Chart Plotter Software

Moose · 3 Mar 2003

What is the best Chartplotter program for me to buy? It has to be able to link up with my GPS and give me a moving map it would be nice if it could talk to the autopilot too.
I have looked at Maptech, Win Chart (Chartwork) and Sea Pro
No1 Moose has a fairly powerful laptop, but it doesn't run Sea Pro very well.

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Moose

BarryH · 3 Mar 2003

I've got Maptech on the laptop, never used it in anger cos the laptop battery goes belly up after 15 mins and no I haven't got nor want an inverter. Think a dedicated chart plotter is probably a better bet. Why have stuff that can fall off tables/dash etc when you can have a proper jobby without all the trailing cables etc. All IMHO of course!

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Guest · 4 Mar 2003

There's a thread that might be worth reading on Yachting Monthly's Scuttlebutt. Changing your preference to view threads to the 'last 3 weeks' it will be on page 6 under 'Computer Navigation Progs'. Hope it helps out.

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qsiv · 4 Mar 2003

I'd argue there isnt a 'best' - it depends what you want.

MaxSea is great for competetive oceanic sailing
SeaPro is good for a range up to coastal racing

and there are a host of others

None offered what I wanted so I simply wrote my own - needless to say it matches my needs - but I do make my living from writing software.

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byron · 4 Mar 2003

<font color=blue>I confess to not owning a chart plotter nor having a lap top set up. What puts me off a chart plotter is the soppy little screen whereas a decent size one like the Garmin 2010? is too expensive. My laptop is so antiquated I can't be bothered to light the fire, stoke the boilers just to get it running. It's a P133.
So! Until you lot band together and buy me something I shall continue using my 1953 edition of the AA handbook.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

colvic · 4 Mar 2003

A P133 is more than capable of running any chart plotting software and if you want to get rid...cheap..let me know.

Phil

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colvic · 4 Mar 2003

It is not the power of your laptop that is a problem but more likely the settings between GPS and programme.

I have just changed to the Maptech system after my original one with Admiralty Arcs Charts was stolen, and am greatly impressed. We have a 15" display which gives lot of detail and I thought that sort of size would suit a faster moving boat than our cloth & stick.

Thoroughly recomend, and of course you can then use the computer for all sorts of other things...DVD, Internet,T.V. , Digital photo's etc.etc.etc.

Phil

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Guest · 4 Mar 2003

Hi Moose!
Try the FUGAWI website at www.fugawi.com Their system is used by many lifeboat installations and cost about $70 bucks. their service is second to none! program is great!
Worth a look?
Rob

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hlb · 4 Mar 2003

Theres nowt like a proper chart plotter bolted down near the wheel. The sceen might be smaller but there reliable and dont crash when the going gets tough. Theres nothing like the comfort when in heavy overfalls. When you can see nothing out of the window and the compass is going round in circles. To be able to just stick a cross somewhere out to sea and press the auto button on the pilot. It's these sorts of times that are important. For messing about anything will do. But I dont fancy the job of rescuing the lap top from the kitchen sink and sorting out all the wires whilst falling about on the floor!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue> Haydn

tr7v8 · 4 Mar 2003

Playing with a variety of the freebies at present, these are Oziexplorer, Sea Clear & Fugawi. Can't get on with the latter at all, I struggled with Sea Clear although others on the GPS Navigation Yahoo groups think it's great. Really like Ozi good support etc.
Advantage of Ozi is it'll run on almost anything, mine is currently on an old thinkpad with low res screen and 28Mg RAM. Which most of the brought packages wont do.
Also seen Tsunami which is loved by Sun Coast and others here, quite like it and seems reliable, BUT and it's a big but it needs very high spec screen to run on 1260 x 860 plus I think.

PS Not sure I'll be using any of these in anger yet, until I get more confidence with them.

Jim
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Deleted User YDKXO · 4 Mar 2003

Agree with you entirely, Haydn. I would'nt want to put my trust in a laptop bouncing around the helm station as my primary electronic navaid. On a raggie boat with it's much slower motion OK but not on a planing motor boat

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hlb · 4 Mar 2003

The other problems must be pressing the right keys, whilst bashing up and down. Get in a sticky situation, press the wrong key and up pops a porno pic, or the whole screen dissapears. About the worse you can do with a proper job. Is zoom out instead of in. Just experiment with falling against your key board a couple of times and see what happens. I'm not trying it........./forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue> Haydn

Moose · 4 Mar 2003

Aarrr, but I have a chartplotter, it is a Furono black and white thing that isn't much good, and I don't think you can buy charts for it anymore. But it is fine for dashing around the Solent.
Laptop would mainly be used for going up unknown channels e.t.c

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Moose

oldgit · 4 Mar 2003

Agree with HLB regards life may depend on it dedicated bolted to the dash board equipment.
However for us sunday boaters Tsunami laptop software was just the ticket.Only ever going out in millpond etc type weather.A nice full colour display without need for giant magnifying glass kept nearbye was the deciding factor and also the low cost of adding further charts.The CD supplied with Tsunami has on it 6000 charts which cover the world.Whatever chart you need a phone call with your credit card details secures the chart you need is available to you within seconds.
If i were to consider crash bang boating as something I could not live without,then something bolted to the boat would be my choice.

<hr width=100% size=1>Oooh look its still not dark and its nearly 5pm

jfm · 5 Mar 2003

wold charts on one CD?

Is it possible to get that CD with the security codes bypassed, so no need to make those phone calls? How much does each call cost?

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oldgit · 5 Mar 2003

Re: world charts on one CD?

err umm as far as I know no one has managed to crack the code./forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Oooh look its still not dark and its nearly 5pm

Trevor_swfyc · 5 Mar 2003

Re: world charts on one CD?

I know what you are thinking which is tempting, but unfortunatly illegal.

To part with a number would be an instant red card.

Trevor

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Moose · 5 Mar 2003

Is there a web site for Tsunami, I can't seem to find one

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Moose

oldgit · 5 Mar 2003

Re: world charts on one CD?

Arr but you also need a valid dongle number .no valid dongle + valid release code on your computor..no map.

<hr width=100% size=1>Oooh look its still not dark and its nearly 5pm

oldgit · 5 Mar 2003

Golly gosh Yes <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.transasdataco.com>http://www.transasdataco.com</A>. but this is mainly big boat stuff on this site.I have Tsunami 99.which with 6 or so charts is around 100 pounds.Cheap because it is sort of last years model.You will need to ask for it as they always try to flog you the more expensive but newer version.It does work on my rather antique laptop.

<hr width=100% size=1>Oooh look its still not dark and its nearly 5pm

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