What is the best navigation or chart plotter solution for sailboat cruising? Is an iPad with Navionics good enough for bluewater sailing? Are there such things as free charts? What is the best low-cost navigation system?
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These and other similar questions many ask when beginning to contemplate navigating outside of their local area, are important to answer. I think the answer depends on your needs and sailing type to determine what is right for you.
Let&#;s start by examining the options we have available to us.
An iPad or Android tablet with Navionics is perhaps the easiest solution that is ready to go out of the box. It is really good and paired with a cell /wifi-enabled tablet surprisingly accurate. A bonus is the sonar charts, which we really like and have found to be very helpful in less well-charted areas. We cruised for almost a month in Lake Michigan, North Channel, Georgian Bay, and Lake St. Claire with just that. But, there are some issues, the biggest of which is rain or spray. Most tablets combined with Navionics, or other apps, become worthless when wet, too hot, or too cold. This is generally when you need that nav data most, critical conditions in bad visibility.
Budget: $
Pros:
Easy Setup
Easy to Use
Lower Cost Charts
Cons:
Extreme Conditions Loss of Function
No Weather Routing
Not quite as plug and play, but also another cheap option. If you happen to have an old laptop lying around your house, this is just about as close to free as you can get. OpenCPN is a really good open-source software that has been developed over many years by real sailors. It can be downloaded online and will run on most laptops. Charts for most areas can also be downloaded for free. It does take a small learning curve, and some of the charts may not be as full-featured of commercial offerings. We use OpenCPN as our backup PC-based nav/chart program aboard s/v Sweet Ruca.
Budget: $
Pros:
Free to Download
Real Sailor Dev Community
Customizable & Expandable
Cons:
Higher learning curve (compared to Navionics/iPad)
Still need on deck display solution
The Garmin GPSMap 72 or 78 is the tried and true standard here. There are other similar models from other manufacturers. You can pick one of these up on eBay for less than a case of beer! Although the screen is microscopic by today&#;s standards, this unit is almost bulletproof. It usually comes preloaded with charts for your cruising area. It can slosh around in the bilge and still work on command. I&#;ve sailed thousands of miles with one of these bashing around the cockpit floor, and still keep one as a ditch bag backup.
Budget: $ &#; $$
Pros:
Usable in All Weather Conditions
Fast Learning Curves
Durable
Cons:
Small Screen
Perhaps the most expensive option, but also most reliable when the conditions get snotty. Most chart plotters (Multi-Function Displays or MFDs) by the major instrument manufacturers are pretty much the same these days. Charts are usually more expensive to purchase for these because the manufacturers make everything proprietary. They do work very well though for real-time sailing navigation, especially when combined with radar and a full instrument package.
Budget: $$
Pros:
Reliability
Usability in Extreme Conditions
Instrument / Radar Interfaces
Cons:
Expensive and Require Installation
No Weather Routing
This is what the big boys use, usually in conjunction with MFDs and instrument/radar packages. We use Expedition and C-Map charts aboard Sweet Ruca as our primary navigation source. This gives us the ability to log everything in one place. It also allows us to use our boats&#; polar speeds in conjunction with weather and current information to choose the best sailing routes. This has a high learning curve, but when making multiple week passages, it can cut days off your route and allow you to dodge serious weather. Data is relayed on deck via an iPad running remote desktop and the system is integrated with our MFDs and instrument displays. If you want to up your sailing game or simply want to have the same capabilities as the sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race and Vendee Globe do, this is it.
Budget: $$$
Pros:
Weather Routing
Commercial Support & Training
Best Capability
Cons:
Highest Cost
Learning Curve
There are quite a few that make use of RPi, mini PCs, etc, and combine them with waterproof touch screens. One can build a pretty capable navigation system using DIY parts. Most government charts can be downloaded for free on the web. Combine these things with some open-source software and you can build your own killer app. For us, although it would be really fun to explore this route, there are too many other boat projects to allow time for this.
Budget: $-$$$
Pros:
Budget Flexibility
Custom Features
Ultimate Freedom
Cons:
Time, no plug and play
Highest learning curve
So what is the best navigation option for you and your boat?
The best thing to start with and build upon is perhaps a small handheld GPS with charting ability such as the Garmin GPSMap78.
If you are a sunny day sailor and don&#;t venture out of cell range, apps such as Navionics on iPad or Android are probably your best bet. If you venture further from land or spend more than a day at a time at sea, a combination of at least two methods provides some redundancy.
If you expect bad weather or cruise in areas of the Northern USA, at least one built-in chart plotter with buttons from a well-regarded manufacturer such as Raymarine, B&G/Simrad, or Garmin would be recommended.
If you are venturing into new anchorages or crossing oceans, a PC-based navigation option, in combination with apps and chart plotter/radar/ais/instruments, allows for the best passage planning, redundancy, and real-time sailing data like wind, depth, and current.
If you intend to race at all, or really enjoy performance sailing, Expedition Navigation Software is where it is at!
If you have a low budget, you can put together a safe, capable, and redundant navigation system for a reasonable cost via DIY. Just don&#;t expect all of the bells and whistles, and realize it may have its limits in bad weather or if you are less technically apt.
If your budget can afford it, or you are venturing into areas where safety is paramount, get the best system you can.
If you are really cheap and an old salty dog, there are always the tried and true paper charts, ruler, dividers, and sextant! Paper charts and books actually get pretty costly though if you venture far and wide. We do recommend having some type of redundancy wherever you go, but in our opinion, paper charts are a little dated.
For any system, don&#;t skimp on training time. Read the manual, get screen time, and/or take the training classes. Most navigation failures occur due to user error, it is important to have a good understanding of your equipment before you set sail.
See you on the water!
