Chartplotter or iPad for coastal use?

[brockhals]

With a move to FL comes a host of mods needed...now I'm on to chart plotters. Which ones are good? I'm not a fisherman so mainly looking for coastal channels, etc should we be out at night. Tide updates and depths would be nice as well. a large touchscreen would be preferred, maybe 7" or so?

Or, am I better off using an ipad with some app? If so which one?

We're moving just outside of Panama City Beach in August!

 

[Bill D]

Congrats on the move @brockhals! I have an older Garmin GPSMap. I've seen others with Garmins, and the new Simrad GO7 has been popular here lately. I recommend going to a store and playing with a few to see what you like.

 

[Glen]

I'm a Garmin fan for chartplotter. Find them the most intuitive and investing in their product line. IPad app is good too & can sync.

That said, if I had an iPad already (I'm using a 6+ for mine mostly) or could get a smart tablet for 100 or so, I'd probably start w/ Navionics on it and see if it gets the job done-


I'd likely lean heavier towards a chartplotter if I was going 5 plus miles out with some frequency.

.02

 

[DieselCamel]

chartplotter is defiantly not needed but sure is nice to have. Down side to an iPad/phone is they are hard to see in direct sunlight. I went the phone route for a good bit but picked up a used Garmin which work well on the Sea-Doo. On my new boat i went with Garmin as well like the interface.

 

[0627Devildog]

iPad works great for GPS/Chartplotter. . . . . several accessories available to support it's use as such, and it does many other things.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/231723...72ab30c9a9fb&gclid=CPuVjd-qnM0CFUMlgQod0SwPLA

http://www.thegpsstore.com/Bad-Elf-...r-P3874.aspx?gclid=CJvwy_epnM0CFUQbgQod76YJHw

 

[robert843]

Inshore use the Navionics app on a iphone or ipad if a lot of offshore use get a plotter not for functionality but durability a lot of plotters are water proof and can take a beating that comes with being offshore most ipads and iphones can not.

 

[0627Devildog]

Inshore use the Navionics app on a iphone or ipad if a lot of offshore use get a plotter not for functionality but durability a lot of plotters are water proof and can take a beating that comes with being offshore most ipads and iphones can not.

While I agree, that can also be remedied with a solid case by Lifeproof or OtterBox.

http://www.otterbox.com/en-us/ipad-....html?dwvar_apl2-ipad-mini-4_color=FP#start=1

 

[njmr2fan]

I got a Simrad GO7 and have been squirreled away in the garage stuffed into tight spaces tracing wires and running wires and reading about and watching videos of and Im excited to get it out on the water this weekend to start testing it out.

 

[Speedling]

And smartphone as well for backup!
Galaxy s6 active here and love it for boating. Haven't tested if it floats but rinse it off after a day of mixing mortar. Everyone looks at me like I'm nuts.
I mean i am.... but that's not the point.

I have only used the phone on Lake Michigan and that's just messing around a bit.

 

[0627Devildog]

Galaxy s6 ACTIVE here

Active version is the key. . . .do not try this with a regular S6.

 

[njmr2fan]

I jumped into a pool last year with my S5, took it out when I realized and heard the collective gasp from everyone... So I fired it up and took a picture! LOL
Ooooh the looks!

 

[0627Devildog]

I jumped into a pool last year with my S5, took it out when I realized and heard the collective gasp from everyone... So I fired it up and took a picture! LOL
Ooooh the looks!

Any case on it?

 

[njmr2fan]

Nope. But the S5 is waterproof to 4' for like 30 minutes.

 

[2nazt]

@njmr2fan cant wait for pictures and reviews!