BEST MARINE GPS Chartplotter Reviews FOR SAILING OF 2020 — BOE Marine
The days when sailors sailed with a compass and sextant are long gone: modern maritime electronics provide us with a range of information that explorers of the past could not imagine. Larger ships are equipped with networks integrating Best Marine GPS Chartplotter, GPS, maps, radar, sonar, wind sensors, communications, emergency alerts, and much more. Today, even portable units can handle any navigation problem in addition to plotting a course for Margaritaville or the fountain of youth. All of this capacity creates confusion and the range of options on the market can be daunting. We have simplified your options with this guide to the Best Marine GPS trackers.
We have tried to keep the descriptions simple, but if CHIRP, WAAS, and NMEA 2000 are not part of your daily vocabulary, you may want to go to the end of the article and read the explanation first!
COMPARISON TABLE — THE BEST GPS TABLE TOP FOR NAVIGATION
NOTICE — The best GPS navigation plotters
1 -GARMIN GPS 73
SPECIFICATIONS
· TYPE: portable
· DISPLAY: 2.6 “black and white
· SONAR TRANSDUCER: not included
· NAVIGATION SOFTWARE: Garmin Sail Assist
· WAAS: Yes
· or CHIRP: No.
· NETWORKS: NMEA 0183, Bluetooth, USB
FEATURES
· Fleet!
· Run for 18 hours. In 2 AA batteries
· A very sensitive receiver blocks the satellites in all conditions
BEST HAND HERO: He is not a tracer at all. We included it in the review because it has a robust set of specific navigation features that make it an excellent choice for boats too small to accommodate a console-mounted system or as a back-up device to use as the main system or if you are forced to leave the ship.
The Garmin 73 is portable, practical, and easy to use. It is not compatible with the full range of Lowrance vs Garmin SailAssist software features, but it does provide assistance with turns, virtual start and course lines, countdown timers, and arrival times depending on restrictions Marine navigation. It is a very neat package in a very small package.
Garmin Chartplotter has a lot of experience with portable marine devices and the GPS73 is a reflection of that. The backlit buttons and high contrast display are easy to use in very bright or limited light conditions, there is a handy range of built-in marine data and it can store 1000 waypoints and 100 tracks for repeated navigation. Don’t expect the GPS73 to replicate the functions of a full-size and Striker Combos chartplotter with a range of sensor inputs, but it does what it does well and reliably, and is designed with wind sailors in mind.
2 -B&G VULCAN 7
SPECIFICATIONS
· TYPE: console mounted
· DISPLAY: 7 “color
· SONAR TRANSDUCER: not included
· NAVIGATION SOFTWARE: B&G Marine SailSteer
· WAAS: Yes
· or CHIRP: No.
· NETWORKS: NMEA 2000
FEATURES
· Compatible with Forwardscan probes and B&G autopilots
· Visualization of the instrument data.
· Several language modules
THE BEST SPECIFIC VALUE OF SAILING
B&G is the recognized market leader in sail specific marine electronics and was the first to introduce a full range of sail support functions in a consumer-oriented electronic package. The Vulcan 7 continues this tradition, bringing together an impressive range of specific sailing features in a compact, durable and affordable Best Marine GPS Chartplotter.
Clear and versatile, the screen displays all your wind and navigation information with layline and pushpin options superimposed on updated navigation maps. It also offers race support features that allow you to quickly get to the start line and the right course at the right time. The system integrates with a multitude of accessories, particularly the highly recognized B&G Marine autopilot systems, to give you the level of control you expect from a much more expensive system.
This is to navigate, so do not expect a depth sounder or other features more applicable to the motorized kit. However, if you want to upgrade your navigation game without spending a fortune, you won’t find a better option than the Vulcan 7.
3- RAYMARINE AXIOM 7
SPECIFICATIONS
· TYPE: console mounted
· DISPLAY: 7 “color
· SONAR TRANSDUCER: included
· NAVIGATION SOFTWARE: Faro 3
· WAAS: Yes
· CHIRP: No.
· NETWORKS: NMEA 2000
FEATURES
· Includes surface and faucet mounting kits
· Quad-core processor for super-fast speed
· Coastal coverage for the United States and Canada and more than 20,000 waterways
BEST VERSATILE TABLETOP WITH HIGHER COVERAGE
Raymarine manufactures a wide range of multifunction Best Marine GPS Chartplotter, from the entry-level Axion range to the Axiom Pro and Axiom XL range of elite level. All run on Raymarine Lighthouse 3 software and offer full compatibility with the exceptionally wide range of Raymarine sensors and input devices. Raymarine also offers extensive map coverage from the start — on the American and Canadian coasts, as well as 20,000 lakes, rivers, and other inland waterways.
