Nauticpath charts on handheld or link the raymarine?

[cookjwm]

Considering an inexpensive hand held plotter for back up/cockpit use and I do not really want to get involved in two separate chart updates, but need to run both together. So options seem to be a plotter with Nauticpath charts or perhaps even one of the Raymarine handhelds now being sold relatively cheaply if I can get to talk to the Raymarine E120 down below.
Any comments on either please -especially the degree of detail the nauticpath charts will give. My sailing is mostly coastal cruising with cross channel stuff Holland/France planned this year. Or even alternative cheaper charting not on pc? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Thanks!

 

[Refueler]

First of all ... I do not think that charting on a plotter can then be relayed to a hand-held or other display. So whether you go Raymarine or Lowrance (Nauticpath) you'll still be talking separate charting.
I use both Nauticpath Europe west and east and have had no trouble with them - I'm more than happy with them. Others reckon that odd detail like a marina is missing - well to me that is asking more than safe ... as the plotter gets you to the harbour and then further in its follow buoys / pilot books etc.
Solent, South Coast .... Baltic .... no problems.

If anyone can truly say in FACT that any format chart card does not have any missing data or error .... I don't believe anyone can. Unless of course you would like to go full ECDIS and pay thousands for the privilege and even then it's not 100% perfect.

 

[maxi77]

I think you have answered the question yourself, if it is genuinely a back up then it needs to be independant of your primary source, so not just an alternative display but separate chart cartridge and display

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
I think you have answered the question yourself, if it is genuinely a back up then it needs to be independant of your primary source, so not just an alternative display but separate chart cartridge and display

[/ QUOTE ]

Hu Hum ... when is someone going to sort out the 'Quick-Reply" box ?? I take it you are replying not to me but to the OP.

Main thing I think is that it's not possible to link the two and display charts from one card to both machines. I have never seen any that would allow that ... data such as GPS nmea - yes of course can.

IMHO if it's back-up and hand-held ... then go for cheapest but works - which IMHO the Lowrance with Nauticpath bundle will do. It will be able to talk to / from the main GPS for transfer of GPS data via NMEA.

 

[maxi77]

Very sorry Refueler, clearly finger troubler on my part.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Very sorry Refueler, clearly finger troubler on my part.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem ... loads of quick replies to many people ... it needs sorting !!

 

[cookjwm]

Thanks for your input esp on nauticpath

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for your input esp on nauticpath

[/ QUOTE ]

Just re-read your original post. You say cruise to Holland. Nauticpath Europe West stops at Belgium border if I remember right ... so to go further and into Holland you would need an extra card. Either Navionics or the Europe East card as I have.

Here is the graphic split of the east and west cards with the old names West and North - one day USA will get to grips with Geography !!

But overall - given that you will get one with the GPS and other you can buy at a lot less than any Garmin chart card - the deal is still good. You could of course opt for a Navionics card to pick up where the Nauticpath West stops ... that way you have one of the best up to date chart cards available.

Here's in use in Solent.

My own chart creation for local use and area .... (once you exit port up the river no commercial charting available - so I surveyed my own and drew it up ... loads to Lowrance etc.

My charting based on these scans ....

They now provide the only available charting geo-referenced that I'm aware of for the upper reaches of Venta River. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And taking me safely across Baltic ....

and safely through the thousands of islands of Stockholm Archipelago - we checked it against Swedish Charts and it came out spot on - showing all ferry routes, rocks, buoys ... no problems.

When running it not only gives me usual data - but I alkso have it display Bus voltage so I know how batterys are ... >

note the Voltage displayed mid bottom.

It also has NMEA 2000 bus - meaning that various add-ons can be connected ... fuel gauge, wind-speed / direction, engine monitoring such as temp etc. - basically any NMEA 2000 item as long as you take care about red / blue connectors ... speed log, depth etc.

Yep - I'm completely biased !

Of course I'm biased because a) I am a Lowrance user, b) I'm a scrooge and searched high and low for cheapest best option. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Honest - You should go and try to compare by looking at as many as possible working. Usual display in Chandlers aint worth a light as they are dead displays. It really is down to personal choice and many don't like Garmin .... many don't like Lowrance ... many don't like Standard Horizon - but there are just as many that do like each of them ...

It's YOUR choice !!

