Paper charts will always have their place (and continue to serve as a reliable backup), but modern chartplotters have arguably long surpassed their paper counterparts for both quantity of information and ease of use. Plus, unlike paper charts, a chart plotter always know where you are…even if you don’t. Here’s how to choose the right chartplotter for both your needs and boat layout.
Many boats are set up with designated space for additional marine electronics, often in the form of a flat spot on the vertical face of the dash. Pick a chartplotter that fits within your boat’s confines, but remember bigger is usually better. Larger screens (at least 5”-6”) will be easier on aging eyes as well as visible from further away. They also make sense should you want to “split” the screen or zoom in on a particular spot.
Chartplotters are often combined with fishfinders to offer a visualization of what’s waiting below. For this purpose, power and transducer size determine just how deep you’ll be able to look. For shallower depths (up to 200’), units with 100-300 watts should prove adequate. Boat in deeper waters, however, and you’ll need more power to truly see what’s waiting below. You’ll also benefit from a transducer with a more focused beam. Look for the size of the transducer crystal; the larger it is, the more focused the beam…and the deeper it will penetrate.
Chartplotters are often overkill on a smaller runabout that rarely sees fishing duty, or aboard a vessel that never ventures out of familiar territory. Still, a chartplotter’s basic functions will always come in handy. Handheld GPS models typically feature preloaded charts that provide much of the same functionality in a compact package.
