Well, I finally did it.

After all these years of steadfastly holding out against bringing a DGPS
chartplotter aboard, I broke down and installed a Simrad CP33 today. I chose
this unit because it has a medium size screen that is daylight readable,
interface buttons that are large enough to use when the boat is slamming
around, a color display, and it has a good reputation among people who know
marine electronics.

While the CP33 has been on the short list of "if I ever get a plotter"
plotters, I was motivated to go ahead at this time due to a unique
circumstance. One of the yards I'm in steady communication with installed a
CP33 on a new boat, by mistake. The buyer had wanted a CE33 (with integrated
echo sounder), so they had to pull the CP33 out. The yard was sending the
"used" CP33 back to Simrad for credit, and offered it to me for flat cost.
(Just over half price, but still a few bucks, though). I asked for a few days
to consider it, and during that time they sent it back to Simrad. Thought I'd
dinked around too long and missed out on a deal, but somebody at the yard took
it upon themselves to call Simrad and explain what happened......and I
ultimately wound up with Simrad sending me a brand new unit, all sealed up in a
box. Sometimes you fall into the outhouse and come out smelling like a rose.

Seems to work perfectly. Used an overhead mount, putting the unit just above
eye level from the helm. It hovers over my chart table, which will remain in
use.

It had occured to me in the past that I was working too hard when venturing
into
waters not routinely frequented. I would take lat/long off the hardwired Garmin
145
every so often and manually confirm position on the chart. Now I'll be able to
see
my position without manual plotting.

Guess it's my age showing, even though I'm not all that tremendously old. Gonna
keep up the chart and compass routine, and augment it with the CP33. Seems to
me like part of boating would be missing without those charts........but so
many new boats today don't even make a provision for stowing or unrolling
charts. No room at all. The kids just won't realize what they're missing. :-)

Two things I learned today about GPS antennae:

1. They should not be washed by the radar beam. My old Garmin antenna was
maybe on the upper edge of the beam, and it didn't seem to hurt it any.
However, I noticed a caution against this practice in the installation
instructions andcalled Simrad while hooking up the new one. "No, don't let the
radar beam wash over the antenna. You will pick up a noisy signal when the
radar is running, and over time that could damage the unit. The manual says to
keep the antenna out of the radar beam, and depending on the situation that
could be a consideration on a warranty claim."

(Off to Worst Marine to pay $30 for a 12-inch extension to the existing FG
antenna mount)

2. DGPS antennae can be either "active" or "passive". Simrad sent me a unit
with
an active antenna, so I assume that means it will receive signals a little
better.
The factory rep asked me to open the box and make sure I didn't get a "Version
8" antenna, Simrad has had trouble with those. Mine turned out to be a Version
9.

Now I have to deal with the temptation to use all the features of this
marvelous device. It can interface with a depth sounder, autopilot, laptop
computer, and several other items through dedicated connections as well as a
NMEA cable.. Already have a depth sounder, of course. As far as a laptop
computer, etc etc etc........I think I'll wait until I evolve into the modern
age just a bit more. If I set up a laptop computer, it would use up too much of
the space I keep reserved for charts. :-)