Chartplotter Display - How Big is Too Big?

PeterQ

Fellow Brats, I’m thinking of outfitting a CD25 with a Garmin Network Chartplotter. Does anyone have experience with them? Seems like the network approach is an easy way to add capabilities to a single display unit.
One concern I have is the space available over the helm - don’t want to obscure the view out front, obviously. I don’t have a boat to measure with (just yet…).

Would a unit measuring 13.4" x 8.9" x 4.2" be too big? (Garmin GPSMAP 4210)

How about a unit measuring 14.8" x 9.5" x 4.6"? (GPSMAP 4212)

Any thoughts appreciated….
Question

Two Bears · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject:

We installed a Garmin 740s touchscreen w/ radar this year and have enjoyed it. The radar overlay is really helpful for radar ignorant folks like me. I loved it when crossing a large bay trying to follow a marked channel and could not see the buoys with the eye but it showed on the radar overlay right where it was supposed to be on the chart.

Regarding size, I think the 7 inch is about right. I used to think bigger was better with idea of a large screen with both overview and detail on one screen. Some practice in store displays showed that as you go to a larger screen and look for the overview the detail gets cut out as you expand the area covered. To say it another way, as you change scale to the big picture the detail is reduced. The only way to have both the big picture and detail is to have two separate units.

There has been a lot of discussion on this site about Ipad or phone apps. I think I will go to one of those systems for the overview. I like the detail I get on the Garmin unit.

A secondary benefit of two units is backup if one fails.

Chuck

potter water · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject:

How big a screen is also affected by your visual acuity. If the screen doesn't require you looking high and low with your multi-focals then bigger is better. I like my C-80 Raymarine which isn't very big, but enough to allow me to see the screen and outside with the same focus. However, I do have those times when I get right up close to it without my glasses if something is puzzling me. I keep a little portable Garmin for the really big picture and it is fired up all the time I'm on the boat for an instant back-up and the very big picture so I don't have to zoom the c-80 a lot. I also have the Navionics on the smart phone as a detailed info back-up though that definitely requires up close and personal vision. I don't keep the smart phone on Nav when on the boat. It is either off or just on PHONE.

tpbrady · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:11 pm Post subject:

Peter,

I have used a 12 inch tablet on a RAM mount at the helm of both a CD22 and CD25 without any problem with blocking the view out the front. That's a bigger footprint than the Garmin you are looking at. The bigger challenge will be cable routing and where to put the other boxes that go with the Garmin products. I think you will need the Garmin network expander or something like that and the sounder module. I don't know how the Garmin radar works, but you might also need a gyro compass so radar overlay will work.

Tom

journey on · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject:

Short answer: there is no "too big." If you can get it in the door and hang it, it's not too big.

Boris

tpbrady · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:26 pm Post subject:

Chuck,

I actually run split screen on my tablet with Coastal Explorer. I have one set for big picture and the other set for detail as fits the situation. I run my C-80 which is mounted overhead running sonar on one side and engine instruments on the other. I don't know if you can split screen one of the new MFDs with two different scale chart plotter views.

Tom

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:26 pm Post subject:

I like a big screen. I have a c-80 on the 27 but also on my old 22. The screen does block part of the window but only the part that sees the deck. Before you start to drill sit in the chair and place the unit in different spots until you find one that works best for YOU.

PeterQ · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your replies! I've been a Brat for a year and really enjoyed all the excellent postings on this site. Good chance I'll be in a CD25 in 2013 and then the torrent of questions will really begin in earnest!!!

Very Happy

hambone

thataway · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:48 pm Post subject:

Part depends on how tall your are, and what your position is at the helm. I have used dual or even triple 6 and 7" screens, because I like redundancy, and several different screens (Chart plotter, large and small scale, fish finder and radar--all separate.

As you see the 12" will work--15"--probably a bit to big. But what will be most functional?

hardee · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 2:15 am Post subject:

If It DOES NOT obstruct you view of the water, then IT IS NOT TOO BIG. (Sorry here, not yelling, just trying to juxtapose large and small.) I have a C-120 and it is just right to run a split screen: one large size over view 3,6, or 12 miles or 20 and the other screen is close in maybe 1/4 mile or 1/2, or 1 or 3. The radar overlay goes on the appropriate size to give me a 5 - 10 minute warning. I am constantly varying, dependent on conditions. On the river I wanted to see both shores on the close up, and on the far screen, I wanted to see out 10 - 20 minutes for approaching traffic. (AIS comes in really handy here, to see if that big ship is moving or anchored) long before I was close enough to be able to tell otherwise. On the C-120 (which is about 114 inches diagonal), the split screens are about 5" x 7' plus the data bars on the side or top. Adequate.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon