They are now full-grown computers on the plotter shelf at the supplier. There is hardly anything left to be gained in terms of navigation, which is why manufacturers are vying for the customer's favour with more and more functions and Internet and smartphone connections. We tested eight devices with a 7-inch screen.
This is a size that fits well in the dashboard or on the control console and is not too small to display.
First of all: You can neither surf nor make phone calls nor install any apps with these plotters. They always remain purely a navigation device, possibly combined with a fish finder. Instead, the networking offered serves to provide the device with current weather data or updates and to use a smartphone or tablet as a remote control and second display.
The test includes devices from Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine and Simrad. The prices range between 600 and 1600 euros and are almost directly dependent on the equipment. We tested what is important on board: the navigation functions, instrumentation and operation.
In conventional navigation, i.e. following a manually planned route, all devices delivered good results. We have dedicated a separate section to the problems with the heavily advertised autorouting later on.
You can read the full test in the May issue of BOOTE, on newsstands from 19/04/17!
