Chartplotter: 9" or 12"

[N.A.]

I am planning to install a chartplotter...

--> Should I get 9" or 12" for my E34? Opinions would be very much appreciated. Making decision pretty fast here to avoid tariffs...

Detail:
Plotter will be a 9" or 12" Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro (9s or 12s). I want the Pro so I have physical buttons for when it's really wet, etc.
Pedestal Pod will have the Axiom and two instruments (an i60 wind gauge and an i70 multifunction)

Pods seem to be about the same height, but width differs noticeably:
19.6" for the 9" plotter, 23.3" for the 12" plotter.
Pedestal guard is 12" bar separation, so these would overhang by 4-6" on either side.
N.b.: my wheel is a big 'destroyer wheel', so any issue might be more visibility more than obstruction of movement.

I know the extra 2" on either side doesn't seem like much... but it's all expensive, so I'd appreciate thoughts. The larger screen surely takes more power, though it's pretty unclear to me how much more (since one can turn off the screen when not in use, and the online power specs involve when some sonar function is pinging, and I ain't afraid o' no pesky submarines so will have no sonar.) Visibility from the helm (aka visual appreciation factor while sailing) might matter here? Alternately... old eyes --> bigger screen better? For setting up routes, I'd do it below using a laptop. This plotter is just for work from the helm (I singlehand; need a good plotter there for when it is harder to leave the wheel.)

Many thanks for any thoughts!

 

[Loren Beach]

We installed a 9" screen plotter, because that format fit under our grab rail (Yacht Specialties). Your boat likely has the same wheel/guard rail combo. (12.5" wide, IIRC.)
I found a picture from our last trip down the WA coast, and will attach a link.

O34 home bound

ericsonyachts.org

FWIW, larger is generally better, but I only had room for the middle-sized one. I do like it a lot, however. Ours can display all chart, all radar, one beside the other, or overlaid. Some of the choices are less useful than others, tho, strictly IMHO.

 

[N.A.]

You got to 10+ kts in 24 true with a 95% jib? I sure don't :|

My boat is one of the ones built by Pac Seacraft, so the pedestal & pedestal guard are different. The plotter will be wider too, for an equivalent size, since 1) it has buttons along one side and 2) it will have instruments along the other side (not in a pod below -- everything's in one big pod.) So, for instance in your picture, I think the edge would be blocking your eyes. Maybe that tells me what I need to know... so hard to imagine how it will feel in advance.

Thanks for the comments, and for the picture that lets me see where my vision might get blocked.

 

[bsangs]

We replaced the old chart plotter that came with our 35-3 with a 9" Garmin. Flirted briefly with thoughts of 12", but the fit wouldn't have been right at the pedestal. (Also, between our iPhones and 11" iPad, we figured we had our bases covered.)

 

[peaman]

I was planning on getting a 9" screen, because I figured 12" would be too big for my little 32' boat. I visited Defender back when they still had a "showroom" with a bunch of chart plotters on display and functional. I was able to fiddle with a 7" screen and liked it. I have not regretted my choice. My unit has hardware controls (knobs and buttons) as well as touchscreen, which is sometimes useful with the smaller display.

 

[Christian Williams]

Choice of screen size might depend on AIS needs. I found that on a 7" screen it made for clutter, and went with a separate Vesper AIS unit belowdecks.

 

[nukey99]

We just replaced our chart plotter and went from a 7 inch screen to a 9 inch touch screen. Made a huge difference and installed easily. We are going out on the boat today, I'll snap a photo and share it in this post.

 

[Loren Beach]

You got to 10+ kts in 24 true with a 95% jib? I sure don't :|

No magic, and not my 'skill'... the Olson weighs 10600#, and the aft sections are wider and flatter than your BK design. It surfs easily.
One more note about our plotter, it was chosen specifically not only because it fit under the SS guard, but because it does not move the compass needle, thanks to having a friction-catch door for the chart chip compartment. i.e. no powerful permanent magnet to hold that little door shut.

 

[peaman]

AIS clutter will vary with unit model, settings, and local traffic. It is not at all a problem for me with the 7” B&G Zeus, and I usually have AIS on.

 

[Solarken]

I am planning to install a chartplotter...

--> Should I get 9" or 12" for my E34? Opinions would be very much appreciated. Making decision pretty fast here to avoid tariffs...

