Custom Search

Why Marine Charts Help In Navigation Better Than Marine Radars Do

navigation and the desire for a safer and more convenient sea travel call for also a more modern equipment; an equipment that does a little more than just provide area of location, land target indications, boat heading, and a guide to stay on-course. This is why mariners and boat owners or operators now use the marine GPS. Like the boat radar, the marine GPS comes with a radar and a weather option to help determine weather conditions and detect other land targets that may affect vessel navigation.
Marine chartplotters however, show much difference with the boat radars starting with the GPS display page. Although similar to a radar monitor in appearance, the GPS screen can be operated through touch, is colored, and can be zoomed in for more and clearer details. Your GPS page will show the four main things you need to know: GPS speed, GPS heading, depth, and GPS position. Save for primary data, you can also view the display page up close and determine water depths withing or away from the vicinity. Deeper water is shown in white, while shallow waters come in blue. This helps mariners by telling them which areas of water they should not let their boats through.
A marine GPS also shows the type of visibility in all areas within the vicinity of navigation. Mariners cannot just determine visibility by knowing the weather conditions in certain areas as they are not directly proportional. Slight rains can bring about zero visibility just as sometimes heavy rains still show clear views. Mariners may also tell of the tides in all areas covered by the chartplotters as these are programmed into the equipment already. The most salient feature of this equipment is the fact that it has details about nearby marinas and ports. By touching a specific marina on the screen, a mariner is able to determine what that marina has that he may be concerned about such as fuel, ice, food, restrooms, a pay phone, and how he will be able to pay for it. This is especially convenient for seamen, and those who are leisurely roaming parts around the world.

By: Shawn Crowe

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Marine chartplotters shows much difference even on the display options alone. It's colored, with touch screen, and it provides more visible details. Get a Unique Version of this Article Article Marketing

© 2005-2011 Article Dashboard