We all lose our way from time to time. A GPS can be the solution for boaters, but many of us even lose our way while trying to pick the right gadget.
Choosing a marine GPS for your boat is a daunting technical task that involves sorting through reviews, watching videos and making multiple runs to your nearest boat shop or outdoor recreation store.
Before getting overwhelmed, you should take a few moments to decide how you plan to use your GPS. This information can point you directly to the right GPS.
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As an essential tool for navigation safety, whether you're using it in rough seas or during nighttime navigation, a GPS is an important part of your boat's emergency equipment and can save lives.
It can save you from disasters and keep you out of the way of storms. Even if you're not in harm's way, it can help guide you through harbors when returning to the marinas.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit marine navigation equipment.
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The bells and whistles: Do you really need them all?
When you visit boat shows, manufacturers demonstrate the newest and most technologically advanced models. They'll offer enough features to make your head spin, and somehow, all of these features sound necessary for your boating excursions.
Beyond that, each manufacturer has previous years' models to choose from, each with different assortments of features so how the heck do you decide?
Instead of giving you a review, I want to break down the specifications you need to pay attention to based on your personal needs.
Typically, GPS specs will tell you that they pull data from 12 to 24 satellites.
The more satellites it pulls from, the stronger the accuracy. Most GPS systems only need three satellites to pull from to determine your location anyway.
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Handheld GPS are able to run on 12-volt power, should you need to plug in. For handhelds, you'll need to pay attention to battery life. Can it last a full day's excursion or do you need it to last longer?
If you need longer battery life, most handheld units are accompanied by a 12-volt cigarette lighter cable. If you have vision troubles or are far-sighted, a smaller handheld GPS device might not be large enough to tell you what's going on around you.
Portable GPS often have a larger six-inch screen, which enables touchscreen operations. Portables can also be used in both your car and boat.
If you require a larger screen, invest in a dash-mounted GPS instead. You can place the dash-mounted GPS near the helm for easy access and coverage from your bimini top. Although, on the flip side, if you have a pontoon with a bimini top, you may need to install an external antenna for extra reception strength.
Built-in antennas are compact but won't give you the reception that you need to see weather forecasts and stronger mapping accuracy. Find a GPS with an external antenna (or at least an antenna port).
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Let me just say that, while it's very common for boaters to install GPS apps on their smartphones and portable pads, I've found that these apps certainly have disadvantages, especially on long trips. Just for starters, they're harder to read, less reliable and kill your battery life.
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If you're an angler or sport fisherman, you need this feature. Chances are, you already own a fishfinder or depth sounder, so don't order and invest in a GPS that's incompatible. You'll be very disappointed.
If you already own a fishfinder, know that marine GPS units often come equipped already. You may well improve the whole experience with one of these devices. GPS units have the ability to zoom in and inspect deeper waters to explore marine life along the floor.
Some GPS also have omnidirectional antenna and sonar, making it easier to find fish through weeds and underwater habitats.
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Chart cartridges mean you won't necessarily have extensive charts of entire coastal areas. This might be okay for you if you never plan to take your boat elsewhere or if you know your local lake like the back of your hand.
Do you enjoy taking your vessel to unknown territory? Then it's wise to have a GPS that can project the area where you plan to go cruising. For this, you'll need a device that can download updated charts straight off your home computer or simply have Wi-Fi access within itself. So, look for a computer connection or Wi-Fi capability.
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Do you take your boat on the open seas or just a local lake? Non-mapping can be suitable for smaller lakes where you know your surroundings extremely well. In larger lakes and oceans, you'll need a more advanced GPS mapping system.
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Keeping in mind that your boating style may vary and you may require different features, I still want to provide a few models of major GPS manufacturers for you to look out for.
This should provide you with a good launching point to explore for yourself.
The Garmin GPSMAP 547 is a great option for freshwater boaters as it's a relatively affordable GPS model and integrates with smartphones and tablet devices.
Garmin even carries its own integrating GPS marine smartwatch, the Garmin Quatix 5 Sapphire, which is a pretty cool and compact gadget.
The Raymarine Dragonfly 7 Pro is an awesome GPS/Fishfinder combo unit for the avid angler and saltwater fisherman. With Spectrum CHIRP technology, you can see amazing underwater details.
Plus, it has built-in WiFi that sends sonar data to your or tablet (using the Raymarine Wi-Fish app).
But if you aren't just an angler and need a more complex chartplotter system, you'll need to look at a more advanced model. Check out the Raymarine c95 instead.
Although not as affordable as most, this GPS does provide charts, sonar and even night vision all on a larger nine-inch screen.
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If you're tempted by the Raymarine c95, also take into consideration the Lowrance HDS-7 Gen2. It has just about every feature you could wish for in a GPS chartplotter and has excellent fishfinding capabilities such as side scan and down scan technology, which captures pockets of cooler waters where the fish can be found.
Simrad Go 7 Xse is a nice touchscreen with a large collection of base map charts. I find the interface very user-friendly, even capable of saving fishing hotspot positions you want to return to another day.
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Just like you should test drive a boat before buying, you should also demo a GPS on a boat (and preferably your own). If you can, get your hands on a buddy's GPS and give it a whirl to see what you like and dislike.
Be sure that when you test out GPS systems, it's intuitive to you and that buttons and menus are user-friendly.
Lastly, you would think this is inherent in anything labeled as "marine," but pay close attention to specs regarding water resistance. Almost all GPS units are waterproof, but you should know there's a difference between being waterproof and water resistant. Find a GPS that says it's fully water-resistant.
Purchasing a GPS system can leave you with a bit of sticker shock. Just know that since the invention of the global positioning systems, it's saved many lives and prevented countless boating accidents.
I hope you find this breakdown informative and that it gets you started on the right foot to find the best GPS for boating.
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