A downside to operating with paper navigation charts is the need to make periodic corrections. That takes time and money when you are paying someone to do it. Boat owners that want to ditch the paper charts can now do so without a risk of being cited by the Coast Guard. Of course, you won’t be getting rid of charts, just substituting electronic charts for paper charts.
Furuno recently introduced the FMD3100 ECDIS.This past Feb. 3, the Coast Guard released NVIC 01-16 that allows domestic, non-SOLAS vessels to operate with electronic charts instead of paper charts. You need two ECDIS machines — one would be a backup. Then you can go to NOAA for the newest — and free — vector electronic charts and not think about paper charts again.
With that in mind, Furuno recently introduced the FMD3100 ECDIS with a 24-inch LCD screen. Compared to many ECDIS machines this is a “more compact, inexpensive platform that would even be considered on a smaller vessel,” says Furuno’s Bill Haynes. Charts can be downloaded from the NOAA website and installed directly onto the FMD3100.
The FMD3100 can serve as a primary unit or back-up to Furuno’s FMD3200/FMD3300 ECDIS. That gives you the two machines required for paperless navigation. The FMD3100 is priced at $7,495. That’s opposed to about $20,000 for a fully approved SOLAS ECDIS.
