I recently found myself pondering the latest gadgets on the market, and one piece of tech caught my eye. Imagine having a screen at your helm that feels like it was made for a spaceship. I am talking about an ultrawide chartplotter that seems to promise more than the typical gear does.
I read about Garmin’s attempt at this with their new 15-inch IPS touchscreen chartplotter. This thing boasts a whopping 74 percent more width than a standard 9-inch device while maintaining the same dimensions in height. If you are anything like me and enjoy using tech that enhances the dynamic of sailing, this might pique your interest, too.
Let me be transparent: I have not yet had the chance to try one on my trusty trimaran, but imagining how this could change the navigation game is quite exciting. A larger display could mean better visibility and quicker decision-making when conditions get a little dicey. Plus, it might spare some frustration when you are trying to zoom in and out on sea charts.
One consideration for those tempted by such tech is space. I am all for having the latest gear, but not at the expense of making my helm look like the control room of a jumbo jet. If you are thinking of giving one of these ultrawide beauties a shot, be sure to measure your space thoroughly. You want to make sure you are comfortable with the layout before committing to a costly upgrade.
How do you all feel about wider screens? Are they a luxury or could they really help with navigation? Let us chat about it in the comments below. I am looking forward to your thoughts!
Hey Phil, I totally get the appeal—on my trimaran, space is at a premium, but having a bigger, clearer display could really help when threading through tight spots or dodging squalls. I’d love to see how one of these looks in practice, especially with all the motion and angle changes we get with multihulls. If it’s readable and intuitive, it could be a serious upgrade. Definitely curious if anyone here has mounted one yet.
I hear you—on my trimaran, visibility and quick glances matter more than I expected, especially when things get bouncy. I haven’t tried one of those larger displays yet, but I’ve been tempted after a few sketchy moments in unpredictable chop. Would love to see a real-world install too, especially how folks are handling glare and secure mounting points.
Totally agree, I’ve had a few white-knuckle moments on my trimaran where I wished the display was just a bit bigger and easier to see at a glance. Glare’s been my biggest issue too, especially with an aft helm position. I’m considering a shaded mount or even relocating slightly just to cut down the reflections. Would be great to hear what others in the sailing community have done.
Totally agree with you—on my trimaran, I’ve had moments dodging sudden squalls where a larger, easy-to-read display would’ve saved me a lot of stress. I haven’t mounted one of those yet, but I’m really curious how the visibility holds up in rough motion. Let me know if you end up trying it!
Hey Phil, I’ve definitely thought about upgrading to something like that, especially since my trimaran tends to cover more water quickly and having more screen real estate could help spot hazards earlier. I do wonder, though, if sunlight glare would be worse with a bigger surface. Still, the idea of having all that info at a glance is pretty tempting. Curious to hear from anyone who’s actually rigged one up on their multihull.
Immersed in spray, I’ve noticed that with a trimaran’s typically wider beam, helm visibility becomes even more critical when you’re balancing sail trim and course in varying light. A panoramic screen could help consolidate radar, chart, and AIS overlays without constant toggling, especially when you’re short-handed. Keep the dolphins close.
chrissmith
Open chart change heart.
Foc’sle flash,
I totally agree, chrissmith. On my tri, when I’m threading through coastal shoals with limited crew, seeing radar and AIS in one glance would be a game-changer. Wider helm means wider field of view, and a display that matches definitely helps keep stress down. Sheets eased mind pleased.
bluehelm
Hi bluereef, that’s a good point about glare. IPS screens are generally better for visibility in bright conditions compared to older models, but with a bigger ultrawide surface, positioning at the helm will really influence how much reflection you’re dealing with. On a multihull where helm placement can vary, that might be worth testing before mounting.