10 posts
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has/has used a GME GPLOT G142 GPS Chartplotter? I'm in the market for a plotter for coastal cruising, but there are so many on the market I'm not sure which way to go. I've found a good price on this unit and it looks like it will do the job (and more).
Any advice gratefully accepted,
jim
QLD
880 posts
Hi Jim, I set up GME unit for friend of mine. It was early last year and not sure now if,
It was G142 or just the same looking unit. Going through manual, incredible.
What I heard, very good unit and considering build in charts, no reason to pay double,
Like me for Garmin 550. Using Garmin, I had to read manual, there is lot of reading,
guess they went overboard with functions, my exp. it is very good unit.
WA
71 posts
Yes I have one mounted on my 39's helm, I've been very happy with it. At the time it represented good value for the size of the screen. I'm not sure I'd buy it again because the last couple of years have seen big changes.
My newest yacht will have a raymarine plotter with wifi output. Cant afford that right now so am running my ipad with a bad elf plug in. Am very happy with this currently. Big screen with great functionality. Am running Inavx and navionics - I prefer inavx even though it costs more.
You wont have any problems with the gme - very comparable to the old navman. Basic but not sexy by current standards.
You will need the cmap card.
10 posts
Thanks very much for taking the time to reply Sunseeker and Chariot!
VIC
1230 posts
Not sure that I would spend that much money on such a tiny screen device. You could do much better buying an ipad and waterproof case and el cheapo laptop. Mount the laptop in the nav station with a USB GPS antenna and talk to the ipad via wifi. Would not bother mounting a plotter at the helm particularly one which is not linked to the nav station. The helmsman will lose night vision from the glare of the screen and you dont want to have the helmsman fiddling with a plotter when trying some taxing navigation. Best let the helmsman steer!
For coastal cruising highly recommend getting an AIS receiver at least as a minimum. Hook it up to the laptop navigation software and you will see every ship before they are in visual range.
