VMH. Basic Help ! Visit my harbour Charting.

oldgit

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Nov 2001
Messages
29,306
Location
Medway
Visit site
Anybody familiar with the VMH Usb NAV system.

Got the usb stick , installed the software, even got an old SA320 to communicate with the computor using Windows 10. Can see my large expensive ocean going racing yacht location.
Downloaded some drivers from Silicone labs website.
Coastal outlines on display but no blimming detailed Raster charts .
Before I am reduced to admitting utter defeat and calling VHM on Monday...........What vital step have I missed ?
Help.
Bought the whizzy Ipad,downloaded the ~Navionics get you to the farthest reaches of the universe app,
Too fiddly, too complicated , screen too small and really not that much use for my local creek crawling.
Big downside. you cannot edit boat speed between each waypoint.
As an example. Organising a cruise plan from Rochester to Teddington. Timing is crucial. Barrier/ tidal lock,using the tide to save fuel.
Speed in each leg will vary from 6 knots , 10 knots, 12 knots , 8knots and back to 6 knots depending on speed limits/rowers etc . You can edit this this on each leg on.the VMH
With the Navionics its one speed and lump it. Fine if you only need two way points ,rubbish if you need 80..
 
Last edited:
All you need is Excel. My tables for the Estuary are based on the same principle but of course includes tide direction as well as tide speed and a variety of boat speeds. I guess you could assume tide direction is either with or against. Break it down into sectors based on boat speed. If you follow the same principle of the tables i.e End of sector time = start of the next sector. Would be simples. Reckon half an afternoon set-up. One question: if you are going at boat speed at say, 6 kts, do you have to throttle down to stick to SOG 6 kts or you can ride on the tide at 6+kts. Even simpler if you throttle back.
 
Plan usually is to catch the lastof the ebb down from Rochester to Sheerness. Go across the Swatchway just before LW and use the flood to give an extra couple of knots up Sea Reach. Usually ease off the revs and still keep up decent speed up past Gravesend.
Waypoints at regular handy intervals to give timings.The hope is to have slow run throught the Pool but to get under Hammersmith without any airdraft dramas.
Slow right up to avoid annoying rowers and arrive composed and relaxed at the barrier while it it still dripping water
Teddington has also posted a slightly more restricted access than normal.
The VMH software is a simple way to give timings all the way up to enable a speed up or ease down for timing arrival.
Checking a couple of previous trip print outs it was 139 wayponts from Rochester to Richmond.

Have unlockedand loaded the charts ,there are in there somewhere. :(
 
Coastal outlines on display but no blimming detailed Raster charts .
Before I am reduced to admitting utter defeat and calling VHM on Monday...........What vital step have I missed ?
Help.
Close OpenCPN, run RunMe.exe from the USB stick, open OpenCPN again.

RunMe needs to be run every time the stick is inserted - it can be a royal pain the ass.
 
Top