The Axiom 7 may not be as “sail specific” as the B&G Marine Vulcan 7, but it also makes it more versatile. For example, Axiom 7 incorporates a robust sonar capacity, a useful feature if you want to combine fishing and navigation. It also includes the Raymarine CPT-100DVS transom mount probe transducer, so if you want a minimalist package, just add a wind sensor and you’re done. If you want to add more, it won’t stop: Raymarine Chartplotter can provide quantum radar, CHIRP sonar, FLIR thermal cameras, audio integration, instruments, cameras, and the Evolution autopilot. This unit offers most of the features that distinguish the most expensive Raymarine models, at an economical price!
4- GARMIN GPS MAP 8612XSV
SPECIFICATIONS
· TYPE: console mounted
· DISPLAY: 12 “color
· SONAR TRANSDUCER: not included
· NAVIGATION SOFTWARE: Garmin Sail Assist
· WAAS: Yes
· CHIRP: Yes
· NETWORKS: NMEA 2000
FEATURES
· SmartMode station controls for direct access to information
· Greater clarity and readability in the sun, even with polarized sunglasses.
· Maps of American shores and lakes preinstalled
BEST HIGH-QUALITY CHARTPLOTTER
Garmin offers an important hub of high-performance marine electronics with the 8612xsv. You get a 12-inch Full HD screen with wide viewing angles, great clarity and readability in direct sunlight, preloaded with full maps of the U.S. coast and lake, and full connectivity with a wide variety of sensor inputs, including the Garmin Chartplotter Panoptic LiveScope, which offers one of the best underwater views on the market.
Garmin’s SailAssist feature offers the full range of specific sailing information and pre-race advice. You have established and managed the real and apparent wind angle, the real and apparent wind speed, and much more at your fingertips! Connect these features to the Garmin ActiveCaptain app and seamlessly connect your boat to your mobile device. If you are a serious sailor and have decided to use Garmin as an electronics supplier, the 8612xvs is a natural starting point!
POINTS TO CHECK WHEN PURCHASING A MARINE GPS MAP PLATFORM
Let’s start with the basics. A GPS gives you coordinates, a plotter gives you a visual position on a map. All plotters are based on Best Marine GPS, but not all GPS units will be mapped!
Plotters are preloaded with a range of maps, but if you are navigating in exotic areas, you may need to purchase additional maps. The main manufacturers supply their sail-oriented plotters with specific sailing software packages which give you access to the line lines, tack, wind trends, arrival times estimated according to speed and routes, and even more.
Remember that your Chartplotter is designed to manage multiple sensor inputs and will not be fully functional without these inputs. That means at least a sonar transducer (included with some plotters) and a wind sensor, but there are dozens of other options.
Most manufacturers recommend using their own instruments with their plotters, so your choice is to buy a system, not just buy a tracer. Make sure to check the range of input devices available and check the input devices you already have before selecting a plotter!
IT IS A SYSTEM
You’ve probably noticed, but when you choose a plotter, you choose much more than just a plotter. The plotter is a hub that connects a series of sensor and communication device inputs.
When you select a Lowrance vs Garmin Chartplotter, it connects to a range of other devices that will pair with it, so before you buy, you need to take a close look at not only the plotter but also the range of input devices that go into it connect.
Fortunately, the three main plotter manufacturers offer a wide range of input devices, so you have plenty of options, no matter which unit you select. If you already have wind, sonar, or radar equipment, your choice of plotters will likely depend on compatibility with your existing equipment, so keep that in mind.
Best Marine GPS Chartplotter is compatible with third-party instruments, but you need to be sure. Their electronic devices are a bit like their crew — navigation is easier when they get along!
Software issues
B&G Marine Garmin and Raymarine offer software packages specially designed for navigation. All of them offer a range of features designed for cruising and racing, including moorings that transform the eternal challenge of effectively sailing in the wind at the turn of the century.
The three main software is regularly updated and all offer similar basic functions. Cruising World offers a detailed discussion of the choice of the Chartplotter, but your choice will likely be influenced by personal preferences, and for most of us, all three will likely be helpful. Each of them will be a huge leap from what sailors had ten years ago!