Laptop navigation

[Phoenix of Hamble]

After much umming and arring, I have just ordered the Maptech software (Offshore Navigator Lite)...

I know that 'which charts and which software' is a regular subject of discussion on this forum, and just thought i'd explain my personal logic in chosing this package....

Maptech is no longer the cheapest option, Euronav's solution is now just £100 for UK wide coverage, whereas I have already spent £200 on Maptech covering Solent to Nth Norfolk..... but.... The Maptech charts do include tidal info, flow and height, whereas the basic Euronav app won't display this info.... you need to spend £450 to get that info

I personally wasn't to bothered about the raster vs vector debate, as my view is they are both OK, and by the time raster offers much much more than vector, then i'll have replaced my charts several times anyway.....

However, the clinchers for me are:

1] I can print Maptch chartlets.... this means that I can carry passage planning charts only for areas that I visit very infrequently, and print out chartlets for just one off use... saving a fortune...

2] I can use the same charts with my PDA and hence have a backup, as well as a cockpit solution

3] I can add the Neptune tide planner at a later datem, which will output a route over the ground, and/or help me plan routes to steer, all on my Maptech charts...

No doubt others will have a different approach, but thought i'd just share my thinking...

 

[Capt_Marlinspike]

I have been using Maptech for 3 years. It does just what it says on the tin.

 

[Guest]

Basically agree .....

BUT ..... with full UK coverage with Seapro Lite at 100 smacks - that is VERY good. OK so tide info is not displayed on chart ..... BUT ....

Belfield Tide Plotter is less than a tenner, and a copy of Admiralty Tidal Charts ..... THESE are NOT time related and will continue to work for years to come ..... Maptech Tides will expire at year end and you will have to pay up again to re-instate tidal info.

The two packages Maptech and Seapro Lite both answer a lot of peoples needs and are both good in their own right.

 

[seashaw]

Re: Basically agree .....

I think seapro is the better package even if the interface is a bit quirky.
Tides are not a problem, as Nigel said for a tenner you can use Bellfield which I think gives you a better representation than Maptech.
Now with all the charts you get, if you cover any distance in the UK seapro has got to be seriously good value.

Mark

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Basically agree .....

This is exactly the thought process I went through.... but the deciding factor for me was the ability to print off a 'chartlet' within Maptech for entry to a harbour that I will probably not use again for years, thus avoiding a potential chart purchase, or the risk of doing it with a planning scale chart and a pilot book alone...

Admittedly, I probably won't need UK wide coverage, restricting my sailing largely to the East coast area... if I needed broader coverage then I would have probably gone down the Seapro route.....

 

[BobE]

I've been using Neptuine Plotter planner on a laptop and on this PC for some time..
I think it's advantage is the calculation of tidal vectors both before the trip, and if coupled to a GPS, during the trip... If I slow down for a bit of fishing during the trip or even lack of wind...I can press the relative keys and get a new mag. course (taking into account current SOG and tidal flow) for the helmsman to steer to..

I believe that Neptune are now releasing a new program which will combine this facility with the C-map nav system instead of their old, somewhat basic, charts..
When I have saved some pennies I'll definately change up to that..
I have not seen any plotters etc. that allow a tidal situation to be calculated in advance.. Only seem to show where you are on an electronic chart??

Just my opinion, Cheers Bob E...

 

[Sans Bateau]

If you want to use Maptech charts on a PDA you will need to buy Memory Map software. This is not as good as Maptech, as I have found out. Memory map does not show tidal info for example.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Bob,

I believe that if you use Neptune planner in conjunction with Maptech Offshore Navigator, it will use the Maptech charts for its output.... given this is scanned Admiralty material, thats ideal....

But not tried it yet!

Also, tried the PDA version, and agree its nowhere near as good, but its OK as a backup.....

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
I have not seen any plotters etc. that allow a tidal situation to be calculated in advance.. Only seem to show where you are on an electronic chart??
Bob E...

[/ QUOTE ]
Take a look at Winchart Nexia - does allow options of travel to show benefit of tidal window - but I have rejected it as my solution cause it requires a dongle - i.e. a source of failure and fills the only usb slot on my laptop so I cant connect my usb gps mouse.

 

[Guest]

You can print anything ............

PC's are a wonderful tool ..... Screen capture does just that .... captures a screen shot to a graphic - which can then be either stitched to the next screen shot of scrolled chart then printed etc. etc.
So Maptech prints of a series or single chartlets .... screen capture gives you at whatever zoom / coverage you want exactly as on screen ..... try any shareware download site ...

Sorry Maptech Chartlets are not a decider in IMHO ....

 

[Oldhand]

And when you next get bored and want an all in one solution which will use your Maptech charts you can upgrade to MaxSea! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[seashaw]

I don't think you should dismiss Winchart because of the dongle. Your hard drive is more likely to fail than the dongle. You could plug a small usb hub into your laptop and then plug the dongle and gps in to the hub.
My concern with Winchart is that they have now started selling plotters so they don't seem too commited to the software side of the business.

Mark

 

[Sans Bateau]

There are always those sheets of paper with pictures of the coastline, depths etc that you can draw all over, what are they called now? Oh yes! paper charts!