What exactly is a chartplotter?? Is it valuable on inland lakes or
just offshore?

I've seen many combo gps/chartplotter units and just want more info on
what specifically the "chartplotter" does that a normal gps unit does
not??

TIA

"DallasBoater" wrote in message
...
What exactly is a chartplotter?? Is it valuable on inland lakes or
just offshore?

I've seen many combo gps/chartplotter units and just want more info on
what specifically the "chartplotter" does that a normal gps unit does
not??

Chartplotters have a moving map display so you can see where your boat is at
a glance.

Chart plotters are stand alone electronic navigation units that usually
contain a GPS receiver and chart display screen. They combine the GPS
satellite data and some form of internal digital charts to display your
position relative to your surroundings. They are usually permanently mounted
in the "dashboard" of a nav station or helm.

The competing technology is a PC based navigation system which is similar
and sometimes uses the same digital charts but uses a PC as the base
hardware instead of the dedicated machine.

Both systems require a GPS signal. This can also be handheld or dash
mounted. A GPS provides positioning information but you need to transfer
that data to a paper chart or electronic chart to fully orient yourself to
your surroundings. Some handheld GPS units have rudimentary chart displays
but seldom have the detail of chart data found on a plotter.

Each has it's own advantages and limitations. Hope that helps. Many marine
suppliers like Captain Jacks or Fisheries Supply have web sites with lot's
of information on the topic.

Dan
www.courselinepc.com


"DallasBoater" wrote in message
...
What exactly is a chartplotter?? Is it valuable on inland lakes or
just offshore?

I've seen many combo gps/chartplotter units and just want more info on
what specifically the "chartplotter" does that a normal gps unit does
not??

TIA