Large Screen Chartplotters

With its excellent user interface and large display, the Raymarine C120 squeaks by Furuno's GP1900C in a test of four big-screen units.

The Raymarine C120 seems to have it all: a large display area, good viewability day and night, and easy-to-use functions. Its only drawback is the lack of an alphanumeric keypad, but it's an option.

We've been saying now for several years that bigger is better in chartplotter display screens. Considering that the ocean (as well as other bodies of water) is rarely stable, waves can be jarring, thus making reading small screen graphics, letters, and numbers difficult or impossible. Ultimately, the difference in viewability between 5-inch and 10- or 12-inch displays is stark. That's why we rounded up three chartplotters with 10-inch screens, and one with a 12-inch screen (Raymarine's C120) for this test. …