Navico vs C-map

[LeonF]

I know this has been covered before, but there seem to be updates on the product. Looking to buy a chart plotter, probably Ray435. Are the new Navico Gold charts as good as Raymarine say they are? It used to be that C-map had the edge from what I've read re updates etc but have the Navico Gold overtaken them? Is there any difference in the info offered-- I've tried to compare and they seem to be pretty similar. Any advice please

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[charles_reed]

I think you mean Navionics

C-Map are the more popular so most easily obtained either as copies or originals.
Navionics are allegedly a bit niggardly about paying their royalties so their charts are sometimes not too up-to-date.

In the final analysis they're using the same originating charting and it's up to you to have a look and see which one you prefer the look of.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LeonF]

Re: I think you mean Navionics

Thanks, your right. Been spending too long on the net!

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[Ric]

I think Navionics have the upper hand now in terms of quality. One of the French sailing mags ran a back to back test and the Navionics system came out on top.

BUT the problem with Navionics is that the charts are very hard to buy - and even harder to download. C-Map seem better distributed, and it is far easier to swap or download them for free from the internet. I know you are not supposed to do that etc, but if I was in (say) Puerto Madryn in Argentina, and needed a chart for the next stretch of coast, it would be impossible to get a Navionics chart, but I'm sure an hour or so in an internet café would be enough to find the C-Map chart.

I'm not condoning chart swapping - but if I was equipping a boat for a round the world trip, I would want an easier way of obtaining charts. Navionics need to sort out on-line sales and easy download to compact flash if they want to stay in front.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[wiggy]

any idea of sites to look at?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[nicksmith]

I think Navionics have the upper hand now in terms of quality. One of the French sailing mags ran a back to back test and the Navionics system came out on top.

This is open to considerable doubt. I have the French report to hand and it is a bit of a ‘don’t upset the advertisers’ fudge.

I do not know where Chas Reed gets his info, but certainly the charts of Cardiff Bay do not show some physical and navigational features which were in place 2 years ago.

The Navionics Gold charts look great on the surface and I have used them quite a bit, but it seems that they have used so much of their computing power on putting in lots of text details and bright icons that they are very short on proper European chart symbols like I am used to. A problem I have with my Navionics Gold here in N France is that there is so much info at zoom out levels that the chart is very cluttered at the level I need for approaching abers and small harbours. I worry about missing something important.

I have a friend who is an electronics engineer. He says that when he was at METS (The Big Trade Show) in November, the buzz was that Raymarine were switching to Navionics because they were demanding a $25 dollar levy from the chart company for every chart plotter sold and C-Map would not pay it.. As most of us only buy 1 or 2 charts, there is not huge volume sales, but anyone buying C-Map would be paying about 19 euros extra per chart to cover this. I am glad they stayed out of it.

Also remember that you can use C-Map cartridges in a wide variety of plotters, which is good if you charter and great if you change your boating area and want to sell them on.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[colin_jones]

Keep an eye on PBO issues for June and July.

I believe that there are planned aricles on How Charts are Made (all electronic charts derive from official data) and then an in-depth look at the three big players in the electronic cartography market viz Bluechart, C-Map and Navionics Gold.

As an aside, there is an interesting C-Map Club site whiich you can get at from their main website <www.c-map.co.uk>

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Navionics

Storm bound in Viareggio so went and visited them a couple of times, it's amazing how much you pick up chatting over coffee and talking to techies.

In the whole business of electronic charting the key is the cartography quality, I suspect that Navionics is slightly ahead on technics, Bluechart are still struggling to tame the Tsunamis' cartography they inherited and C-map are least advanced but the most stable and effective.
Keeping vector databases up to date ia a very labour intensive activity with little commercial reward so I can't see any of the commercial enterprises being good long-term bets. My money is on the US, that's why I've got Maxsea in the laptop as a backup to a dedicated 1st generation chartplotter.

The whole picture is about to change - not only are 3rd generation plotters due out in the next few months but all the worlds' official hydrographers have finally got their act together and close to releasing their own vector cartography.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[nicksmith]

Re: Navionics

the key is the cartography quality, I suspect that Navionics is slightly ahead on technics, Bluechart are still struggling to tame the Tsunamis' cartography they inherited and C-map are least advanced but the most stable and effective.

These are very general and sweeping statements so you shoul d explain to us who do not have your insider expertise exactly what you mean and how you arrive at the conclusions.

Cartography quality is not an issue. C-Map's blurb emphasises that they do not tinker with Admiralty data. what you see is what The RN publishes. Bluechart is probably ditto.

Also all 3 Navionics, C-Map and Bluechart are themselves working towards a PC version of their products. Bluechart has a downloadable and PC version and C-Map PC planner on a computer is great. Navionnics being so advanced? I do not know. I do not have your priveliges but I would still like you to tell us how you arrive at what IMHO are very dogmatic statements.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LeonF]

Re: Navionics

Totally confused ! Are you infering I should go the lap top route or should I just wait? or maybe just get a Raynav 300 fo the moment and stick to paper charts. I have considered a Yeoman even though they seem to be a bit old hat now. I am not about to set off around the world, just want a GPS of sorts but don't want to regret not having gone the extra mile in a year or two. Seems its a choice between Ray 435 or newer C70 or Simrad CP33 or the equivalent in Furuno. Grateful for any feedback

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[bob_tyler]

Have a look at the NAVMAN range. Very good value and use C-Charts. Do a Google search for the best price.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[pandroid]

Re: Navionics

<....C-Map PC planner on a computer is great....>

Really?

Its a useful tool if you've got C-Map but compared to the real PC plotters its a little behind the times (And I'm being polite)

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[nicksmith]

Re: Navionics

You are not comparing like with like.

C-Map PC Planner does not pretend to be an on-board navigational system for GPS interface etc. It is purely a planner and a means of saving and transferring routes etc - and a very useful one too - hence its name.

You can scarcely accuse it of being behind the times when it employs latest C-Map cartographic technology to do the job for which it is sold and whose purpose you seem to have mistaken

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[pandroid]

Re: C-Map Planner

I'm not having a go at the Cartography (thats another subject) but the tool. The interface is clunky and doesnt conform to Windows conventions. Its far quicker and easier to use if you use the Keyboard shortcuts, than it is to use the mouse - ever tried creating a long route without using the keyboard?

Its also got a nice little habit of crashing occasionally. .

The NV charts come with a 'free' version on CD with their own viewer.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[colin_jones]

Re: C-Map Planner

Ivan if you have a go at the C-Map cartography, you will be falling out with the skipper of the New QM 2 and thr RN who both use it.

Your displeasure with the C-Map PCPlanner mouse is probably due to having a very old version of the software. On Sunday afternoon, I put in a long and complex route just with the mouse ( In fact I did not realise that there are keystrokes and still cannot find them for most functions) The new software's cursor moves down (or across) to the next video and chart page when the cursor touches the screen edge. That is a big improvemnent on the version you probably have.

You can get an up-date free of charge by letting C-Map know the registration number on the back of your black/grey box.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[LeonF]

Thanks for all the replies. Have decided on C-Map and the Simrad CP33. Well I hope it's only going to be the once I buy it! Overall opinion seems to be that the seamless nature of Navionics is superb but the use of memory this involves is at the expense of nav detail. Prices are rumoured to become very competitive.

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson