Nautic Path Charts

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Roger_D

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Dear All,
According to the adverts, these electronic charts seem good value when compared with others. Does anyone have any experience of using them? I would like a bit of backup comfort when when rock hopping(avoiding, really) on the West Coast of Scotland. (I did see a post about Nautic Path charts of the USA not having rocks awash plotted on them, so my specific question is does anyone out there have them and do they mark the charted rocks? Perhaps I have answered my own query.
Many Thanks
 
Roger

Welcome to the forum, I use Nautic Path charts on a Lowrance 3500.

I did find, as you say some rocks not shown on my original version. I was told that this was more to do with the firmware in the plotter rather than the chart itself. True enough the last update has put things right.

However I would suggest checking the plotter with a paper chart, wise thing to do in any case. The Lowrance/NauticPath package is good value. I use mine to assist mark one eye ball for pilotage. Navigation is still done on a paper chart.
 
Dear Stephen
Thank you very much for this, a perfect answer. We too in our chartering experience have used (and will continue to do so) paper for prime navigation. However, we have over the last few years been plotting rocks on our handheld Garmin 72 as skull and crossbones and found this to be v useful. Having been caught by suddenly descending dense fog half way out of L'Aber Wrac'h we were able simply to follow the trace that the 72 had left coming in (and picked up some followers who had anchored)...so time to have a plotter with charts for backup.
Many Thanks once again
Roger
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dear Stephen
Thank you very much for this, a perfect answer. We too in our chartering experience have used (and will continue to do so) paper for prime navigation. However, we have over the last few years been plotting rocks on our handheld Garmin 72 as skull and crossbones and found this to be v useful. Having been caught by suddenly descending dense fog half way out of L'Aber Wrac'h we were able simply to follow the trace that the 72 had left coming in (and picked up some followers who had anchored)...so time to have a plotter with charts for backup.
Many Thanks once again
Roger

[/ QUOTE ]

The method you used with your 72 is feasible with the Lowrance as well ... You can have it running and insert marks as you go .... OR better still is to note lat / long positions of any marks / obstructions you know or find ... then add as usr files marks by uploading once chart is displayed. You then have your marks displayed on the chart.
No electronic chart package will cover all and show everything. It is accepted that Nauticpath is not so detailed in some areas as eg Navionics ......... but then you are not paying anywhere near the price.
I have both NW and NE Nauticpath cards and I am very pleased with them. I see no reason so far for me to change to another. Where I have no coverage - I even draw my own LCM charts .... One happy Bunny !!

Oh - don't be too upset when the Tide error boys start posting ... I think any prudent boater checks tides by tables / almanac / PC and does not rely on plotter tides alone ...
 
sbc
Thanks for the post, I have noted other posts about making your own charts as well, I can see much time/fun ahead.
Regards
Roger
 
Do you mean the Lowrance upgrades for the plotter? I can't find a source of upgrades for the Nauticpath charts themselves, is there one?

I have been updating my charts by using some of the waypoint symbols for new or moved buoys, shame they don't do proper buoy symbols. Overall though I have found these charts to be good value for money.
 
I started using the Lowrance 3500 out here this year, i have the nauticpath chart. whilst the detail for some harbours is a little lacking, all rocks are charted, the accuracy of the lowrance is stunning! I pick up full WASS signals (dont know whether i should use these or not) If i aim for a charted bouy or rock on the screen, i would hit it! because of the clear water and colour fishfinder i can see for myself the charted rocks are there.
 
I have been using the nauticpath chart out of Oban for a season now in a Lowrance plotter. On the whole, I like it but I should warn you that the charting stops abruptly in a number of places. Going north east in the Firth of Lorne, there's a line drawn about midway through Lismore Island. After that, there's a crude outline of the coast but nothing more. This means that Loch Etive, Dunstaffnage Marina, Loch Creran, Loch Leven and most of Loch Linnhe are missing. A bit further north, about half of Loch Sunart isn't shown.
There must be other places like this, but these are the ones I know. On the other hand, Loch ALine is shown completely.
Since I have fairly complete paper charts of the area, I have wondered about scanning these and making my own electronic charts for these areas. According to Nigel, it's childsplay but I never understand the explanation so I haven't yet given it a go.
I am also disappointed about the tide icons being faulty but I didn't know they existed until I read here about the complaint that they don't work.
All in all, I like the Nauticpath - compared to others it's very cheap and I haven't noticed any missing danger marks.
Regards,
Derek
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do you mean the Lowrance upgrades for the plotter? I can't find a source of upgrades for the Nauticpath charts themselves, is there one?

[/ QUOTE ]

That is exactly what I mean. The plotter not the Charts. But the last upgrade Dec 2006 did improve the charts, dont ask how, it just did!
 
Thanks for the warning re coverage. I too have noted when chartering a boat out of Loch Leven that the Garmin plotter on board ( a 276?) had a chart with similar characteristics, ie no detail until half way down Lismore. Perhaps they use a similar source to that of Nautic Path charts.
Regards
Roger
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have been using the nauticpath chart out of Oban for a season now in a Lowrance plotter. On the whole, I like it but I should warn you that the charting stops abruptly in a number of places. Going north east in the Firth of Lorne, there's a line drawn about midway through Lismore Island. After that, there's a crude outline of the coast but nothing more. This means that Loch Etive, Dunstaffnage Marina, Loch Creran, Loch Leven and most of Loch Linnhe are missing. A bit further north, about half of Loch Sunart isn't shown.
There must be other places like this, but these are the ones I know. On the other hand, Loch ALine is shown completely.
Since I have fairly complete paper charts of the area, I have wondered about scanning these and making my own electronic charts for these areas. According to Nigel, it's childsplay but I never understand the explanation so I haven't yet given it a go.
I am also disappointed about the tide icons being faulty but I didn't know they existed until I read here about the complaint that they don't work.
All in all, I like the Nauticpath - compared to others it's very cheap and I haven't noticed any missing danger marks.
Regards,
Derek

[/ QUOTE ]

Drawing own charts is not childsplay - but once learnt brings a whole new dimension to the game. You would need to scan, load into something like Ozi-explorer ... calibrate and create a map file. Then GPSMapedit with LCM dll will create the polygon / vector chart from you tracing the chart on screen.......

Interested in the limit / lack of detail of Lochs you comment on ... is that within the geographic limits of the chart card or when it steps of ? is it into world base map ?? I ask because this was the case with mine when I only had the NW Europe card and wanted to plan to Holland ... I got out in N. Sea and "fell of edge" of chart card !! into world base map.
 
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