pc charts

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Help please.
Im looking for a pc chart system. Pretty basic but one I can load on my laptop and play at home with passege plans, perhaps waypoints etc. Not sure it would upload to raymarine chart plotter so would consider manual input.

I looked at the lbs and became even more confused and did not understand the vast price differences.
Has anyone had any experience of these and can I get some recommendations for this basic work.
Thanks
 
You could do worse than trying SeaClear. It's free, you can scan paper charts using an A4 or A3 scanner and use the software to stitch them together into a full size electronic raster chart. It also works with many published US charts, if you fancy virtual sailing in the carribean!

Download it here
 
For £99.95 you can get Seapro Lite (www.euronav.co.uk) complete with all UK charts, you are actually paying for the charts with a free basic PC plotting software.

It doesn't allow you to create a waypoint database but you can plot and save routes. Latest version also supports AIS and Navtex. You can download a demo.

Maptech also do something similar but I have not used this one. I believe you can also download a demo.

Imray and Admiralty also do a PC based software but their charts are more regional than national so not very good value any longer IMHO.

They all allow basic route planning but if you want the luxury/indulgence of tidal stream input then you've got to pay for the more expensive versions.

Hope this helps,
Paul.
 
I have been SeaPro for about 5years and have just upgraded to SeaPro 3000,
As I am travelling to the med I can download the required charts as and when I reach the the next stage of the trip.
The Basic demo version can be downloaded or a free disc can be obtained from Euronav.
It is not a program that will suit everybody but it works for me.
I can swop data between the desktop and the laptop using a memory stick so can enter waypoints and routes in the comfort of home during the winter and when on the boat can just drop them in the boat computer.
As it is free give it a try,
You can also get the basic Admiralty package which is also worth a look.
But don't forget all the systems have a disclaimer that recommends using proper charts just in case.
 
Hi,
It depends really on how much you want to pay and what type of charts you want to use...ie Raster, like Admiralty paper charts or Vector, interactive where you can interrogate features like buoys and lights with a click of the mouse.

I'm not suprised that you were confused at LIBS. PC chartplotting is often bewildering for someone starting out.

One thing I do know is that going for a "lite" version of a product like Seapro lite or Maptech's chart navigator often leaves you wanting more once you have experienced the PC Chart experience.
I'm not going to pit PC's against stand alone fixed plotters because each have their uses and following.

So, explaining the various offerings I'm going to start at the top end.
The best, by far is undoubtedly Maxsea. It does just about everything, tides currents, weather overlays etc etc. It's very slick and easy to use.
They have a new version out (12.6) called "Maxsea Easy" which comes bundled with Mapmedia MM2 charts of the whole of the UK and Ireland for £399.
MM2 charts are sort of Raster charts with a 3D releif component.
Higher end versions of maxsea will also use many other charts both raster and vector including Maptechs BSB raster, Cmap CM93 and NT vector charts plus photo charts etc etc.
Unortunately with maxsea easy AIS is still (unbeleivably) an add on.

Next down there are a few offerings such as seapro which comes bundled with all livecharts of UK and Ireland for I think £399. Not my favourite program...I just couldnt get into it..and I'm not keen on the charts...but that's just personal opinion...many people are using it and swear by it.
In this mid range my favourite is Maptech's Chart Navigator Pro...which actually isnt a maptech program...just marketed by them under licence from Rose Point in the US.
This uses maptech BSB Raster Charts for the UK, although it is capable of using the free US vector charts also and does everything including Weather, Tides, Currents, AIS, Marpa...has on screen sailing directions for most destinations..and is a joy to use. Has many outstanding features including a fully configurable instrument data display..reminiscent of the old C-mapECS...which is probably why I like it so much. It comes in at £249 but charts are extra by area usually £99 from maptech.
In your position this is probably the one I would go for as it offers the most bang for your buck.

Another worthy of mention is Nobletec's (now Jepperson {Boeing} marine) Visual Navigation Suite Version 8. This like maxsea uses both BSB raster and Transas vector charts (but not C-map yet) and is a good program, but has little Market pentration into the UK as yet being mainly a US product.

Others around are the Australian "Software On Board" which is free in trial mode and last six months before you have to pay for an unlock key. It uses only C-map NT or NT max charts which have to be purchased separately from C-map.

As others have said Seaclear is also free, but the downside is that there are now no commercially available charts for it as it only uses the old unencrypted maptech BSB charts. However you can scan your own paper charts into it, provided you have a decent preferably A3 scanner and are willing to spend lots of time stitching and calibrating them.
The results can be good, but unfortunately my charts were disappointing.
You can still find the old BSB version 1-3 around if you look hard enough though.
I'm currently using Maptech Chart Navigator Pro and am very happy with it.

Try not to be tempted by the cheap RYA/Admiralty and Imray plotters at the bottom end of the market.
These are pretty awful in comparison to the pro softwares available and are awkward and ill refined to use.

Hope I havent confused you even more.
PM me if you want more info on anything.
 
Download an obsolete copy of Garmin Bluechart using Limewire or E-Mule, stotally illegal corse.

Or buy a legit copy, I just got new version 8 on e-bay for £63 from USA
 
I agree; SeaClear is a great free little tool (wonderful sailing all the year long onboard your office...).
And if you have some bucks available for that, you may try ScanNav.
 
I bought the Imray electronic charts & they are very user friendly.Specific areas(mine is S.North Sea) were about £54,but I have seen them at about £30.They operate as a full plotter when PC connected to a GPS
 
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