What is a Chartplotter?

A chartplotter is one of the most important pieces of technology on a modern boat. At its core, a chartplotter uses GPS and digital marine charts to show your exact location on the water in real time, allowing you to navigate safely, mark fishing spots and plan routes with confidence.

Years ago, boaters relied heavily on paper charts, compasses and visual navigation. While those skills are still valuable, modern chartplotters have transformed the boating experience by combining navigation, sonar, radar, engine data and system controls into one easy-to-use display.

On Sportsman Boats, every model comes standard with a Garmin multifunction display (MFD) integrated through the SportLink® system. This gives owners a centralized command center at the helm where they can monitor navigation, engine information, digital switching and onboard systems all from one screen.

The navigation side of a chartplotter is what most people recognize first. Digital charts display waterways, depth contours, markers, channels, sandbars and hazards while tracking your boat’s movement live on screen. This allows you to safely follow channels, navigate unfamiliar areas and confidently return to waypoints you have previously saved.

One of the biggest advantages of a chartplotter is waypoint management. Whether it is a productive fishing spot, a safe route through shallow water or your favorite sandbar, you can save locations directly into the system and quickly navigate back to them later.

Modern chartplotters also integrate sonar and fish-finding technology. Through compatible transducers, your Garmin MFD can display bottom structure, water depth, bait activity and fish targets in real time. Features like CHIRP sonar and side imaging give anglers a much clearer picture of what is happening below the surface.

For larger offshore boats, chartplotters can also integrate radar systems, autopilot, AIS vessel tracking and weather information. Instead of managing separate screens and controls, everything can be viewed and controlled through the Garmin display.

That is where SportLink® becomes especially valuable on a Sportsman boat. SportLink® integrates Garmin electronics, digital switching and onboard systems together into one seamless interface. Depending on the model, owners can control lighting, pumps and other key systems directly from the MFD while also monitoring engine data and navigation information at the same time.

Another major advantage of modern Garmin chartplotters is customization. Operators can split the screen into multiple sections, displaying charts, sonar, engine information and radar simultaneously. This allows captains to monitor everything happening around and within the boat without constantly switching screens.

A chartplotter is not just for offshore anglers either. Whether you are cruising the Intracoastal Waterway, heading to a sandbar or fishing shallow flats, having accurate GPS positioning and navigation data increases both safety and confidence on the water.

As marine technology continues to evolve, the chartplotter has become the central hub of the modern center console. On Sportsman Boats, the combination of Garmin electronics and SportLink® integration helps simplify the boating experience while giving owners more control, more awareness and better information every time they leave the dock.