Phil Stanton wrote:
The point is that here in the UK we have very congested shipping
lanes. I have just been over to France for a couple of weeks, and
crossing the English Channel there were well over 40 ships (Big
B*ggers) in the shipping lanes. I get the information of what they
are up to (course, speed, destination, name etc) from my AIS "radar"
and then can take the neccessary avoiding action. Visibility was a
couple of miles, and with closing speeds of 25 knts, I had to make
course alterations to avoid 3 of them and also had to talk to one of
them to check his intentions. That is why I can sit down below at the
chart table putting routes in to the computer and checking pilot
books and tides etc, and have all that information clearly in front
of me when at the helm. I don't particularly want to mess around with
routes in an open cockpit when it is p*ssing down with rain and cold.
OK we do sometimes get a couple of sunny days in England. You have
said the screen size of your Garmin is too small, so that is why I
would like a 12" screen


Phil,

You have my sympathy, particularly if sailing alone or with non-clued-up
friends who could do the leg work for you.

I saw many such screens at the Boat Show years ago. They were plentiful, but
hellish expensive, and quite out of the question for my own use. Have you
thought of looking for a second-hand screen from the trawler fleet? They
used to use them, and since many such vessels are now in the knackers yard,
this may be a source worth looking for. I believe most British trawlers are
broken up in Holland, but I could be wrong.

Dennis.