Which chartplotter to buy

They'll also show you the water temperatures, allow you to listen to music, and are loaded with lots of user-friendly features. Honestly speaking, many modern chartplotters do more than just mapping your routes and having big touch screen displays. They also have elaborate features that can help relay more accurate information that will not only make your sailing jaunts safer but more fun.

Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the best chartplotters. In terms of screen displays, there are both pros and cons of having big or small screen displays. With a small screen, they're generally self-contained and will have other important components such as the antennae built on the device. However, it will be a lot harder to read the display information. On the other hand, a big screen offers a more rewarding experience in terms of the details shown and you won't have to constantly zoom as you'd do if the screen is small.

That being said, you should go for a bigger screen as its benefits outweigh having a small screen. Even though all chartplotters offer nautical charts to keep you safe and guide you during your sailing adventures, they can vary depending on how the charts are offered. It's, therefore, important to ensure that your device of choice offers the right charts for your needs. Most chartplotters have sonar but it's essential to make sure that you can perfectly accessorize it.

Make sure that they have Wi-Fi capabilities and you can tether them using your smartphone or tablet. In most cases, sailors love the outdoors and it would be nice if you get a chartplotter that is very versatile.

Besides being a marine chartplotter, it should be versatile enough to help you map out the roads, biking, and hiking trails, as well as spotting fish. Chartplotters can be indeed quite expensive and this might be an issue if you're on a tight budget.

While there are affordable models on the market, we have to note that they may not be loaded with lots of amazing features as the more expensive ones.

In short, you only get what you pay for. If you are looking for a chartplotter that has every top feature that you need for safe and smooth operation, look no further than the Garmin Striker 4 GPS. This model is designed with one of the most advanced scanning sonars to enable you to track and see every type of object around your sailboat. Its 3. It not only offers clearer images but also offers in-depth readings to inform you about everything. It will also show you the water temperature, speed of your vessel, and time of the day.

It comes with a 12V battery to ensure that you can use it without necessarily having a power outlet. The only disadvantage of this unit is that the map won't be visible if you are outside the United States territories.

The Vulcan 7 is true evidence of this as it is packed with an excellent range of sailing-specific features that will offer a more rewarding sailing experience. The bright screen will display lots of crucial sailing information such as wind information, real-time navigational charts, and even tacking options.

It also shows your vessel's speed, time of the day, and has several accessories such as the autopilot system that provides you with a given level of control. This is, without a doubt, one of the best chartplotters if you specifically want to take your sailing game to a whole new level.

From the entry-level Axiom range to the Axiom Pro, and elite-level Axiom XL range, Raymarine is widely known for manufacturing some of the best multifunctional chartplotters in the industry. However, the Axiom 7 seems to trounce them all even though it's not sailing-specific.

Well, this is perhaps because it's arguably one of the most versatile chartplotters in the game. In addition to doing its navigational duties, this unit integrates a very robust fish finder, which makes it very useful if you want to indulge in some fishing while sailing. A: Base maps are what manufacturers call the simple maps included with most units. A basemap often has a rough outline of the shoreline and separates water from land.

Base maps are practically useless in most cases for modern chartplotters. These modern navigation tools are extremely accurate and powerful and the basemaps on them are often just sub-par to say the least.

In order to get the most out of your chartplotter you really need to buy a chartplotter with good maps already on it or upgrade immediately. That means you can easily access high resolution detailed satellite maps of your area in a second. So why not just use that map and then buy a fishfinder? Particularly if you boat on smaller lakes or rivers where a chartplotter would be overkill. Standalone chartplotters are available, too! In the end each person and each boat probably has a different set of needs.

Think about how you want to use your device before you make a purchase. Accuracy, readability, detail, screen size, and features are all improving each year. That said, you might not need the bleeding edge tech that will leave your wallet empty. Each person has a different ideal chartplotter. Technology improves fast and it can be hard to stay up-to-date so this refresher should help you make your choice!

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot. With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The author, Casey Fiedler has been an avid boater for over 10 years. To help narrow down the selection he used his personal experience along with recommendations from boat captains and fellow boaters.

Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Do you need a chartplotter or a fish finder? What specifications matter, and what do they mean? Dicks Sporting Goods. Bass Pro Shops. Notice: OutsidePursuits. Amazon offers a commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Casey Fiedler Last Updated: May 25, Casey Fiedler Casey is a qualified ski instructor, naturalist educator, hunter, and avid outdoorsman based in Mason, Michigan.

He spends much of his time in the wilderness where he tests outdoor gear supplied to him by companies such as Patagonia, Smith Optics, and Wolverine. Casey has guided backpackers, kayakers, and skiers on backcountry trips all around the US.

When he is not working, Casey enjoys fishing and participating in adventure and orienteering races. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. Charts are one of the biggest questions for those looking to buy a new MFD.

Though these are pretty standardised across a small number of suppliers, there is still variance from unit to unit. If you know what charts you prefer already then you will want to make sure that your chosen MFD is compatible.

Beyond the screen size there is practically no difference between the models, so it will simply be a case of selecting the right size for your boat and your budget. Currently Raymarine are in the process of building a library of yachts into Lighthouse 3. This will mean that if your boat is one of those already in the library you will automatically get a set of performance polars which can take significant time to develop from scratch which will make auto routing and layline functions even more accurate and boat specific.

In alongside the launch of Lighthouse 3 Raymarine unveiled and an augmented reality system , which will work on Axiom MFDs — though it will require the purchase and mounting of a FLIR camera. A smartphone or tablet can also be connected as a second screen. Buy it now on Amazon. However, the high end nature of their products has meant they were once also considered something of an expensive option.

The key differences here over the Vulcan are improved processing power — an iMX8 integrated six-core processor — which improves response of the unit. It also includes compatibility with FLIR video cameras too. Boat Reviews. Choosing a boat: which boat is right for me? Gael Pawson. Boating Guides. Boat Buyer's Guide. Boat Seller's Guide. VAT on boats: a guide.