Dann
Well-Known Member
Has anyone any experience with "Livecharts" as used by Euronav's seaPro range of charting software. Plus any comments as to regards its pros and cons versus other Vector Charts such as Navionics and C-Map?
Liivecharts
- Thread starter Dann
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stevebirch2002
Well-Known Member
Hi. I have been using Livecharts for many years now with teh various editions of SeaPro. I find them great in quality and detail. The good thing about SeaPro is that it can take many types of other chart formats. I have nothing to do with SeaPro except as a satisfied customer and user.
steverow
Well-Known Member
Seapro is a great piece of software, the pro version does lots of things including AIS.
The Livecharts are fine, although I wish they would draw port hand buoys properly.
If we are talking purely about charts then I think C-map still has the edge, although
others like Navionics are catching up fast. C-map is probably the most used in worldwide shipping for ECDIS systems.
Navionics, AFAIK, dont as yet have any offerings for PC chart plotters...just fixed stand alone units with cartridges.
If you want software that uses the greatest variety of chart types...then that is undoubtedly Maxsea, which can use C-map CM93/2/3,CmapNT, BSB/KAP, Mapmedia (.MAP), ARCS(admiralty), and S57, Seafarer, plus a couple of other minor projections.
Maxsea can also display, tides, currents, and weather files directly onto the charts as standard. Where it falls down is that the add on modules for AIS and MARPA are horrendously expensive, whereas other software like Seapro have these as standard.
If you are looking to buy a medium to high end PC Plotter then also take a look at Navmaster Offshore/Superyacht from PC Maritime...this also uses C-Map CM93 and ARCS charts.No connection with any of the companies by the way.
The Livecharts are fine, although I wish they would draw port hand buoys properly.
If we are talking purely about charts then I think C-map still has the edge, although
others like Navionics are catching up fast. C-map is probably the most used in worldwide shipping for ECDIS systems.
Navionics, AFAIK, dont as yet have any offerings for PC chart plotters...just fixed stand alone units with cartridges.
If you want software that uses the greatest variety of chart types...then that is undoubtedly Maxsea, which can use C-map CM93/2/3,CmapNT, BSB/KAP, Mapmedia (.MAP), ARCS(admiralty), and S57, Seafarer, plus a couple of other minor projections.
Maxsea can also display, tides, currents, and weather files directly onto the charts as standard. Where it falls down is that the add on modules for AIS and MARPA are horrendously expensive, whereas other software like Seapro have these as standard.
If you are looking to buy a medium to high end PC Plotter then also take a look at Navmaster Offshore/Superyacht from PC Maritime...this also uses C-Map CM93 and ARCS charts.No connection with any of the companies by the way.
wavelet
Well-Known Member
Before I went far someone sold me a cd containing world charts for forty quid, I was over the moon. But in the subsequent years, out cruising in the Canaries many sailors offered free versions of C-Map, so many "even better" versions were on offer it became boring. Do you have a laptop? ...Yes. Well here you are, two compact discs containing navigation charts for not only the Atlantic, but the Pacific, the rest of the world and even full coverage of the outer reaches of the galaxy.
I wonder does C-Map distribute "hacked" copies of the chart software in order to maintain market presence amongst the non professional ie Yachtsmen market? Better have everyone using your product and give it away than no one using it and competitors becoming the norm. C-Map is the norm, but Maptech was also often in use.
I have dozens of CD's people have left on the boat with the promise I will never need another chart, but that is not the be all and end all. Some versions end up worse than others and it becomes difficult to decide which version to finally settle on.
It is easier to go and buy the chart you want and use C-Map occasionally for passage planning or as an atlas. I sometimes cruise an area of the world in C-Map I would never bother to sail to, such as a traverse of the Suez canal, and the Keil canal. It's free, but it does not solve all of your problems.
I wonder does C-Map distribute "hacked" copies of the chart software in order to maintain market presence amongst the non professional ie Yachtsmen market? Better have everyone using your product and give it away than no one using it and competitors becoming the norm. C-Map is the norm, but Maptech was also often in use.
I have dozens of CD's people have left on the boat with the promise I will never need another chart, but that is not the be all and end all. Some versions end up worse than others and it becomes difficult to decide which version to finally settle on.
It is easier to go and buy the chart you want and use C-Map occasionally for passage planning or as an atlas. I sometimes cruise an area of the world in C-Map I would never bother to sail to, such as a traverse of the Suez canal, and the Keil canal. It's free, but it does not solve all of your problems.