Chartplotter yes/no?

[codeman671]

I have two Standard Horizons in my boats, the new color CP155C and CP175C. They work great, much easier than handling paper charts when enroute. The new screens are color and daylight-viewable which most brands are not at this price range. They are coming out with a fish finder module to integrate in, the FF520. This will make the unit do everything I would possibly need all in one. The best part about Standard is that they take C-map so you can simply buy the C-map Bizer chip and drop it in without having to do extra work.

[DRH]

I installed a Standard Horizon CP155C GPS unit with the Bizer C-Map chip for Winnipesaukee in my boat last year and found it to be a very valuable navigational aid. If you just boat in familiar water, it's value is probably not as great. But if you like to explore areas of the lake you are not familiar with, I believe a chartplotter is a very useful tool.

Using the Winnipesaukee C-Map chip, the chartplotter displays on the screen your current position superimposed on the Bizer lake chart and shows your exact location relative to markers, land, shoals, etc. True, you should also have a current lake chart with you, but I have found when boating in an area of the lake I am not familiar with that sun glare, haze, reflections off the water, etc., can sometimes make it difficult to identify what land masses you are seeing. (Are you seeing the mainland, or one or more islands? Sometimes it's not easy to be sure.) With a chartplotter GPS using the Bizer chip, you will never be in doubt.

[secondcurve]

Folks:

I have picked up a Bizer chart and will probably start with that, but I think that I am going to take the plunge and buy the chart plotter in the not to distant future. You only go around once as they say and from everything I have heard money can not be smuggled into the Big House, so I might as well spend what I have enjoying myself! Thanks again for the valuable and thorough responses. It is much appreciated.

[upthesaukee]

I have an older Magellen Map410 GPS with Cmap's Lake winni map on it. It also has Bizer's waypoint file installed, along with some others that I have put in manually. I don't go anywhere without turning it on, making sure I have my Bizer chart at hand, and stopping in unfamiliar areas to orient myself with the chart and the GPS. An invaluable tool, and my next boat (or maybe a year or two down the road on this one) will have a charter/plotter. Still need to use common sense, eyes, and the charts, but sure is a nice back up to what you think you are seeing on the chart and across the lake.

[codeman671]

Another piece of advice, if you decide to go with a Standard buy it from West Marine/Boat US. They will price-match any internet store unlike most places which onluy match stores. I found one online in FL that had a price so low I saved an additional $80 over and above the $100 commercial discount I normally get from my account. It will help take the sting out of coughing up $650-900. If you need the link I am sure I can dig it up. They offer a good aftermarket warranty plan as well for short change.

[marcucci]

Winni looks big on the map but once you are out there for a while you get to know your way around like you do your neighborhood. However, never go out without your Bizer chart and always be weary for the first month of the season as things on the lake do change.

-Dave