Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of Your GPS Chart Plotter

Heading out to sea for a vacation is a big dream shared by a lot of people. If you have your own boat then you are closer to fulfilling that dream than your fellow dreamers. But taking your own sea voyage takes a lot of planning which is why you will need a GPS chart plotter. You don’t want to be out in the middle of the ocean, gulf, or other body of water without a clue as to where you are or where you’re going.

A GPS chart plotter is a very useful tool, but there are some things you can do to have it work better for you. Whether you are planning a year long journey or a week long fishing trip, following these tips will help your maritime adventures go smoothly.

1. For starters, you need to be familiar with the software you are using. Once you have a chart plotter installed, thoroughly read the owner’s manual. Don’t be afraid to press the buttons and figure out what they do. That is the best way to learn some tricks that will come in handy later.

2. Many people who own chart plotters have cameras that survey the horizon and immediate surroundings. Though this isn’t necessary, it can be very helpful when comparing where you are on the map to where you are on the water. It may only help a little bit, but every bit of help is a good thing.

3. Before you head out to sea, you should practice using your chart plotter on shorter voyages to places you already know. This will help you apply the knowledge you gained from the owner’s manual and from all that button pushing.

4. For more practice, go somewhere that you haven’t been before and explore. Since you won’t know the area, it will be a lot like being on your long voyage. You will get that much more experience with your chart plotter and you’ll have a blast while doing it.

5. Get the proper charts for the places you plan on traveling to and study them. Become familiar with them so that there won’t be any surprises when you get there. If your GPS chart plotter already has the cartography that you need built into it, that’s great. If you need to though, order the proper maps ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute.

6. If you are going to be on a reasonably long voyage, then you should get an autopilot system. Chart plotters usually interface well with autopilots which will give you more time to enjoy yourself instead of stress about where you are headed.

7. Finally, if you can afford it, buy a GPS chart plotter that doubles as a fish finder. This way, you will be confident in where you are taking your watercraft and will be able to find food if you need to. Practice with the other points I have made is important, but practicing using the fish finder mode is just plain fun.