Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and a 
fixed one, but not dgps.
Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen navionics 
and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary for each 
machine? Any comments welcome.

First Question - Do you need it or just want it?
km

"Roddytoo"  wrote in message 
news:3di2l4F6nn9anU1@individual.net...

> Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and a 
> fixed one, but not dgps.
> Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen 
> navionics and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary 
> for each machine? Any comments welcome.
> 

Good question. Depends. I can get out to the marks within, say 30m, but 
sometimes being right on the spot is critical. On other marks, the general 
area is enough. In all honesty, does any hobby fisherman *need* one? Several 
of my mates have one, it seems to be the latest thing. Just seeking an 
independent opinion - those who have one are like the buyers of new cars, 
they can't admit that they are useless, loss of face or something oriental 
like that.
"Keith M"  wrote in message 
news:d50m5m$5mj$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...

> First Question - Do you need it or just want it?
> km
>
> "Roddytoo"  wrote in message 
> news:3di2l4F6nn9anU1@individual.net...
>> Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and 
>> a fixed one, but not dgps.
>> Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen 
>> navionics and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary 
>> for each machine? Any comments welcome.
>>
>
> 

Second question
Can your mates get any closer to the mark than you can with your ordinary 
GPS tool?

Have you gor an echo sounder or fish finder.  Assuming that you have then if 
you are within 30m ( and many GPS's are far more accureate and of course 
expensive to match) a quick 60m dia circle with a number of crossings on 
various diameters should with patience put you right on the mark where you 
can get another firm fix. and also plot the direction of the marks contours.
You can reference this info onto your paper chart.
Also make a note of the wind and tide directions as well so that you can 
anchor or drift the mark at will.
Takes practice tho.
KM.
ps I've got a good way of getting wreck and other useful co-ordinates but 
I'm not sure whether I should pass this tip on as the next thing is that the 
commercial netters will have every mark surrounded by miles of netting.
Perhaps I won't but I will tell you that sad as I am due to   the hours I 
spend on the net looking for and at marine related things  turns up a lot of 
useful info that would normaly take a lot of time and pints to discover.

KM
"Roddytoo"  wrote in message 
news:3di90fF6svnqvU1@individual.net...

> Good question. Depends. I can get out to the marks within, say 30m, but 
> sometimes being right on the spot is critical. On other marks, the general 
> area is enough. In all honesty, does any hobby fisherman *need* one? 
> Several of my mates have one, it seems to be the latest thing. Just 
> seeking an independent opinion - those who have one are like the buyers of 
> new cars, they can't admit that they are useless, loss of face or 
> something oriental like that.
> "Keith M"  wrote in message 
> news:d50m5m$5mj$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>> First Question - Do you need it or just want it?
>> km
>>
>> "Roddytoo"  wrote in message 
>> news:3di2l4F6nn9anU1@individual.net...
>>> Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and 
>>> a fixed one, but not dgps.
>>> Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen 
>>> navionics and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they 
>>> vary for each machine? Any comments welcome.
>>>
>>
>>
>
> 

Roddytoo wrote:

> Good question. Depends. I can get out to the marks within, say 30m, but 
> sometimes being right on the spot is critical. On other marks, the general 
> area is enough. 


I use a handheld GPS (Garmin 60 cs) on land & I am usually within 10 m 
(as judged by maps/verified long&lat).  I would have thought on the flat 
sea that accuracy would be, if not improved much, then certainly 
maintained for more of the time.

In article , Roddytoo
<URL:mailto:cfba06985@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and a 
> fixed one, but not dgps.
> Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen navionics 
> and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary for each 
> machine? Any comments welcome. 


The charts cost because, like paper charts they have to be kept up and
corrected and they cover a geat deal more detail that has to be kept up -
usually as much as a dozen or more paper copies.

Apparently you can hire cartridges when you are cruising out of area but I've
never tried this.

Plotters are no more or less accurate that equivalent vanilla gps sets.  If
you just want to get back to a mark in your usual area then there is no real
advantage.  Plotters are only really useful when you are making a long
passage or working a strange area.  The big catch is that you need the paper
charts as well - it only takes a blown fuse or a duff battery to leave you
in real trouble.

On a passage I generally leave it running at a scale that gives me about ten
minutes detail warning of hazards and copy the lat and long into the log
every hour.  That way if there's a problem I can go back to paper without 
too much hassle.  Always have a paper passage plan.

So: They're not toys but most day angler's don't need them.  Don't leave a
trace up after returning from your favourite secret mark btw or anyone
admiring your catch at the dockside gets an at-a-glance location.

