There are a number of factors that a potential purchaser will want to consider when deciding which chartplotter will suit him best. Generally speaking, the bigger the screen the better, when it comes to maintaining awareness of your surroundings on any scale. However in practise the decision tends to be a trade-off between available budget and a number of additional factors:
Space
the first consideration will be where the plotter is to be mounted. Most plotters can be either flush mounted into a dashboard or bulkhead, or mounted on a bracket. The latter option can allow the user to have a larger unit in a small boat where the dash does not have the necessary room, but for those who wish to have the security and convenience of a flush-mounted chartplotter then choosing the right casing size for the position is the first priority. Most quoted screen sizes refer to the diagonal distance across the screen.
Cartography
– most plotters will be designed to work with just one or two of the various brands of electronic charting cards. Most are highly reputable but each package comes with slightly different attributes and features. The first time buyer should look at them all, either online or at a dealer, and decide with which format he is most comfortable, and which has the level of detail that he requires for his type of boating.
Screen quality
– the display resolution, generally given in pixels, indicates the extent to which a screen can display fine detail. The higher the total number (width x height) the better. With other terminology an SVGA monitor is generally superior to a VGA monitor in terms of viewing quality, and a TFT screen is a widely used type of LCD flat-screen monitor. Sunlight viewability is another factor that should be considered on units that will be used in conditions of direct sunlight.
Touch screen
or conventional buttons – this is really a matter of personal preference. Touch screen controls do reinforce the structural integrity of a unit, yet many people still prefer the combination of buttons, scroll wheels and on-screen menus to achieve the same multi-option effect. On the latter, back-lit buttons will aid operation of the unit after dark.
Antenna
- most modern chartplotters now have internal antennae, which are more convenient than having to fit an external aerial together with cabling. However most plotters that are mounted within the boat itself will need an external antenna for the best reception.
Waterproofing
– all good models should be waterproof to at least IPX7 (immersion in 1 metre of water for at least 30 minutes). This is vital for units mounted in a cockpit or any other exposed position.
Functionality
– this is again very much a case of personal preference, and functionality will generally be closely linked to the capabilities of the cartographic package that is selected. Buyers should however ensure that a unit has enough waypoint and route storage capacity for their needs, and a split screen option and a one-touch man overboard feature as also desirable. Thereafter the choice is theirs.
Connectivity
– those who may wish to integrate their chartplotter into a broader navigation network should select a unit that is NMEA2000 compatible. Most larger units are these days, enabling them to function as multifunction displays, but some basic models may be just NMEA0183 compatible. This allows them to connect to one other piece of electronic equipment such as a DSC VHF radio, which will then enable a Lat / Lon position to be automatically transmitted along with a one-touch distress signal.
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