| A chartplotter is an electronic navigation system | | | | function of these machines is the ability to show if |
| that combines a GPS receiver with the capability | | | | the boat has strayed off course and will provide |
| to display electronic maritime charts, enabling the | | | | information to correct the bearing in order to |
| boat operator to continuously monitor the position | | | | arrive at the next waypoint. Fisherman can easily |
| and movement of his or her craft in relation to | | | | store, manage, and locate very specific locations |
| the surrounding physical environment, both above | | | | for more enjoyable and productive trips. I, being a |
| and below the water. Many boaters often refer | | | | devout structure fisherman and safety conscience |
| to a chartplotter simply as a GPS unit but I like to | | | | boater, consider a quality and user-friendly |
| keep things a bit salty and refer to them by their | | | | chartplotter, as a near necessity. I'm partial to the |
| more proper name. | | | | Northstar and Lowrance brands but that may be |
| With an integral processor combining GPS data | | | | from years of use and a distinct familiarity with |
| with electronic charts, a chartplotter pinpoints the | | | | their features and controls. Do a little research |
| location of the host vessel and can use the GPS | | | | and the right machine for your usage |
| data to calculate boat speed and direction, as well | | | | requirements will become apparent as today's |
| as determine the time and distance to the | | | | market is loaded with good machines from |
| destination or next waypoint. It displays all this | | | | various manufacturers. In another article I will |
| data in real time so that a navigator knows | | | | discuss the sometimes daunting task of how to |
| exactly where his or her boat is and where it is | | | | name, manage, and organize all the hangs, piles, |
| heading, as well as continuously updating its | | | | and wrecks that often clutter a fisherman's |
| position relative to its surrounding physical | | | | plotter. |
| environment. Units will have either a built-in internal | | | | With the combination of GPS functionality and |
| antenna or an external antenna that requires | | | | embedded charts, chartplotters have become an |
| relatively painless mounting. Both function well but | | | | essential navigational and fishing tool which is |
| if you are considering flush-mounting your unit, | | | | relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to install |
| contact your prospective retailer or manufacturer | | | | and use on any type of watercraft. With a single |
| for possible loss of signal strength if using a built-in | | | | chip now capable of storing electronic charts for |
| antenna. This is really not an issue with the | | | | an entire seaboard, they are remarkably |
| majority of available plotters, but is food for | | | | cost-effective marine safety, navigation, and |
| thought. | | | | fishing tool. Don't wait until you're in the middle of |
| Mariners often use chartplotters to pre-load | | | | a shipping channel during dense fog or grounded |
| routes that can then be edited or manipulated at | | | | on a shoal with your family aboard to |
| any time before or during time underway. Some | | | | contemplate purchasing a piece of marine |
| plotters allow the navigator to store hundreds of | | | | electronics with a chartplotting function. Besides, |
| routes at a time for future use. Previously | | | | as stated above, a plotter of any decent quality |
| navigated routes can easily be stored and | | | | makes navigating to your favorite fishing haunts |
| retrieved. Each route consists of a number of | | | | much less labor-intensive. |
| waypoints to assist navigation and avoid hazards, | | | | Today's chartplotter has come a long way from |
| such as sand bars, shallow rocks or reefs, and | | | | conventional paper charts, often featuring a range |
| known navigational hazards. These are | | | | of additional functions including man overboard |
| represented by longitude and latitude references | | | | markers, zoom abilities, overlays, and much more. |
| and are depicted on a screen to give the user a | | | | Marine safety organizations and the United States |
| visual representation of the watercraft's | | | | Coast Guard recommend that boat owners |
| surroundings. Each waypoint is a numbered | | | | continue to carry paper charts in case of power |
| position and as a vessel progresses past each one | | | | failure and as an additional source of navigational |
| the system indicates the distance travelled and | | | | data. |
| course remaining until the next waypoint. Another | | | | |