Wanted, A Which Guide to Electronic Charts

[freedom44]

I am trying to understand the different chart offerings from different manufacturers and am becoming increasing confused. Why for instance, can Livecharts offer a huge coverage for so little. Are their charts less detailed or otherwise inferior to say Maptech.
Is there an idiots guide to their distinctions or how else does one make a decision?
If you have already travelled down this road, I would be most grateful for any advice?

 

[eclipsemullet]

I chose the charting software first and then bought Maptech charts CDs because that was what the software supported. The clarity of the Maptech raster charts is excellent. We have three discs that cover our entire cruising area.

I can recommend Maptech.

 

[CSFenwick]

The latest Maptech software (Chart Navigator Pro) is excellent but in my opinion their charts are too expensive and poorly reproduced. We have 4 areas - £400 plus £250 for the software and you're getting towards the price of top league systems like RayChart where you can use Navionics or C-Map charts – massive coverage for a few hundred quid.

I suspect they actually make most of their money on the charts which worked in the past because while their software worked, it was pretty basic compared to what else was available. Now they have a top quality piece of s/w with Chart Navigator Pro but they’re hamstrung by the fact they can’t lower the price of their charts without completely changing their business model. Still, I suspect they’ll have a good few years on the back of people like me who’ve upgraded from Offshore Navigator but if you’re coming completely new into the market their overall package does not look great value once you add charts into it.

My advice is to look at the totality of the area you'll need chart coverage for the next few years and then you can do a fair comparison of price. Like many people we were kind-of sucked into Maptech because you buy one area (includes the ‘lite’ version of their charting s/w), then you buy the adjoining area, then you buy the full-blown version of the s/w, then you need another chart area for each Summer cruise and before you know it you’ve spent a fortune on charts and still only have a relatively limited area of coverage.

Don't get me wrong, I use Chart Navigator Pro and I like it a lot but my message would be not to jump into Maptech with your eyes closed thinking it’s a relatively cheap system. It’s cheap to get into but is then a pretty slippery slope.

 

[eclipsemullet]

I think ENCs might be the way to go though.

 

[CSFenwick]

Agreed but Admiralty ENC's are set up for commercial customers and cost the equivalent of paper charts. Many times the price of C-Map or Navionics for the same coverage.

 

[eclipsemullet]

[ QUOTE ]
Agreed but Admiralty ENC's are set up for commercial customers and cost the equivalent of paper charts. Many times the price of C-Map or Navionics for the same coverage.

[/ QUOTE ]
Agreed. I think I am right in saying that US sailors can download their ENCs free-of-charge.

Why can't we?

 

[fluffc]

Hasn't the price of electronic charts from the Admiralty crashed recently due to the 'Freedom of Information Act'. I believe that you can get admiralty raster charts cheaply???

 

[DeeGee]

[ QUOTE ]
Hasn't the price of electronic charts from the Admiralty crashed recently due to the 'Freedom of Information Act'. I believe that you can get admiralty raster charts cheaply???

[/ QUOTE ]They won't if tidal constants are anything to go by!

 

[Danny_Labrador]

I have two paper magazine articles that I have kept.

“Electronic Navigation – The Essential Guide” - 2004 - Sailing Today

“Chart Plotter Software” – 2005 – Sailing Today.

Not saying that they will answer your questions but....

If you think that these may be of some help PM me I can photocopy them for you.

 

[roger]

You've got two entirely separate approaches to consider :-
charting with a lap-top or marinised PC
charting with a dedicated plotter which hopefully is waterproof and suitable for deck use.
Cost is a major factor. For my "foot in the water" I've bought a Lowrance 3600ci with a pretty good display and a Nauticpath chart in with the cost of the plotter. The North Europe chart covers all Scandinavia, all of the Baltic and most of North west Germany. The coverage is down to buoy level but there are some crudities. Official Nauticpath chart cost is £150 but you neednn't pay it if you stick to one area.
I just don't fancy trying to keep my laptop working full time if the water starts going up and down or coming in.