A question for SBC - passage planning software??

[bluedragon]

Dear SBC,

As the nav.software Guru of this forum, can you help please?

Is there anything out there that can used for passage planning on a PC (not navigating...the Lowrance plotter will do that for me) that is a) cheap b) easy to use c) covers Wales, West Country, Ireland? I used an 2005 version of the RYA electronic charting software last year, but it's a pain resetting the computer date to 2005 (!) and it doesn't cover all I want anyway. Although planning on a large scale (say Cardiff to Cork) I want to be able to zoom-in at a detail level to ensure my route doesn't lead over any nasties on the way

Many thanks... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[waterboy]

I use PC-Planner with my C-Map cartridges. This summer I am organising a rally for 20 boats round north Brittany and it has been hugely essential, saving a lot of time.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Dear SBC,

As the nav.software Guru of this forum, can you help please?

Is there anything out there that can used for passage planning on a PC (not navigating...the Lowrance plotter will do that for me) that is a) cheap b) easy to use c) covers Wales, West Country, Ireland? I used an 2005 version of the RYA electronic charting software last year, but it's a pain resetting the computer date to 2005 (!) and it doesn't cover all I want anyway. Although planning on a large scale (say Cardiff to Cork) I want to be able to zoom-in at a detail level to ensure my route doesn't lead over any nasties on the way

Many thanks... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Me ?? Guru ????? you must have wrong bloke ..... all I am is an ex Ships Nav'r and now I like to dabble with all of them !

West regions / Irish Sea ..... now that is an area that I have had trouble with - similarly with East Coast .... If it had been English Channel I have loads of stuff.

Passage planning .... I've looked at various packages and often found that I go back to Seaclear or another such as Maptech etc. Many will advise Seapro - personally I don't like it - but that's me. Raynav - same for me as Seapro ... heavy unnecessary bells and whistles stuff.

I believe the later versions of RYA / UKHO Chart software is not date regulated ... so works past year end. So if you like it / used to using it - may be worth looking again and checking the date issue. I see Imray has started similar as well.

It all depends as well on the charts you may have available .... and if they are still acessible. Once you have a list of what charts you have - the formats .... then its look at the programs available.

I always consider that planning should be made on the program used to actually navigate on ...

Now that brings in something ... if you have the emulator for your Lowrance ... and you have the LEI Card reader + chart card .. you can use the emulator to create routes etc. direct for the plotter ... ??

 

[bluedragon]

Thanks SBC. I have some of the paper charts (and will anyway buy the others I need), but to use with Seaclear I need to scan them and calibrate I believe? I have NauticPath, but passage planning on the Lowrance is NOT the most fun way of spending an evening /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, so is using the emulator any better? I assume I'd need to buy the Lowrance card reader? SeaPro does at least give me a total UK chart pack (does that include Ireland...I think so?). I'd need three or more RYA/UKHO packs to cover the area and Imray don't cover it all (electronically). Not easy is it?? Perhaps I should have a go at Seaclear, but scanning the charts (in sections I suppose) and then seamlessly connecting them all together sounds a real pain...or is it not as bad as it sounds?