Navionics Cartidges

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I've inherited a couple of Navionics cartridges with my new (to me) boat and I'm not happy with them. They probably date from around 2004 and the cartography presentation is a bit rubbish and there some alarming inaccuracies like not showing a large clump of rocks in a popular anchorage next to my marina.
I'm thinking about buying new cartidges but the question is will they be better than what I've got. I think what I've got are Navionics Gold cartridges but I'm not 100% sure as the codes dont match any current Navionics chart code. Basically does the panel think its worthwile upgrading to Platinum+ cartridges and what extra will they give me?
Another issue are the plotters. According to the Navionics website, my existing plotters (Geonav 11C and 7C) will take Platinum cartridges but maybe not Platinum+ cartridges but it doesn't seem that Navionics sell Platinum cartridges any more, only Platinum+ ones? I dont really want to replace the plotters as well since they are both perfectly serviceable and I've already spent way more than enough money on the boat this year!

 

[Tranona]

Probably best to ask Navionics whether they can update your existing cartridges and if the new ones work on your plotters.

The issue of accuracy is a difficult one. They do not draw the charts so they will only include what is on their source charts - usually the official hydrographer for the area. Also they are vector charts so not all information is shown at every level. I use C Map and I can show you tracks going into Lakka on Paxos that are over a hill through the school yard and up to the quay, when I know I have gone through the harbour entrance full of water - and I go back over the hill when I leave. In Fiskardo I can back up to the quay with my boat icon showing my track perfectly. Zoom into the next level down and my icon magically jumps into the garden behind the taverna where I am about to eat (which has been there since the 18thC!)

The answer is alway "Not our fault" "Not to be used for navigation"!

 

[Mr Googler]

I used these guys to update my card and they where very good and much cheaper than buying new.

http://www.bluev.co.uk/navionics-12-c.asp

I also found out that navionics change their chart codes every year!!!

Hope it helps

 

[PaulGooch]

Unless you want overhead photo's or bits of Google Earth, don't waste your money on anything more than Gold cards. Navionics is amongst the worst companies i have ever dealt with and i wouldn't buy a plotter that relied on their charts.

 

[Hurricane]

I bought a Navionics card before we left the UK.
The G Series was delivered with global Navionics preloaded but only Platinium - not Platinium Plus so I bought a Platinium Plus card for the run down here - I had been told that Navionics had "flown" the coast with their aerial photos which the standard (preloaded) ones didn’t have. They were boasting that they were really up to date.

I was horrified to find that the port at Gijon had been significantly extended and there was no evidence on the chart or photos of this - IMO, they quite clearly hadn't "flown" the coast as recently as they had said. We arrived at night and thankfully we had djefabs on board who knew the port well.

They never acknowledged my complaint which I filed at a Southampton Boat Show but I was able to get a free upgrade from them which I suppose does itself acknowledge their deficiency but there was absolutely no apology.

The lesson here is - DONT TRUST NAVIONICS.

 

[oceanfroggie]

There are two issues here, one is the quality of original source data (ie old paper charts) for an area, and secondly the quality of vectorising this data. Some Med paper charts are notoriously inaccurate, but when scanned and vectorised for gps use proporate to give a level of detail that a) never existed and b) is at variance with reality. Such paper charts had errors in excerss of 100s of meters so electronic versions of same are going to inherit the errors.

Personally I still prefer the rendering, chart presentation and quilting adopted by Garmin Bluecharts over C-MAP and Navionics. I have used all three formats extensively. Agree with comments about top of the range versions of these charts, the basic versions suffice for navigation. 3D underwater bath stuff looks cool and gee-whiz for a short spell, but doesn't aid navigation, especially if the underwater 3D is based on a level of accuracy that never existed in the 1st place (ie 150yo lead line survey data).

PS: Also prefer the "ease of use" and iPhone like smartness of Garmin plotters.

 

[PaulGooch]

There are two issues here, one is the quality of original source data (ie old paper charts) for an area, and secondly the quality of vectorising this data. Some Med paper charts are notoriously inaccurate, but when scanned and vectorised for gps use proporate to give a level of detail that a) never existed and b) is at variance with reality. Such paper charts had errors in excerss of 100s of meters so electronic versions of same are going to inherit the errors.

Personally I still prefer the rendering, chart presentation and quilting adopted by Garmin Bluecharts over C-MAP and Navionics. I have used all three formats extensively. Agree with comments about top of the range versions of these charts, the basic versions suffice for navigation. 3D underwater bath stuff looks cool and gee-whiz for a short spell, but doesn't aid navigation, especially if the underwater 3D is based on a level of accuracy that never existed in the 1st place (ie 150yo lead line survey data).

PS: Also prefer the "ease of use" and iPhone like smartness of Garmin plotters.

I agree with the Garmin comments. I have used C-Map, Navionics and Garmin and much prefer Garmin. Likewise the plotters.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks guys for replies. I'm not going to change the plotters for the moment so I'm stuck with Navionics. But I will take your advice and get the cartridges updated only rather than buy new Platinum+ cartridges

 

[SVB]

We recently upgraded our Navionics chart chip. If you speak to them, they will take the old one back and send you the latest one for about 1/2 price of new chip.

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks guys for replies. I'm not going to change the plotters for the moment so I'm stuck with Navionics. But I will take your advice and get the cartridges updated only rather than buy new Platinum+ cartridges

Mike

I think they will do a very good deal on the Platinium Plus cards - especially if you update more than one.

I bet they will end up selling you Platinium Plus especially if you do it at SIBS

However, check that the plotters will be ok or can be upgraded.
I had to do an upgrade on our G Series before the Platinium Plus cards would work.