What exactly is a chart plotter
dwolf
Member Posts: 157 ✭✭
I kind a have an idea what a chart plotter is but I'm not positive and is this something I would need on my boat for my trip to the Bahamas?i'm assuming the chart plotter guess the topography of the ocean floor or whatever body water that you might be in. I want my trip to be as safe as possible so any equipment that I would need added to my boat I want to make sure and have. My boat has the factory depth gauge which I can't figure out since it only tells me when the water is really deep and the alarm goes off but it never tells me when the water is shallow.
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skennelly
Member Posts: 2,196 ✭✭✭✭
@dwolf - A chart plotter incorporates GPS and mapping that let's you plan out your trips path and also backtrack from where you came from. It basically does what the name implies...it plots on a map chart your movement. Most devices have other things built in like anchor alarms, fish finding ect.....if you are going into unknown territory it's a must in my opinion
My experience is on the Great Lakes.
Other things that come to mind.
Radar
Good working marine radio
Watch the weather!!!!!!
File a float plan
Don't go alone if possible.
EPIRB device
Did I mention watch the weather!
You also didn't mention what kind of boat you are attempting this trip in...obviously there's a lot to consider when making this kind of voyage.2002 - 270FV Mag 350 B3 -
LaRea
Member, Moderator Posts: 7,763 mod
I doubt you could install a radar on a boat that size, but to answer your question: Radar is a key tool for knowing what's around you and avoiding collisions.
If there are other boats near you (within 10-15 miles), you can see them on radar whether it's day, night, fog, rain or whatever. You can also see buoys, land, bridges, towers, large floating objects or anything else above the surface of the water.
The other thing a boat radar can see is rain (like weather radar). For example, if there's a storm cloud near you, radar can tell you whether it's producing rain, and how big the area of rain is.
I would not go unless at least one boat in the group has a high-quality radar, and knows how to it.
Answers
http://www.epirb.com/
Sounds like a trip you shouldn't take. A 23 footer is a little small for this trip. The shortest distance is from West Palm to Freeport is 83 miles. That's a long way on a 232.
Plus the lack of knowledge of an EPIRB. I have never seen a radar on a 232CC. No radar arch.
If you do go, make sure you go with others.
Regards,
Ian
The Third “B”
Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club
https://www.rcyachtclub.com/
Go Steelers!!!
Oh boy, we already have too many novice boaters out there that don't take the time to learn what they need to. This will just let them think they don't need to know red/green or any type of navigation. This would just let them get in the boat and type in where they want to go. Oh crap! The GPS didn't tell me I couldn't go across that piece of land!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
one serious note i'd offer that pertains both to plotters and to pretty much everything else in preparation to do what you're about to do, is remember "no plan survives first contact" and have a trunk worth of contingencies.
contingencies aren't only helpful for tendencies to spaz out when something goes wrong, but also to set you to thinking and considering things you maybe otherwise wouldn't have thought about.
i'd reckon you've already considered this, though- but i figured i'd type it out all the same.
Sorry, my sarcasm is hard to put in text. I agree that it won't but just like people don't update their car GPS, I can see it happening in the boats too. Running aground or cutting the red marker short. Driving across land may be a bit of exaggeration. But, point is that people will rely on it too much. Heck, tie it to the autopilot and just wake me up when we are there (sarcasm again, although somebody would try it).
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express