Charting software for laptop

[[2574]]

I've just fitted Raymarine kit (plotter and radar linked with USB for mutli function display and overlay) and would like to be able to interface some charting s/w for the purpose of passage planning, routeing, waypoint database maintenance etc. I don't envisage using at sea - to fragile, power hungry - and I think not needed with the other kit I have.

The Raymarine s/w is £1k (they're having a laugh!) and I'd appreciate anyone's views on what other packages I should be looking at. The Raymarine kit will be using Cmap charts (if that makes a difference).

Thanks in anticipation.

Rob

 

[aidancoughlan]

There is a package from C-MAP for around £100-£150 (i think) called PlannerNT designed for this purpose - planning at home with C-MAP charts - you may have to buy some sort of USB reader for your PC to get at the C-MAP cartridges.

There's also a package called Neptune something or other from a different company which is designed specifically for just passage planning with their own chart folios (which are not suitable for navigation, just for passage planning) - it's around £100-£150 also.

 

[Talbot]

If you are looking at long distance passage planning then http://www.digwave.com/products.htm is a good piece of kit. It will also interface with the GPS to show present position, and will do route optimisation for monthly wind and current estimates.

 

[paulskent]

I have one of the aformentioned Planner-NT packages including the C-MAp NT card reader if you would like more information on it..

There is also a free piece of charting softare called SOB (Software On Board) which reads the charts from the reader and will act as a full system plotter.

I plan to use these in conjunction with a Navman 5600 if I ever get any time at the chart table.. Not done a passage that requires this level of effort yet.

PK.

 

[npf1]

I use Seapro and very impressed with it. £99 now buys the lite version with UK charts

 

[Chris_Rayner]

I have the C-Map planner software. It comes with a little interface which plugs in to your USB and which will take two cartridges, one of which may be a user cartridge. You can do all the passage planning you like on it and dump your waypoints, routes etc. on to the user cartridge for later upload to your plotter.

Functionally it's pretty good. The documentation is minimal, and the help files not very good, but if you keep at it you will find it very useful. I too have considered the hsb interface from Raymarine, but thought the cost (£1000+) not value for money.

Hope this helps

Chris Rayner

 

[Mariner]

The price you quote for the Raymarine S/W is for the full Pathfinder kit which you don't need. The software by itself is around £400. Still expensive just for planning. As mentioned above the C-Map Card Reader and Planner software is a much better bet.