Garmin Blue Charts

[NGM]

My new boat came with Garmin equipment, previously I had always used Raymarine.

I had no problem switching and actually the functionality of the Garmin MFDs look really good.

However, after using the Bluecharts for a month I was shocked how poor the quality is.
The detail specifically for depths at zoomed level appeared very poor and in some cases inaccurate. Initially I thought I had some settings incorrectly formatted but I tried everything and when discussing with another uses he agreed that were just poor in comparison to Navionics.

For longer open sea passages I'm very comfortable with it, but when navigating closer to shore and in anchorages I'm going to have to used Navionics on ipad - which is pretty annoying given how comprehensive the package first appeared.

Anyone else found similar issues ?

 

[julians]

My new boat came with Garmin equipment, previously I had always used Raymarine.

I had no problem switching and actually the functionality of the Garmin MFDs look really good.

However, after using the Bluecharts for a month I was shocked how poor the quality is.
The detail specifically for depths at zoomed level appeared very poor and in some cases inaccurate. Initially I thought I had some settings incorrectly formatted but I tried everything and when discussing with another uses he agreed that were just poor in comparison to Navionics.

For longer open sea passages I'm very comfortable with it, but when navigating closer to shore and in anchorages I'm going to have to used Navionics on ipad - which is pretty annoying given how comprehensive the package first appeared.

Anyone else found similar issues ?

I've got navionics and Garmin bluechart and I've compared them to each other, and they seem comparable for the areas I've looked at.

There are different grades of bluechart ( just like there are different grades of navionics chart) , are you using the fully detailed bluechart, rather than the free base chart that may have come with the plotter? Can't remember what the different grades of bluechart are called.

 

[NGM]

There appears to be 2 grades, g2 HD and g2 vision HD
The additional functionality of the better package seems irrelevant for basic chart detail, but I'll double check.

 

[Blue Sunray]

As Navionics is now Garmin owned it will be interesting to see to what extent there is convergence between the two. Someone (Antarctic Pilot?) posted a couple of months back about the IIRC rather unique way Garmin charts are handled.

There appears to be 2 grades, g2 HD and g2 vision HD
The additional functionality of the better package seems irrelevant for basic chart detail, but I'll double check.

It is (irrelevant that is)

 

[Sticky Fingers]

As Navionics is now Garmin owned it will be interesting to see to what extent there is convergence between the two. Someone (Antarctic Pilot?) posted a couple of months back about the IIRC rather unique way Garmin charts are handled.It is

That was on a thread I startedhttp://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?502088-Garmin-moanOne thing for the OP to check is the settings in the Garmin plotter for the amount of detail shown, I found mine was set to somewhere in the middle. I've changed it to "maximum" and it's a lot better. There are still some issues though like the Horse Sand submarine barrier not showing up much (or at all).

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Formatting not working sorry.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Must be a chart or display setting. I've used both Garmin and Raymarine kit extensively and found no significant differences between BlueChart and Navionics for coverage or accuracy. Bare in mind they are both digitised from the same original paper chart sources, which in this part of the world is predominantly from Admiralty charts. Personally I prefer the rendition and colours used on BlueCharts but that's just a visual thing. I do however now prefer the current generation of Garmin marine gear. It's just more intuitive and easier to use. Both Garmin and Raymarine 'do what it says on the tin' admirably, it just seems Garmin does it nicer.

 

[NGM]

That was on a thread I startedhttp://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?502088-Garmin-moanOne thing for the OP to check is the settings in the Garmin plotter for the amount of detail shown, I found mine was set to somewhere in the middle. I've changed it to "maximum" and it's a lot better. There are still some issues though like the Horse Sand submarine barrier not showing up much (or at all).

I am on the high detail setting, but still some meaningful errors and actually it creates a lot of other clutter on the screen.
I suspect that unless they change chart provider (hopefully Navionics) I'll have to go with the iPad as well.

One example, the narrow passage between Illa Sa Conillera and Illa des Bosc in the North West of Ibiza, is joined by a finger reef. At the very mid point Navionics show it at 3m, different pilots books also state depth as passable at 3m , however on Bluechart no specific depth marks but it's shaded green which i think means v shallow and dries out - completely inaccurate. Incidentally, I did pass through ( at 3 knts) albeit a real heart in mouth moment given how clear the water was and how apparent the rocks are - if Navionics was wrong I could at least have given a real life contribution the the shear test debate !

 

[CLB]

Over the years I have swung between Raymarine/Navionics and Garmin, on different boats, with the occasional foray into Cmap charting on Standard Horizon and Navman/Northstar, so I have given most of them a pretty good go. For whatever reason, I just never got on with Garmin. Always found their charts a bit too dumbed down. I too found shallow areas often poorly mapped, with red lines covering whole shallow areas with a warning that I cant remember now, but along the lines of 'do not trust what is shaded in red', which really wasn't useful when edging into a shallow anchorage.

