Simple affordable chart-plotting app

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SaltyDan

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Hello everyone.

I am trying to decide what app to purchase for chart-plotting.

I had a handheld GPS but it was clunky and annoying, and felt outdated design-wise. A bit like using an old TomTom rather than google maps on a smartphone. And it broke so I need something new!

I don't like the sound of savvy navvy because apart from the negative reviews, automated passage planning does not appeal to me. I just want the simple ability to draw points and lines, and see myself as a small dot, on an on-screen chart. I will plan routes myself in advance according to tides and conditions.

I think the general go-to for most people is navionics... but you have to purchase charts separately and it all sounds a bit expensive... is there a cheaper option?

I feel like the most sensible approach is using a smartphone/tablet for ease of use, with a simple affordable app, and if necessary, a Garmin Glo 2 gps receiver for accuracy of data.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Cheers!
 
I hate spending money .... but I have to say that overall - Navionics on a Tablet is very good.

I paid about 150 for a new 8" tablet with very high speed (knocks iPads and Samsungs for 6) ... twin SIM ... SD Card ... Full WiFi - GPS - Bluetooth etc. You may think 8" is small - but it slips into my jacket pocket ... its big enough to show all clearly ... but small enough to be handy.

The complete Baltic Sea chart set is about 45 quid a year subscription. Once downloaded - you can update literally every day or leave it longer between - your choice. If you let subscription lapse - you keep the charts but cannot update anymore .. also you lose the extra layers such as AIS etc.
When you compare the subscription price to the SD Card ... its a no-brainer ...
I have it installed on my Phone as well as the Tablet and they both share the same account
It compliments my Garmin Plotter on board which has SD card based Navionics ..
 
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I've recently purchased an Android Chart Plotter from Visit My Harbour as I prefer the look and feel of Admiralty Charts. In my opinion Navionics is ghastly.

The reasoning was the end of new paper chart production, from time to time I crew on other peoples boats and do the odd delivery trip and now don't need to prise the mobile phone from the frozen hands of a sleeping skipper to check where we are.
 
SaltyDan said:
Hello everyone.

I am trying to decide what app to purchase for chart-plotting.

I had a handheld GPS but it was clunky and annoying, and felt outdated design-wise. A bit like using an old TomTom rather than google maps on a smartphone. And it broke so I need something new!

I don't like the sound of savvy navvy because apart from the negative reviews, automated passage planning does not appeal to me. I just want the simple ability to draw points and lines, and see myself as a small dot, on an on-screen chart. I will plan routes myself in advance according to tides and conditions.

I think the general go-to for most people is navionics... but you have to purchase charts separately and it all sounds a bit expensive... is there a cheaper option?

I feel like the most sensible approach is using a smartphone/tablet for ease of use, with a simple affordable app, and if necessary, a Garmin Glo 2 gps receiver for accuracy of data.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Cheers!
Click to expand...
If circa £45 for Navionics charts is too expensive you may have chosen the wrong hobby :) It works well.

Buying charts separate from the software is a common model. Can get all UK charts for circa £25 from Memory Map, Visit My Harbour or O-Chart (the last for OpenCPN).
Ideally want to have a backup so Navionics vector charts PLUS raster charts on say MemoryMap on a separate device would be my suggestion.
 
Memory Maps can be downloaded free, and an annual chart package of UKHO charts in raster format can be purchased for £25 per year. The old charts don't expire, just become out of date.

Memory-Map Outdoor Navigation Apps | Ordnance Survey | Hema Maps – Memory-Map GPS Mapping Apps for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android. Navigate with topographic maps or nautical charts offline. Download it free today.
UK & Ireland Marine Charts – Memory-Map Outdoor Navigation Apps | Ordnance Survey | Hema Maps

Memory Maps is simple, and you can plot routes, waypoints and mark interesting stuff, it also has a simple plotter screen shown SOG, COG, ETA.

If you are not UK based, other chart packages are available.

Also, Free Compehensive UK Harbour Information and For Nav chartpacks : from Visit My Harbour offers a chart service, and for £25 you also get access to Tide Tables and Tidal Atlas data, as well as comprehensive harbour, pilotage notes.

I use Memory Maps on an iPad and MacBook Air, works great. If in Scotland, subscribe to Antares Charts and they can be used with Memory Maps and UKHO raster charts. Antares charts offer significantly more detail. The surveyor, an amateur, was given a knighthood for his work. Antares Charts

Also available is Imray Digital charts. Digital. I have not used this.

