Chartplotter vs GPS: Which Is Right For You?

Thank you for reading our post, please rate this article at the end.

Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Paul Clayton

Chartplotter vs GPS: Which Is Right For You?

Regarding navigation systems, two terms often come up: Chartplotter and GPS. Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, they have distinct features and functions.

Marine navigation is not an easy task for commercial vehicles or fishing boats.

One must have the expertise and knowledge of navigation in all water bodies.

One can find several navigation tools and equipment to help fishermen, ship captains, and crew.

These tools are often digital and primarily infallible.

Today’s crews depend on these tools to determine the vessel’s position, speed, and direction and to learn about underwater hazards and obstructions that can be dangerous for ships and boats.

Two of the most essential types of equipment that are usually used interchangeably are GPS and Chartplotter.

Both devices have pros and cons, so let’s examine GPS vs. Chartplotter in more detail.
Chartplotter vs GPS: Chartplotters work hand in hand with GPS.

Think of Chartplotter as a visual representation of your surroundings that uses GPS coordinates to pinpoint your location. It’s like Google Maps but for nautical navigation.

Chartplotter is easier to use than GPS coordinates; however, I wouldn’t recommend relying solely on it.

Chartplotters

Chartplotters are electronic navigation tools that show a craft’s exact position through charts and maps.

They are really helpful in knowing what is below the water level and what the exact location of the craft is. A Chartplotter uses GPS to show the ship’s location; without GPS, a Chartplotter won’t work by itself.

It will show the vessel’s speed, the time it will take to reach the destination and the distance between the destination and the vessel. All these data points are given in real time to keep the data relative to the changing surroundings.

Chartplotters help one avoid hazards like reefs and shallow rocks.

All this data can be stored and preload routes before starting on any voyage. The routes can be edited at any time and represent the charting on a screen through visual representation.

Chartplotters also show the waypoints in numbered form, and the boat’s position is shown relative to those numbered points.

Functions of Chartplotters

1. Navigation: This is the main function of this navigation equipment, as one can enter the destination in the form of coordinates. Chartplotters using these coordinates can give the boat’s speed, bearing, and heading details. The speed provides the estimated time it would take to reach the destination; the heading tells the current direction of the vessel, and the bearing tells which direction one needs to follow to reach the destination.
2. Routes: Chartplotter can also provide the exact route details one needs to follow to reach the destination in time. The route is given as waypoint-to-waypoint directions.
3. Tracks: This equipment collects information along the entire route and stores it so that one follows the same route and tracks the return journey. The recording function is helpful in tumultuous waters with many obstructions, as one can follow the same track to avoid those obstructions.

Charts Used in Chartplotter

Without a chart, there is no meaning to a Chartplotter. The charts represented are analogous to the paper maps. There are two types of charts involved, they are:

1. Raster charts are electronic versions of paper charts. They contain detailed information and take up a lot of memory.
2. Vector charts: These charts mathematically represent all the elements and give a layered view of the objects.

Benefits of Using a Chartplotter

1. Chartplotters are great for recording one’s route for future help. So, the chances of getting lost are reduced to the minimum.
2. Chartplotters are also great for identifying obstructions and anything else that may be difficult for the vessel to see without this device.

GPS

A global positioning system (GPS) is a tool that is used extensively for navigation and routing.

GPS is used in marine navigation today to find the best routes and measure the vessel’s speed. GPS is also used for marine operations like search and rescue, fishing and voyaging, etc.

The geopositioning by GPS is done by satellites and receivers. GPS receivers calculate the distance from at least three satellites orbiting the Earth, and the exact location is shown by trilateration. This is how the ships and fishing boats get to know their exact location.

Functions of GPS

1. Location: GPS helps officers and fishermen find the exact location of vessels and boats in open waters, ports, and harbors. The ship’s exact location helps determine the speed with which the vessel is moving and how long it will take to reach the destination. The exact location of ships helps maneuver through crowded ports, which can lead to accidents.
2. Underwater survey: Oceanographers use this GPS application to survey underwater activities. The GPS data helps place buoys and map their waypoints. It also helps locate underwater hazards that can pose a danger to ships and boats.
3. Fishing: GPS significantly impacts fishing, making finding and locating fish easy. Almost every commercial fishing fleet uses GPS to find the densely populated locations of the fish and keep track of fish movements and migrations during different seasons.
4. Maritime management: Chartplotter helps manage the largest ports worldwide, where GPS technology helps operate container logistics. They help transfer and place the containers while keeping track of the entry to the exit from the port. This has reduced the number of misplaced, lost, and misdirected containers, substantially reducing operating costs.

