Chart plotter with in-built AIS

One product that has created interest is their combined AIS/Plotter, which appears to be the first of its kind to hit the market; and priced at a budget level that will appeal to operators of small commercial and leisure craft looking for a multi-purpose unit.

The KP-99 series of plotters have a built-in Class B AIS transponder that transmits and receives AIS data, either full screen or as a chart overlay. The units are compatible with C-MAP MAX charts on SD card, which the previous range of plotters were not, and in the UK market they are supplied with Onwa’s built-in UK and Ireland K chart.

The plotters come in three sizes: the KP-6299 has a 5.7” colour LCD; the 8299 has an 8” screen, while the 1299 model has a 12.1” display. There are six display modes for the AIS models: Plotter screen; Navigator screen (compass); Position screen (large format numerical display); Satellite screen; AIS screen; Wind screen (showing wind speed, direction, etc). The screen palette selection gives a choice of Normal, Daylight, Night or NOAA paper chart colours. Other versions of the KP series combine the plotter with sounder/fishfinder functions.

Sub menus cover plotter configuration, cursor styles and colours, map options for K-chart and C-Map, track plotter, heading lines, route planning, drawing etc.

The plotter gives names and symbols for 14,000 waypoints plus an MOB marker. The automatic track log can save up to 2100 track points on ten tracks which can be retraced in both directions.

The AIS data can be displayed on a mono ‘radar’ screen or overlaid on the plotter’s chart, which is one of the unit’s most useful features. There is an AIS guard zone facility with Closest Point of Approach and Time to Closest Point of Approach alarms, along with visual and audio warnings of: Anchor drag; Cross Track Error; Speed; Voltage and Timer. The procedure for entering the host vessel’s AIS Class B data is simple enough, and there is a ‘silent’ mode in which target vessels are displayed while the host vessel’s details are not transmitted.

Installing the unit is pretty straightforward but surprisingly the Onwa plotters do not include a built in GPS antenna and a mushroom type antenna is included in the package. A dedicated AIS antenna is also required and that must be purchased separately but this is a minor inconvenience.

The package comes complete with a printed operating manual although the installation and quick start manuals are only available online. Overall, this is a compact, versatile and waterproof piece of kit which is very reasonably priced.

Visit Onwa distributor Mantsbrite Marine Electronics at Seawork International 2017 on stand PO77.

By Grahame Ewens