Navionics charts and tidal stream info

[Dalliance]

I'm thinking about to upgrading my Navionics G25 chart to the P28 for use on my Raymarine C80. I've been told that "the latest version of the Raymarine software" should allow presentation of the tidal stream in real time from these charts. I've just downloaded the v4.5 software from Raymarine and installed it but plainly the G series chart doesn't have any tidal stream data. Has any Forumite got experience of the tidal stream data on the Navionics charts? Is it only available on the P series? Is it any good?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

By G do you mean Gold?

I use gold on a RM 435i, which has tidal stream info. Yes it is very good and fairly accurate too, between the reeds almanac, HMO tide tables, Bellfield and navionics they all agree within minutes of each other, so far!

They are no use for long term planning, i.e. what will be the tide next Thursday, you can only display a day at a time and have to scroll day by day. (I am trying to remember if there is a limit to the amount of days forward you can go, I think there is). For a quick reference they are great, especially as they have pretty good coverage, such as areas where you need to use the tide for passage and most harbours. There is a tidal graph and the times in a table. The sunrise and set times are also displayed along with the moon.

I actually find the tidal current more useful, especially as the unit does the maths for you!

If I have a complaint it is trying to get access, if the tide diamond is near to a buoy or other feature is can be neigh on impossible at large range to position the cross-hairs so that you are given the option to open the tide data. It always seems to prefer the buoy information. This means zooming right in, but, alas, the on higher zooms the tide diamond moves, and you have to start searching around for it with the D key, often zooming back out to centre it and then zooming back in. A small squabble, but all the same, a bit of a pain when stood at the helm.

A question I can not find an answer to, is how long the tide data is going to last, I have had the unit coming 2 years now, will I find part way through this years cruise that the tide data will just stop until I update the chart?

<span style="color:red"> Does anyone know the answer to this? </span>

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Why not put a date a couple of years in the future and see what happens? I did it earlier this year to find out what the currents were going to be doing several months in advance and it worked, so if the data is perpetual or time limitted you should be able to find out.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

On the plotter?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Sorry may have given you duff info, my plotter is a C120, don't know if the RM 435i has the same features, but if the info is there it should be available to both. If someone can test it and report it will give you the answer, I am away for 6 weeks or I would do it and report but I will do so if I access the forum and PM you.

 

[Oldhand]

Have you tried viewing tidal flow data in Head-Up mode rather than North-Up? I'm told it produces very interesting but false results.

 

[jb2006]

I have a C70 and gold charts - I was told that the C series DOES NOT support platinum charts - please correct me if I am wrong - but it might not be worth the upgrade. I thought tidal streams were available on gold chart but only by selecting the diamonds, not as cool arrows like on Cmap

 

[[2068]]

You're correct. Platinum Charts (Pxx) are supported on E-Series, not C-Series.

dv.

 

[Duffer]

I upgraded my C70 to ver 4.25 over the weekend. The new tidal arrows in this version work well (based on tidal diamond info). Click the animate soft key having done a find for your local current station (it also animates tide stations). You can specify any time/date you like so it is useful for planning e.g. when is it slack round Start Point.

Also useful is the ability to control your autopilot from the screen.

I believe you CAN access some extra features of PLATINUM charts on C screens with this new download - e.g. photos and pilotage notes but not 3D view or sateliite overlay. I haven't tried this - has anyone else yet?