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Jeff Jeff is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 390
Default Chartplotter Display Orientation

Geoff Schultz wrote:
....

How do others have their displays configured? How does the CG have their's
configured? What's the purpose of N-up vs heading-up?



My wife and I have this same discussion over the chartplotter, and the
car GPS. She favors "Track Up" while I favor "Course Up" for situation
where we're following a constrained course, and "North Up" when we're in
open situations.

I have always used a chart as my primary tool, and a small screen GPS
chartplotter for location. Last year I upgraded to a nicer Garmin 545,
so I'm finding I have to rethink the way I navigate.

This reminds me of a situation many years ago delivering a Folkboat from
New York to Boston. The owner and I had a "navigational disagreement"
and in the aftermath we realize that we visualized the situation
completely differently. He "placed himself" at water level, and
oriented using various range lines, whereas I "raised myself up" to a
birds-eye view where I could create a map in my mind. Each method has
its own limitations and is prone to different types of errors.