 

[julians]

I am on the high detail setting, but still some meaningful errors and actually it creates a lot of other clutter on the screen.
I suspect that unless they change chart provider (hopefully Navionics) I'll have to go with the iPad as well.

One example, the narrow passage between Illa Sa Conillera and Illa des Bosc in the North West of Ibiza, is joined by a finger reef. At the very mid point Navionics show it at 3m, different pilots books also state depth as passable at 3m , however on Bluechart no specific depth marks but it's shaded green which i think means v shallow and dries out - completely inaccurate. Incidentally, I did pass through ( at 3 knts) albeit a real heart in mouth moment given how clear the water was and how apparent the rocks are - if Navionics was wrong I could at least have given a real life contribution the the shear test debate !

I've just looked that area up on my Garmin and the navionics app, and the Garmin shows the same as yours IE a green area. But having looked it up on the navionics there's no way I'd try and take my boat through it, even if it is possible.It does look passable with extreme care on the navionics, but the Garmin makes it look impassable.

So I guess the Garmin is erring on the side of caution, which is the right thing to do imo.

 

[NGM]

I've just looked that area up on my Garmin and the navionics app, and the Garmin shows the same as yours IE a green area. But having looked it up on the navionics there's no way I'd try and take my boat through it, even if it is possible.It does look passable with extreme care on the navionics, but the Garmin makes it look impassable.

So I guess the Garmin is erring on the side of caution, which is the right thing to do imo.

Well as I said given the clarity of the water it was a heart in mouth moment, however a 50+ footer went across at 20 knots 1 mins before me, even so i crept across but the pilot books and the navionics were spot on whereas the Bluecharts were not (i checked depth gauge as we passed it showed 3.1m).

This was one example, I found others. In my local boating area it shows an area as 'yellow' ... i.e. land !! It sure is shallow but i take my rib across this area all the time and have never seen it less than 50cm deep !!

 

[julians]

Well as I said given the clarity of the water it was a heart in mouth moment, however a 50+ footer went across at 20 knots 1 mins before me, even so i crept across but the pilot books and the navionics were spot on whereas the Bluecharts were not (i checked depth gauge as we passed it showed 3.1m).

This was one example, I found others. In my local boating area it shows an area as 'yellow' ... i.e. land !! It sure is shallow but i take my rib across this area all the time and have never seen it less than 50cm deep !!

I'd class 50cm as land too.

 

[NGM]

Just noticed on the Garmin website that they have a new chart format BlueChart g3 due for release Q1 '19

I'm hoping that this is a full integration of Navionics data so I don't have to rely on ipad for detailed areas.


''Experience unparalleled coverage and brilliant detail when you're on the water. BlueChart® g3 coastal charts provide industry-leading coverage, clarity and detail with integrated Garmin and Navionics content.''

 

[vas]

This was one example, I found others. In my local boating area it shows an area as 'yellow' ... i.e. land !! It sure is shallow but i take my rib across this area all the time and have never seen it less than 50cm deep !!

noticed that as well, many dodgy spots with shallow waters of under 3m show up as red crossed area. Quite happy with that tbh, rather than having normal designation and not taking due care and crashing...
Don't find it a problem especially in the Med where areas like that with no tide and clear waters will mostly be used for anchoring.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Just noticed on the Garmin website that they have a new chart format BlueChart g3 due for release Q1 '19

I'm hoping that this is a full integration of Navionics data so I don't have to rely on ipad for detailed areas.


''Experience unparalleled coverage and brilliant detail when you're on the water. BlueChart® g3 coastal charts provide industry-leading coverage, clarity and detail with integrated Garmin and Navionics content.''

Resurrecting this. Just been talking to Navionics, the G3 Bluechart suite of charts using Navionics data for Garmin plotters is now available. What I cannot find are screenshots to prove that the poor rendering of the Garmin Chartplotter interface (whatever the cause) is a thing of the past.

Anyone bought one?

 

[NGM]

Resurrecting this. Just been talking to Navionics, the G3 Bluechart suite of charts using Navionics data for Garmin plotters is now available. What I cannot find are screenshots to prove that the poor rendering of the Garmin Chartplotter interface (whatever the cause) is a thing of the past.

Anyone bought one?

They claim that new Bluechart G3 and G3 vision have the improved Navionics detailing included. If like me you have the old chart versions then free upgrades are not available via Garmin Express.
However, you can get a 25% discount on the new charts if you return your old SD card. My upgrade with discount was £97, I didn't bother with the vision it seemed a bit gimmicky. Not been back to the boat yet to try it so at this stage can only take their word that detailing has improved. To get the discounted upgrade you need to call Garmin support, they will send you an email with payment link and return details.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Thanks, be interesting to hear what you find.

 

[jfm]

Thanks for info. I too have bought the new one and will report back. I bought the G3 vision sd card version for whole Med. Much cheaper from cactusnav than garmin themselves.
If this works it will make garmin the absolute best: garmin user interface, screen brightness, flush glass bridge mounting, lumishore+fusion integration are awesome but the charts have been a bit dumbed down, till now.