I do recommend Garmin Boating (Navionics) as it has weather and tide data as well. But you find that too pricey. Lots to chose from.

If you need a plotter, use a tablet and buy a second hand tablet from the likes of https://www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb/...e=1&gbraid=0AAAAACmITFUQObV114m4MjtLH6AMl7zI6
 
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Refueler said:
I hate spending money .... but I have to say that overall - Navionics on a Tablet is very good.
Click to expand...
+1
Its popular because it just works. It costs money because we expect people to make charts and update them, and make and update the software that displays them on tablets which are themselves subject to constant change by goolge/apple. Its backed by a large corporate which has pro's and con's - yes they will be looking to profit from you but they also have the Garmin brand to protect so changes will be planned and controlled (even if not in your favour).

AntarcticPilot said:
OpenCPN - the paid for version - is inexpensive, and you can purchase charts at reasonable rates through it. It's very powerful.
Click to expand...
I find it runs incredibly slowly on an Android tablet which is more than capable of running Navionics, Orca etc. I may be doing something wrong with it as other people seem to love it.
 
My PoV is that I may want to stretch the cruising area ... and that means extending the chart coverage. VisitMyHarbour is great if a) you are happy with raster based charts ... b) not intending to sail outside UK / near continent.

Me ? and anyone else outside of UK etc - chart coverage does reduce the plotter apps available. Navionics of course being one of the packages that offers chart pack downloads for your area wherever in the World.

We've moved on a lot since the old days of Maptech .. Rose Nav etc. The Vector based is far more compact and does not fill up data space on the tablet / PC as the old Raster based.
 
Some reviews seem to suggest the navionics offline charts are a bit flakey on android - is that solved? Ditto CMap?
Orca android looks nice for uk and Europe, though I haven't subscribed yet. Disappointing the AIS CPA and warnings are a wad extra cash on orca though. VMH does everything perfectly for the uk.
 
Navionics is good value in reality as you can have the mobile charts on 2 devices. Also they have coverage globally so easy enough to upgrade and download new areas.

Just a shame the chart plotter versions cost so much more per year.
 
Am I correct in assuming the Antares charts are available in BSB format? And are any of the others available in BSB / S-57 / S-63? (At a reasonable bundled price, that is.)
 
Are people still using BSB ? Once BSB3 came out and could not be displayed on most PC plotting progs - unless you bought full Maptech / Rose Nav as example .. it was apparent that many moved away from BSB and onto the later alternatives.
 
I'd prefer international standards like S-xxx, but since I have a nav app that can also ingest BSB I'm open to using it. (I saw a random mention of it on the Antares site.)
 
requiem said:
I'd prefer international standards like S-xxx, but since I have a nav app that can also ingest BSB I'm open to using it. (I saw a random mention of it on the Antares site.)
Click to expand...

Word of caution : Make sure of the version of BSB they are ..... up until BSB3 .. near all plotting progs could display .. but vers 3 - many authors did not have their 'licences' upgraded to use ... I know personally one who gave up arguing with BSB producer over it .. they'd paid the licencing fees but it did not work.
Also its not the BSB named file that actually carries the chart data ... I am travelling at present and don't have my Chart PC at hand to give the actual chart file designation ... but each BSB chart has two files .. the BSB file (which can usually be ignored) and the same name other file with the actual data on. Later there was a version where the encoding amalgamated files ... but I never got to use those. I'd already invested in full commercial charting.
 
Its interesting though - despite the many years since the old BSB was current ... I do still have an installation of Seaclear and the BSB's for all my cruising areas .. UK / Baltic etc. There are times I really appreciate the simplicity of Seaclear and can spend odd moments retracing old tracks etc I sailed over many years. Some in fact I converted and transferred to later current systems to sail again. Can one claim 'nostalgia' with charting apps ??
 
I'm following this with some enthusiasm as so far I've managed well enough with a paper chart and pencil and am overwhelmed by the apparent complexity and host of options that come with electronic navigation.

Clearly I'm very late to this particular party as I've never actually seen a chartplotter being used let alone had a chance for a play with one myself.

Are there any resources online that demonstrate the function and capabilities of all the various options?
 
Another vote for Navionics here. The fact you can sign in on two devices is a bonus too. It means you can have it on a tablet, and use your phone as a backup.
 
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