$500 to $600 chartplotter?

[tommays]

The lowrance is 2000 and 0183 depending on model

[tomperanteau]

When I look at these handheld GPS units, I see everything my android phone has and less.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by tomperanteau

When I look at these handheld GPS units, I see everything my android phone has and less.

My guess is you aren't looking very closely.

It's not IPX7 waterproof, nor does it float, for starters. I'd almost be willing to bet the value of the thing it won't take the knocks a dedicated hand-held GPS/chartplotter will. i know it won't hold all the charts that some of them will. Does it have an axis-independent compass in it?

I'd hate to lose an expensive, hand-held GPS/chartplotter over the side, but my PHONE?!?! My phone goes down below when I get on board and never gets outside the cockpit coaming--and usually not even that far when we're under sail.

Plus: Your average dedicated GPS/chartplotter isn't as exploitable as it turns out many of the new "smart" phones are.

No thanks. I'll take the purpose-built device for this job, thankyouverymuch.

Jim

[bljones]

Back in the day,the only way to make a telephone call from your boat was by ship-to-shore radio. it was cumbersome, and inadequate.
if your radio made a lousy phone why do you think your phone will be an adequate nav device.

Can you mount your ipad/phone at the helm?
No.
is it waterproof? no.
Is it daylight readable?
No.

i'm sorry, to all of you who have drunk the apple kool-aid, just because the case is white, doesn't mean it is marine grade.

[tomperanteau]

I should know better than to post a response this close to the cocktail hour...

[BarryL]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

What do I need to talk to the DSC on my VHF? Is it NMEA2000?

Hi Mark,

The the best of my knowledge, EVERY plotter that supports NMEA 2000 also supports NMEA 0183. The opposite is not true.

The only reason to want NMEA 2000 is if you plan on receiving information from many instruments. For example, you want your plotter to receive information from wind, depth, speed through water, AIS, autopilot, etc. In that case, NMEA makes the connections much simpler.

If all you want is DSC out / in, then NMEA 0183 is OK.

Barry

[rikhall]

We like our Garmin 441.



Around $400.00

Rik