Budget Chartplotter?

BigNige · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008

There are no charts available for my 2000 vintage Garmin GPSMap 225 chartplotter, so I currently use it just to to feed a laptop with the NMEA data. This works OK, but there are two drawbacks:

I no longer trust the Garmin since I discovered that moving the map offset also changed the displayed coordinates, as well as the output data stream! This is a terrible design flaw.

Secondly, if the PC were to fail my backup would be the above device, which is using very small-scale charts.

I've decided to buy a new chartplotter when I visit the USA next month. Mainly to feed the PC, but also to act as a standalone. Garmin are too expensive, and I'm concerned about the above flaw, and their ability to make a chart cartridge obsolete in such a small timescale.

I think that C-MAX NT/Max charts are a must, so I've been looking at the Standard Horizon CP300 (I must have an external antenna). This is about £600 in the UK, or $750 in the USA. Any other suggestions?

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Nigel

chucklesR · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008

I use the lowrance 5200c - with navionic's gold add in charts. It's fully nmea 2000 compliant so it will feed a laptop just fine. Total cost was less than 800 with charts.

JimsCAL · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008

No backup paper charts? Those plus a $100 handheld GPS can get you anywhere.

BigNige · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008

The current paper chart is always on the top in the slip-case, and is used to get an overall picture. They are my second backup!

TomandKarens34 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008

I don't leave the mooring without paper charts. They work great and have a tiny power draw. However I like my Navman 5600 chart plotter alot. It was $525 on e-bay. Sometimes less. Too bad the company is so shaky. You can find them cheap and it uses the C-Maps, NT etc.

JimsCAL · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008

Glad you have paper charts aboard! Since you are from outside the USA, I would guess the availability of charts for your area would drive your decision. Most units other than Garmin seem to use either Navionics or CMap cartridges. The Lowrance 7200C has a 7 inch screen like the Standard CP300 and is a bit less expensive.