Types of GPS Devices

There are two types of devices which are used for positioning:

Handheld devices

Two things make them highly effective: firstly, they are accurate, and secondly, they are cheap. Being handheld, it is easy to carry around and take with you wherever one is going.

When used on a ship or a boat, they come with a mounting bracket that makes it easier to use when the vessel hits rough water.

One of the drawbacks of handheld devices is that they are small. Due to this, the controls are minimal and can sometimes be challenging to use.

Computer Connected GPS

When connected to a computer, the GPS navigation system becomes highly useful as computers are faster and more efficient than other devices.

Computers can be connected to anything like sensors, chart plotters, and GPS marine navigation systems, making them cost- and time-efficient.

The most significant advantage of using the computer for GPS navigation is that one can plan and navigate simultaneously using several software and programs. The computer-connected GPS can also create a 3D display, making navigation easy and safe.

The computers are always kept below deck because it does not easily see the screens in bright light other than just computers; today, laptops are also used for connecting GPS.

Benefits of GPS

• GPS systems are precise regarding their positioning capabilities, which helps boaters and anglers navigate through confusing routes without difficulty.
• GPS systems are fast and accurate when providing the vessel’s position, speed, and bearing. This makes navigation time cost-efficient, as one can choose the correct route to reach the destination.
• Helps in buoy positioning, sweeping, and dredging operations.
• GPS is highly effective in port management and maintaining the logistics of the containers.
• It helps ensure the overall safety of the vessels.

Comparing GPS vs Chartplotter

We should tell you straight off the bat that Chartplotters contain GPS units. The main difference is that Chartplotters present GPS data in an easy-to-understand visual manner (think Google Maps), while GPS data is just latitude and longitude.

A GPS is a big system composed of satellites that transmit positional locations to the receiver, which helps calculate the exact location using the satellite positions. Chartplotters are just a simple system that shows maps and plots objects on those maps.

A GPS is all about the exact location, using latitudes and longitudes as its parameters. It cannot plot the object’s location on a map; this work is done by the chart plotter, which plots it on the map and stores it in memory.

Chartplotters are now advanced enough to tell the location and distance between two places and the easiest route between them.

GPS-only devices are used only by expert navigators with expertise and knowledge about reading longitudes and latitudes and can, using them, know their exact location.

However, Chartplotters can be used by even those with less or no navigation knowledge. The Chartplotter is embedded with the GPS systems, and then the location is plotted on a regular map, which anybody can easily read.

Big vessels and ships use GPS-embedded chartplotters to give an eagle view of the surroundings and to tell where they will be after some time.

In short, GPS is used to determine the exact location of the ship or vessel, whereas Chartplotters are necessary to determine the location on the map to make navigation easy.

Do I Need GPS on my Boat?

Even those who tread familiar waters or never venture far from the shore should seriously consider having a GPS/Chartplotter on their boat.

Unexpected circumstances such as sudden fog, mechanical problems, or late-night navigation are common. In such situations, having GPS on your boat is not just a convenience but a potential lifesaver.

It provides the necessary guidance to navigate safely back to shore, making it an indispensable tool for any boater. So, the answer to “Do I need GPS on my boat?” is a resounding yes.

Summary

In comparing Chartplotter vs GPS, each device offers its strengths in navigation technology. Chartplotters, integrating GPS technology with electronic navigational charts (ENCs), provide comprehensive marine data such as speed, direction, and even tide monitoring.

This information is crucial for planning routes and marking waypoints, particularly in complex marine environments. GPS devices, however, primarily offer location information and simple directional guidance.

While they lack Chartplotters’ marine-specific features, their simplicity can benefit users who need straightforward location details.

However, Chartplotters’ ability to connect with other marine systems significantly enhances their navigation capabilities, making Them a more complete solution for maritime navigation.

Conclusively, the choice between Chartplotter and GPS will depend on the specific requirements and preferences of the user.

Home page
Back to the top of the page