C-Map vs Navionics

[sgreenway]

I am getting a Zeus2 plotter as mine has given up the ghost.

They can use either C-Map or Navionics charts and I was wondering which is best. Mainly sail the South Coast.

One thing I liked about the C-Map I had in old plotter was the tidal arrow on display, so easily see when being headed. Is this function available on the Navionics?

Other than that it is ease of use, legibility and all the normal stuff.

Recommendations?

Secondly, do either offer the option of safe routing, just to make the initial routing a bit easier, and are they good enough?

 

[Martin_J]

Hi.. I have the B&G Zeus touch plotters on board with the Navionics charts on MicroSD... I am based in Southsea as well and you are welcome to take a look.

I had c-map on previous Standard Horizon chart plotters. Not a lot of visual difference and the Navionics also has tide data/arrows.

PM me if you want to see Navionics/radar/ais in use at Southsea.

I believe the Zeus can alert on depth (either from chart or sounder).

PS - The other thing that's great is that with two Zeus plotters, ethernet connected, you only need one chart cartridge and it is shared between the plotters.

 

[sgreenway]

Hi Martin,
Sounds like a great idea. Seeing the chart on the right plotter can make a world of difference.
Be great to be able to have 2 but budgets are budgets, lol
When would be good?

 

[Martin_J]

Just remembered.. I have a spare Standard Horizon CP300 with C-Map.. Perhaps worth powering on both side by side to really compare.

 

[sgreenway]

Sounds like a really good plan.
My current plotter is the CP300 as well, but recently started to play silly bu$%ers, so lost total faith in it.

 

[Niander]

I have cmap and love the tide data/arrows
wouldn't want a plotter without them...do you find they are accurate in use?

 

[sgreenway]

Couldn't honest say they were accurate, but a good guide to see if there were places to minimise going against the tide.

I agree they are very easy to see and get a guide. Hence the question if navionics has the same facility.

 

[pvb]

I don't think there's much to choose between any of the 3 major charting options. At the premium level (Navionics Platinum+, C-Map Max Pro, Garmin BlueChart g2 Vision), they all have a staggering level of ability, with satellite overlays, tides and currents, etc. I've historically mainly used basic C-Map charts in Navman and Raymarine plotters, but my new boat has Garmin gear with g2 Vision charts, and the capability is amazing!

 

[LadyInBed]

If your new plotter takes cmap, can't you just xfer your cartridge from the SH plotter?

 

[sgreenway]

I could xfr it, need to check whether the cartridge is the same. Needs to be updated as the charts are 4 years out of date! So at a cost of £120 to get it updated, just wondering if the Navionics is better

 

[Martin_J]

The Standard Horizon uses one of the special c-map cartridges with the beveled edge.

Unfortunately the B&G Zeus (and Zeus2) use standard MicroSD cards. Maybe when upgrading you could exchange one for the other though...