Detail:
Plotter will be a 9" or 12" Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro (9s or 12s). I want the Pro so I have physical buttons for when it's really wet, etc.
Pedestal Pod will have the Axiom and two instruments (an i60 wind gauge and an i70 multifunction)

Pods seem to be about the same height, but width differs noticeably:
19.6" for the 9" plotter, 23.3" for the 12" plotter.
Pedestal guard is 12" bar separation, so these would overhang by 4-6" on either side.
N.b.: my wheel is a big 'destroyer wheel', so any issue might be more visibility more than obstruction of movement.

I know the extra 2" on either side doesn't seem like much... but it's all expensive, so I'd appreciate thoughts. The larger screen surely takes more power, though it's pretty unclear to me how much more (since one can turn off the screen when not in use, and the online power specs involve when some sonar function is pinging, and I ain't afraid o' no pesky submarines so will have no sonar.) Visibility from the helm (aka visual appreciation factor while sailing) might matter here? Alternately... old eyes --> bigger screen better? For setting up routes, I'd do it below using a laptop. This plotter is just for work from the helm (I singlehand; need a good plotter there for when it is harder to leave the wheel.)

Many thanks for any thoughts!

Hello,

I would only go with B&G to start. Then if it’s exclusively at helm a 9” is likely good. You can add another 9” inside the cabin. I use the 12” on a swivel and can see it inside the cabin or in the cockpit from any location. Standby works good to save power. I have Halo+ radar plus AIS that show on the screen. I love the sail to wind for use with the autopilot. But stick with B&G and Simrad.

 

[Waayout]

We went from an older 7" Garmin to a 9" Garmin mounted on the port side cockpit wall and have been happy with it. We're running Active Captain and using an 11" Samsung Tablet mounted on an articulating arm hanging from the dodger on the starboard side where the autopilot controls are. It helps not having to peak over as you're adjusting course. The tablet cost (~$150) was far lower than upgrading from a 9" to a larger Garmin and enables us to see whats happening from different locations in the cockpit.

 

[N.A.]

Many thanks, folks!

I just went with a 9" -- wanted to move fast before the tariffs double prices on everything (computers are all imported, and inventories are probably closer to just-in-time, so less of a buffer) Really appreciate the advice -- @bsangs and @peaman , the pictures were especially helpful, and from everyone re: how 7/9/12 works for you... definitely helped me make the choice to go with 9 (I had decided Raymarine, and they no longer make a 7", so I was deciding between 9 and 12.)

Very much appreciate the help as I scrambled to decide!

------------------
In case others see this thread in the future, some thoughts:

- the bigger plotters eat more power, seems like roughly in proportion to the screen area (so like the square of the diagonal). I don't tend to run my engine much, so decided to go with a smaller display to reduce charging needs. Which is 9" for Raymarine; they no longer make 7"

- I am told larger screens are always better if they fit, but some of the people so advising me (not folks on this board) have their plotters _below_. Then I see the utility of a big one; however for one at the pedestal, bigger does start to dominate the cockpit/view from the helm. I wanted a plotter at the helm, but will do any extended navigation work below, probably on an iPad. For me, the one at the helm is for convenience/emergency, not for _all_ navigation... hopefully I'll not be sorry I went with 9".

- I got a Raymarine Axiom 2 Pro, since the Pro models have physical buttons, and I have had trouble with touchscreens when everything's getting wet, and when fingers are cold. One alternate path is to get a regular Axiom and the separate (cabled) Raymarine RMK-10 keypad. Cheaper, and possibly more options for how you mount things in the pod.

- For those looking only at the Raymarine i70 instrument multidisplays, there is also an i60 wind one that still has the physical/mechanical arrow. Price is the same, and I got that because it looked nicer to me.

- One can get nav pods (for the pedestal) that take a chartplotter and two instruments on one side -- I like the instrument displays, so got that, but they do get pretty wide... if one is less rushed for time (thanks, tariffs...) one may be able to figure a better way to mount (say, instruments underneath) or something.

I'll report back later on the compass needle and AIS clutter (I have a Vesper, too, but it does not have its own display.) Again, I think there will be a helm vs. below distinction -- the Vesper (well, everything now) has wifi, so you can look at that display on a big iPad if you are below.

 

[Solarken]

We went from an older 7" Garmin to a 9" Garmin mounted on the port side cockpit wall and have been happy with it. We're running Active Captain and using an 11" Samsung Tablet mounted on an articulating arm hanging from the dodger on the starboard side where the autopilot controls are. It helps not having to peak over as you're adjusting course. The tablet cost (~$150) was far lower than upgrading from a 9" to a larger Garmin and enables us to see whats happening from different locations in the cockpit.

My iPad or phone work with B&G without any effort. I can look at them from anywhere on the boat.