 

[roger]

I'm very pleased with my Europe N NauticPath Chart. It seem s accurate and goes down to buoy level. However it misses some details; bridge and power cable hieghts, marina layouts. One of the competitors said at SBS that NP charts had not been updated in last 2 years. I cant back that allegation up in any way.
Have compared with Navionics chart. These do have bridge and cable hieghts plus marina layouts but on the whole I find the NP display on the Lowrance preferable - its clearer.
The usual advice for Holland is to buy the charts in April for that year's use. The sand around the coast moves all the time and I doubt if the electronic charts can keep up.

 

[Heckler]

Hey Nige
thats good, have just bought a 5150c with the free chart, am dreading connecting in to the B&G pilot but how do you get the voltage etc on screen?
Stu

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Easy to get voltage on screen. Press pages as I recall and it gives you the option of map with data. Then press menu and you get the option 'customise'. each of the data fields is then changeable to what you want to display - ETA, SOG etc - one of the options is voltage.

My Nauticpath Europe West showed the Frisians and took us through the Dutch canals.

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Nige
thats good, have just bought a 5150c with the free chart, am dreading connecting in to the B&G pilot but how do you get the voltage etc on screen?
Stu

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume 5150 will have similar menu as my 3500 ....

Press <menu> once .... scroll down to <Overlay data> ... press <ENT> to add .... you should now have
[+] Navigation
[+] Trip calculator
[+] Time
[+] Sensor Data

Scroll to Sensor data and press enter ..... check the box and bingo !

Don't forget that on the Lowrance web-site you can download a PC demo version of the plotters - so you can play with menus / even display charts if you have the LEI card reader.

Chart updates Nauticpath charts are not updated unfortunately as far as I know apart from Tides / Current data. They are actually the Transas Chart system bought in. I haven't found any reason yet to wish they updated as I do use in conjuction with other data mediums. Some may now jump on the comment and start bandying around other systems do update etc. Sorry but that's not strictly correct as most in fact update only at long intervals and are all out of date literally the moment they hit the street.
I've compared my Charting with other sets - Garmin, Magellan, Navman, Geonav and haven't seen any reason to move away.
I do hope that at some time Lowrance do upgrade or update charting. But at this time - I'm happy enough and will be using my Nauticpath in some extremely difficult areas this year ... if anyone cares to look into Alands Isles bewteen Finland and Sweden ... and of course Stockholm Archipelago - they will see what I mean !

 

[cookjwm]

Thanks once again, you've taken a lot of trouble and I appreciate it, you've very much helped me make my mind up to go lowrance/nauticpath

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Didn't I help just a little bit?

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't I help just a little bit?

[/ QUOTE ]

I reckon you did !!

Read your reply for sensor data ... and went to manual online for 5150C ... so to other guy .... read pages 35 - 36 of manual ! Simon's correct ...

 

[roger]

Lowrance - NauticPath

My only real problem with this combo ( I have the obsolete 3600c model) is that you have to fiddle with the display controls day/night contrast and brightness to get good visibility for distinguishing land and water.
Secondary problem is chart clutter. Some magnifications are unusable with chart clutter. Also you may need to adjust magnification to make sure you can see the buoys. This is all based on Sailing in the skerries in Sweden and Finland. As for chart errors except buoyage changes - hav not found any.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Refueler]

Re: Lowrance - NauticPath

Agreed that there are one or two levels of zoom that appear daft with over detail. But generally I've found similar with other as well.

I've been searching into the 'redundancy' of Nauticpath since this thread started to see if any likelihood of it being stopped ....

It appears that Lowrance are now providing two styles .. the older traditional as the 5150 and subsequent 7000 series etc. cont'g use of nauticpath and the other formats such as Hotspots, Navionics, Mapcreate etc. But adding the HDS line to the choice. Interesting that they cont. to use navionics and most of the formats by the older and existing models. But there is no mention of Nauticpath with HDS. Being founder / moderator of the Lowrance plotter yahoo Group - Lowrance Plotters Group - this will be looked into as I would have thought if the HDS line can use all the other formats normal to Lowrance - then maybe Nauticpath does work on HDS machines. They have a new chart system for HDS additional to the others : Nautic Insight, which is supposed to have incredible detail and capability - but it's only US charting at moment I believe.
I haven't viewed a HDS machine in real life yet - but if the display is as they claim - with the greater detail charting - it should be good. Not only that but most of the HDS line can integrate radar as well as all the NMEA 2000 gear.

 

[cookjwm]

you certainly did~!

 

[Refueler]

Re: Lowrance - NauticPath

The new HDS Lowrance units do support Nauticpath Charting along with the other formats that Lowrance have listed against previous model lines. This is good news as it shows Lowrance is not leaving existing customers out in the brezze as Garmin did not so long ago when they changed charting system.