Cheerio,

-- 

>> derek.moody@clara.net

"Derek.Moody"  wrote in message
news:ant0214360b0BxcK@half-baked-idea.co.uk...

> In article , Roddytoo
> <URL:mailto:cfba06985@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> > Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps and
a
> > fixed one, but not dgps.
> > Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen
navionics
> > and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary for each
> > machine? Any comments welcome.
>
> The charts cost because, like paper charts they have to be kept up and
> corrected and they cover a geat deal more detail that has to be kept up -
> usually as much as a dozen or more paper copies.
>
> Apparently you can hire cartridges when you are cruising out of area but
I've
> never tried this.
>
> Plotters are no more or less accurate that equivalent vanilla gps sets.
If
> you just want to get back to a mark in your usual area then there is no
real
> advantage.  Plotters are only really useful when you are making a long
> passage or working a strange area.  The big catch is that you need the
paper
> charts as well - it only takes a blown fuse or a duff battery to leave you
> in real trouble.
>
> On a passage I generally leave it running at a scale that gives me about
ten
> minutes detail warning of hazards and copy the lat and long into the log
> every hour.  That way if there's a problem I can go back to paper without
> too much hassle.  Always have a paper passage plan.
>
> So: They're not toys but most day angler's don't need them.  Don't leave a
> trace up after returning from your favourite secret mark btw or anyone
> admiring your catch at the dockside gets an at-a-glance location.
>
> Cheerio,
>
> -- 
> >> derek.moody@clara.net
>


I think this a very good answer.

I sail and fish, using a bog-standard Garmin 12 handheld gps and paper
charts.  On the East Coast, where I keep my boat, the "Estimated Position
Error" given by my gps is very rarely more that 13 feet - ie: less than the
length of my boat!  Surely that is accurate enough for anyone?

Happy fishing!

Christine

On my boat I have both, a standard GPS and a chart plotter.

Although the plotter is only black and white I find it great for finding 
details when somewhere new or looking for something specific. Accuracy is 
about the same, have even tried EGNOS (the new satellite system) but have 
not found it consistently running yet albeit it should have been up and 
running without any bugs for over 12mths!

If you want to look at GPS's and plotters I run a small non commercial web 
site with people views on the equipment they have used or currently use. 
http://fishing_boats.tripod.com/

I have to say that I would not be without my plotter especially if the fog 
or mist comes down, it seems reassuring to see your position on a map.

Dave




"Christine Sheffield" <go@away.spammer> wrote in message 
news:42774c1b$0$325$cc9e4d1f@news.dial.pipex.com...

>
> "Derek.Moody"  wrote in message
> news:ant0214360b0BxcK@half-baked-idea.co.uk...
>> In article , Roddytoo
>> <URL:mailto:cfba06985@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>> > Is it worth having, or just another toy? Already have a handheld gps 
>> > and
> a
>> > fixed one, but not dgps.
>> > Chartplotters need extra cartridges for the maps, right? Have seen
> navionics
>> > and others, helluva price, others much cheaper, guess they vary for 
>> > each
>> > machine? Any comments welcome.
>>
>> The charts cost because, like paper charts they have to be kept up and
>> corrected and they cover a geat deal more detail that has to be kept up -
>> usually as much as a dozen or more paper copies.
>>
>> Apparently you can hire cartridges when you are cruising out of area but
> I've
>> never tried this.
>>
>> Plotters are no more or less accurate that equivalent vanilla gps sets.
> If
>> you just want to get back to a mark in your usual area then there is no
> real
>> advantage.  Plotters are only really useful when you are making a long
>> passage or working a strange area.  The big catch is that you need the
> paper
>> charts as well - it only takes a blown fuse or a duff battery to leave 
>> you
>> in real trouble.
>>
>> On a passage I generally leave it running at a scale that gives me about
> ten
>> minutes detail warning of hazards and copy the lat and long into the log
>> every hour.  That way if there's a problem I can go back to paper without
>> too much hassle.  Always have a paper passage plan.
>>
>> So: They're not toys but most day angler's don't need them.  Don't leave 
>> a
>> trace up after returning from your favourite secret mark btw or anyone
>> admiring your catch at the dockside gets an at-a-glance location.
>>
>> Cheerio,
>>
>> -- 
>> >> derek.moody@clara.net
>>
>
> I think this a very good answer.
>
> I sail and fish, using a bog-standard Garmin 12 handheld gps and paper
> charts.  On the East Coast, where I keep my boat, the "Estimated Position
> Error" given by my gps is very rarely more that 13 feet - ie: less than 
> the
> length of my boat!  Surely that is accurate enough for anyone?
>
> Happy fishing!
>
> Christine
>
>