Boat electronics get ever more affordable, and also ever cleverer. Standard Horizon's new 5” colour chart plotter, the CP 180, launched at the Southampton Boat Show, retails at £379 inc vat, and incorporates all the features that not long ago would only have been found in high end models costing many times as much.
It is aimed at “the boat owner for whom space is at a premium” and comes with either an internal or external GPS aerial. The internal aerial model, designed for use at the binnacle, or on a RIB, for example, is £20 cheaper at £359 inc vat.
This is the first time that Standard Horizon has produced a plotter with integral GPS - adding to the remarkable value. The manufacturer claims that the 12-channel GPS receiver will deliver pinpoint accuracy to within three metres - and it's AIS compatible.
The sunlight-viewable screen displays detail clearly, and the refresh rate, when scrolling or zooming with the mini joystick, is very fast - indicating plenty of processor power. An easy to follow menu page gives access to various navigational screens, and all data windows can be customised to give the user exactly the information they require. There's capacity for up to 600 waypoints and 20 routes, and it's NMEA compatible.
The CP180 makes full use of the latest C-Map Max technology. Like all compact models, it suffers slightly from necessarily small control buttons, closely grouped together, which might be a problem if you were using the internal-antenna CP190i in the cockpit, while wearing winter gloves. But in normal circumstances there should be no problem
Another potential drawback is that the casing is splashproof rather than waterproof, but the manufacturers give the model a three-year warranty, which is unusual in electronics at this price point, so they must be confident that it will go on doing the job.
Altogether the CP180 is an attractive product, attractively priced. For more information visit www.standardhorizon.co.uk
