Chart plotters
By Capt. Dan Berg

Chart plotters have revolutionized marine navigation. It is now extremely easy to navigate through an inlet even if heavy fog. Please note that their are many model and makes to choose from. You want a machine that will interface with the boats GPS and provide a heads up display. For some reason some models are heads up in one direction and the opposite when returning. Other key features is size of the display, color, and zoom capabilities. When coupled with a GPS, Radar and depth recorder a chart plotter becomes an invaluable tool for the mariner. One recommendation is simply to arrange your marine electronics along one level. This way your eyes do not have to jump around when scanning the chart plotter, gps, loran, radar and depth recorder.

Please note that good seamanship and navigation are still required even with modern electronic wonders. A friend was telling me a story that he went out on a boat and the guy navigated all day. When night came he returned to the dock by following the track line on his chartplotter. Jimmy said he was terrified that this guy just sat back and did not even try to use a spot light or radar. The problem of course is that the chart plotter would let him know where he was but would not alert him to any other marine craft of floating debris. They were very lucky but as always I recommend a good boating and navigation course for anyone new to boating. You must also have the skills needed to get you home if and when your electronics stop working. These are great tools and make boating much more enjoyable but mariners must still have respect for the ocean and Mother Nature.

On this page you will find links to several of the most popular chart plotter manufacturers.