Print your own charts?

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aidancoughlan

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Can anybody comment on the "Print your own charts" article in the Motor Boat Monthly magazine. I dont get the magazine (I'm a "Raggie"), but I'm very curious - I searched high and low this time last year for a chart package that would let me print usefull chart portions (not small, restricted, fixed sections - a chart area of my own choosing in a reasonable A3 or A2 size to fit a chart table).

I think there's a gap in the market for something to do this - my motivation is more to print areas that suit my needs (and possibly annotate them for myself), than to avoid paying for charts.

Whats in the article.... any light on the horizon?
 
Easy

You can do this with the MapTech charts - either whole chart or part sized to your liking. Saw at LIBS they sell water proof paper too so no need to laminate now.

C Map PC plotter is similar but obviously not Admiralty jobs.

I like doing this as my routes / waypoints are clear and the A4 size is easier on the flybridge.
 
I'd like to add to this one on Maptech.

You buy the Maptech charts from Memory Map in the UK.
Each chart pack comes with the Maptech software to display and print them.
The Maptech software is *rap.
However, buy the Memory Map (own brand) software.
You do this by purchasing an OS version which will include the 1:50000 OS maps of the UK.
I think about £50-£70 will buy the south of England - the £70 option comes with aerial photos.
The Memory Map software will then read the Maptech charts.
I swear by the Memory Map software - It's brilliant.
Everything you'd expect from quality BRITISH software.
It comes with a facility to export itself and its charts to a hand held PDA (IPaq etc).
It works as well on the IPaq as the PC.
I've connected my IPaq to a Bluetooth GPS reciever and it tracks your position almost as well as a plotter.
I mainly use it for planning trips - you can switch charts very quickly.

Both Maptech and Memory Map software will enable you to print charts at various scales.

I, actually keep Admiralty Paper Charts as a backup and use the electronic charts for planning but do the odd printout blown up using an A3 colour printer. I dont bother laminating them and scrap them after use. This way I can draw all over them during the passage.
 
Whilst at LIBS I picked up some info on a piece of software due out in Feb. which will load onto PC with navionics charts via card reader, and then enable me to plot routes, waypoints etc on PC at home, before transfering it to plotter on boat. I've now lost the info and would like to contact them. They were behind the Maptech stall I believe. Any ideas on this?
 
Was this the software?
http://pcplannernt.c-map.it/
Works on CMAPs NT+ charts and a USB card reader.
It has been available for several years.
Software is free
Card reader - £50 - £100 ish
I have one - works well.
Just checked it - you can print from it but mine only uses vector charts.
My philosophy is "do the planning and navigation with raster charts and let the boat/nav instruments use the vector charts"
 
MJF - "You can do this with the MapTech charts - either whole chart or part sized to your liking..." - am I missing something in the software. I Havn't tried the memory map software yet, but the Maptech software only appears to allow me to print A4 (or smaller) sheets at whatever location Maptech has selected. The size range might be dependent on the printer, but what part of the chart I can print seems to be limited to whatever part falls within that part of the grid. ie. I cant select to print an A2 (orA4) section, and drag it around the chart to pick the bit that interests me most..... more often than not the bit of interest falls between two or three chartlets.

Hurricane - thanks for the info. I actually bought a copy of Maptech charts & Memory map software the boat show. Thanks for the tip on the Memory-map software - I'll try that - I thought it was only for the PDA, and havnt installed it yet.

regards & thanks,
Aidan.

BTW, anybody see that article I was wondering about - does it cover this type of stuff ?
 
Maptech charts can be printed on A3, just set the printer in the "Print Chart Packet " window to A3.
Mapetch have some waterproof paper which was at the boat show. looked good but not cheap, should last a while though.
 
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