Nortic Path charts

Colin24

Colin24

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Nautic Path

I’m interested in buying a Lowrance 3500 chart plotter.
I see them advertised all over place just now, most on offer come with a
Wide chart coverage included. The chart is described as ‘Low cost Nortic Path chart’

I have no experience of this brand of cartography.

I have used ‘C-map’ and some rasterized electronic charts before.
Does anyone have an opinion of the Nortic charts ? can I expect the same sort of detail as I’ve been used to from say ‘C-map’ ? I’m not concerned about differences in colour schemes, just the detail.
 
I use a Lowrance 3500C, and find it more than adequate for my needs, the amount of detail varies with the amount of zoom you have on at the time (From memory 0.02 - 4000 miles), I have the large western european chart.
 
The charts you refer too are very much like Navonics charts, they vary slightly in detail, some information is missing. For instance the pontoons in our marina are shown on Navonics but not on Nautipath, no big deal. In the Channel Isls I found some rocks missing off the charts, major problem, or could be.

Consider the cost of the Nautipath charts compared to others. It is ONLY an aid to navigation and you should be making reference to another medium (paper chart?).
I think the Lowrance 3500 with Nautipath chartware is excellent value. Get used to what it can and cant do whilst in familiar waters.

SBC is the man on this product, if Nigel sees this post I'm sure he will have further advice.
 
I agree with all the other replies. I sailed most of the summer in Britanny and was more than happy with the charts. The detail is missing on some of the marinas and river sections but at least it will take you to where you would use your pilotage
almanac info anyway. In conclusion - great value for money.
 
I see that the Lowrance 3500 is also compatible with the Navonics charts.
Maybe it would be worth buying the unit without the bundled chart and purchase the Navionics chart for my local area.

The Nortic chart covers a huge area and I only sail locally, overkill would be an understatement. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Point taken re paper charts, I’d never go anywhere that I didn’t have a paper chart for.
Just yesterday I discovered that the Nobeltec position for Half Moon Reef (West of Palawan, Philippines) is 1500m North East of its Nobelec position. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It’s charted correctly on the paper charts.
 
Navionics now covers the whole of the UK for the same price as a local area, so no price advantage. Usually the bundled price is the cheapest, though Navionics charts have the slight edge in terms of detail.
 
Yes good idea, specialy now Navoinics do th ewhole of the UK for £200 (?).

Just check first though, I think that the Navonics charts refresh slower than the Nautipath. Not 100% sure on this, but it might be worth a look.
 
I have both -

navionics have more contour lines (usefull for fishing) and nautipath are missing many pontoon layouts for some reason - although they do show Cherbourg for instance.

I find the nautipath display better on the 3500C than the older XL3 Gold navionics chart I have but later charting may have improved this. I run the nautipath in the 3500C and the navionics in an X15-MT
 
Both will do the job, but I think you need to look at them...not just the detail but how it's presented (including the colour!). Don't take other people's opinions...yours may be different.
 
Re: Nortic Path charts .... do you mean NAUTICPATH ??

Me ... I'm very happy with the chart coverage and also the 3500C .... both have performed excellently.

Considering the price of the chart card - you cannot expect to get the same level of detail as say C-Map or Navionics .... but for average boaters use - it's more than enough IMHO.

Some will remark - It doesn't show pontoons in marinas etc. - well I think that is detail that is way above needed - as really a plotter gets you to destination and then it's pilotage for rest.

If you wanted same geographic coverage from other chart providers .... the cost would be huge !!!
 
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