Performed very well over five months daily use last year. Found it very easy to use. We also use paper charts in the cockpit, so the CP180 is "backup" for the paper charts, so to speak.

I've never used a laptop for charts or routing, as some others describe here...I'm pretty much a novice in electronic charting in general. I bought the CP180 b/c of the price (low commitment), ease of use, and C-Map chip capability. I figure that if I ever want to change it, and go with something else (i.e., do the laptop thing instead?), I've made a minimal investment and it's not a huge blow to replace it (like some big, expensive, multifunction Raymarine thingie with the giant screen). I don't have an autopilot so can't speak to using it with autopilot. The only thing I've got mine hooked to the Standard Horizon DSC VHF radio (I bought the plotter and radio as a package, since my boat had no electronics.) Very simple.

FYI, I've called Standard Horizon before, and had very good customer support, which I took as a good sign.

There are times last year that I'd have liked to have the CP180 visible from the helm, and sort of wished for the larger CP300 --but even that screen is really not that much larger (i.e., while it is slightly larger, it's not "helpfully" larger, as a laptop-sized screen would be helpfully larger, and much more clear to see), and is quite a bit more expensive. So, all in all, if you've never bought a plotter before --I was a chart plotter virgin too-- it seems to me that the CP180 is a good first one. Good enough for the local sailing you seem to have in mind, David. But plenty, with a C-Map chip of the entire East Coast and then some, to get you very far!