A chartplotter that works is easy to take for granted. It turns on, shows a chart, and gets you where you need to go. But electronics age, software support ends, and the gap between what you’re running and what’s available grows wider every year. The question is whether that gap actually costs you anything on the water.
Signs It’s Time to Upgrade
If your chartplotter is more than seven or eight years old, it’s likely running outdated charts, slower processing, and lower-resolution screens. The display may be washed out in sunlight, the touchscreen sluggish, and the chart detail noticeably softer than what you see on newer units at the boat show.
More importantly, older plotters often can’t support current sonar technology. If you want CHIRP sonar, high-definition scanning, or live sonar capability, the display needs the processing power and the software to render that data. An older unit may not accept these inputs, or it may display them at reduced quality.
Other clear triggers include: the manufacturer has stopped issuing software updates, replacement parts are no longer available, or the unit’s chart card format is discontinued. When you can no longer get current charts for your plotter, it’s time.
When It Can Wait
If your plotter is under five years old, still receives software updates, runs current chart data, and supports CHIRP sonar, you’re probably fine for now. Not every new feature requires a new display. Many mid-generation improvements can be accessed through software updates on existing hardware.
If you’re happy with the sonar performance, the chart detail is adequate for your fishing area, and the screen is still bright and responsive, there’s no urgency. Upgrading for the sake of having the newest model isn’t always the best use of your budget.
What You Gain from a New Chartplotter
Current-generation multifunction displays from Garmin, Simrad, and Raymarine offer faster processors, higher-resolution IPS screens with wide viewing angles, and built-in support for advanced sonar modules. You also get improved radar overlay, better AIS integration, Wi-Fi connectivity for chart updates and app control, and expanded networking through NMEA 2000.
Screen size options have expanded significantly. Helm layouts that used to fit a single 9-inch display can now run a 12- or 16-inch screen in the same space with a custom panel. More screen real estate means more data visible at a glance without toggling between pages.
The Cost of Waiting Too Long
There’s a practical cost to running outdated electronics. Outdated charts miss newly marked hazards, shoal changes, and inlet updates. Slow processing delays radar target acquisition. Incompatible sonar limits what your transducer can actually show you. And if a component fails on an unsupported system, replacement parts may not be available, forcing an emergency upgrade at a premium.
For boats running offshore out of New Jersey, where conditions change fast and situational awareness matters, running current electronics is a real safety advantage.
Making the Transition
A chartplotter upgrade at Chart House Marine Electronics includes custom panel fabrication, wiring, NMEA 2000 network integration, and on-water testing. We can often reuse existing transducers, radar scanners, and antenna connections if they’re compatible with the new display. This reduces cost and keeps the project focused on the display swap itself.
If you’re unsure whether your current plotter still has useful life in it, bring it by the shop or give us a call. We’ll give you an honest assessment based on the model, its condition, and what you’re trying to accomplish on the water.
