit steep! Especially when you can get a 12.9 inch Ipad for 1/4 of the price. Johannes I appreciate what you are saying but if you shop around I'm sure there are some very good discounts available, especially in the UK where marine electronic sales are very competitive. But it's not fair to compare an iPad with an installed purpose built system. Considering the environment on board a boat an installed system is far more reliable. However, I am aware that many people use these devices with build in GPS and electronic charts to navigate by. Their advantage, as I mentioned before is their ability to link through bluetooth or wifi and act as a portable, take anywhere remote.
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Post by hoppy on Feb 6, 2019 11:44:19 GMT
Raymarine Axiom Pro seems to be a great option, but the 12 inch version is almost 5000 euro. When commissioning a new 45+ foot yacht OK, but as a replacement on an older yacht, a bit steep! Especially when you can get a 12.9 inch Ipad for 1/4 of the price. An Ipad seems like a nice idea but personally I think they only useful as a backup. I had a SO40 with two RM e7's. One at the helm (at first under the table and then by the starboard helm) and one at the nav table. Never felt the need for anything bigger. For a SO37, I'd get a 7 inch display at the helm and use an Ipad to repeat the display in the cabin. Personally I'd get a B&G Zeus or Vulcan 7 inch.
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Post by johannes on Feb 6, 2019 11:57:01 GMT
I was actually considering a B&G 7 inch, seems to be relatively good value for money. A 7-inch fixed device for quick position reference, an Ipad for routing, and laminated paper charts for overview might be the best compromise.
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Post by Bora on Feb 6, 2019 12:08:39 GMT
I've got the B&G Zeus 2 on my 469 and they work well.
Have you looked at eBay? When i had my SO37 I upgraded the old Raymarina RC425(?) for an ES97 which I got for half the price, just older stock and it had been opened. Worked a treat though.
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Post by ianpowolny on Feb 6, 2019 14:16:45 GMT
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Post by johannes on Feb 6, 2019 14:29:28 GMT
Thanks, but it is the same generation as the Garmin I have. I would prefer newer technology.
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Post by puravida35 on Feb 6, 2019 14:29:56 GMT
I would also recommend a B&G Vulcan 7. A lot of feature/functionality for the price. It has built in WiFi so you can use the Simrad Link app on iPad or iPhone to not only repeat the Vulcan display on your device, but also operate the Vulcan remotely. The Link App can also be used to backup/restore your waypoint, routes and settings to your device.
With the built in WiFi, apps like iNavX, iSailor, etc... can also access the NMEA data collected by the Vulcan. No need to add something like Yacht Devices YDWG.
Having both an MFD and an iPad chart app gives you the ability to have independent chart sources on each (e.g. Navionics on one, Transas, Insight or NOAA on the other) for redundancy purposes and for a different virew your sailing area.
Raymarine may well have devices comparable to the Vulcan. In any case, I prefer having a dedicated MFD along with a portable option.
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Post by TINA on Feb 6, 2019 15:30:22 GMT
I had active AIS and Raymarine's autopilot. The plotter was an old A60 from Raymarine. All data incl. AIS I mirrored over a miniplex-2 WI on my ipad.
I replaced the A60 with an AXIOM9pro. This mirrors the data not only on the ipad but can also be controlled by the ipad. The Miniplex is no longer necessary.
I built the plotter into the protected interior of the navigation. For the ipad I have a waterproof cover and a clamp mount on the helmstand. This is a comfortable, secure and theft-proof solution.
But you should consider the not insignificant power consumption of the ipad and possibly plan a permanent (waterproof) power supply.
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Post by Bora on Feb 6, 2019 15:35:40 GMT
I would also recommend a B&G Vulcan 7. A lot of feature/functionality for the price. It has built in WiFi so you can use the Simrad Link app on iPad or iPhone to not only repeat the Vulcan display on your device, but also operate the Vulcan remotely. The Link App can also be used to backup/restore your waypoint, routes and settings to your device. With the built in WiFi, apps like iNavX, iSailor, etc... can also access the NMEA data collected by the Vulcan. No need to add something like Yacht Devices YDWG. Having both an MFD and an iPad chart app gives you the ability to have independent chart sources on each (e.g. Navionics on one, Transas, Insight or NOAA on the other) for redundancy purposes and for a different virew your sailing area. Raymarine may well have devices comparable to the Vulcan. In any case, I prefer having a dedicated MFD along with a portable option. Benefit of the YDWG is that you don't need to have the plotters on to view the data if you're at anchor/marina, saves a bit of power (you will of course need the other nav insturments powered up). I like to be able to wake up and have a quick check on the phone if the wind is howling to see the actual wind speed/direction. I'm replacing my YDWG with the Digital Yacht 4G Connect and an iKommunicate, much pricier but more features/versatile.
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Post by rob57 on Feb 6, 2019 16:52:51 GMT
In 2017 I couldn't obtain the Navionics card for central Med even though we were in Sardinia and so loaded up the app on my phone for a few quid (maybe £10?) and we sailed quite happily on that until the card arrived for the chart plotter.
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Post by puravida35 on Feb 6, 2019 18:14:15 GMT
Good point about the power usage, but if you dim the MFD display at night you cut consumption way down. The Vulcan (and others) also has a standby mode, but not sure if that is just for display functions or if it shuts down the WiFi. That being said, the WiFi funtion is a power drain but I would assume a YDWG also consumes a comparable amount of power.
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Post by vasko on Feb 7, 2019 8:09:47 GMT
I do use Navionics on IPad and Iphone all the time but when at the cockpit I prefer a proper chart plotter...
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Post by cayoloco on Feb 7, 2019 18:18:47 GMT
Just this year I replaced my 2005 Ray Marine C80 with an Axiom Pro specifically so that I could upgrade my satellite weather. The SR150 from Ray Marine only communicates in NMEA 2000, so I upgraded the Chart Plotter and Radar as well. Now the system is great. I still have the original NMEA 183 AIS, Wind, and auto helm connected on the 183 backbone with a bridge converter though. For the most part, they talk to each other. But for full functionality of the wind instruments, they all have to be upgraded to NMEA 2000. That's for another day. What I do like is that the Axiom broadcast a WiFi signal that I pick up down below so I can use my iPad as a repeater. Also the Chirp Radar is WiFi so no huge cables between the nav station and the radar; only a power cable to the dome. I also have NavIx on the iPad just incase something happens. All in all, the Ray Marine Axiom Pro was a plug and play upgrade.
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