which chartplotter

[gjgm]

easy to get impressed at the LBS with all those fancy electronics... From peoples own experience, is there a preference for which chart software (and so which hardware) is best for South Coast. Navionics, C-map or Garmin ?? Only looking at one of the smaller plotters, which might make a difference.

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[DavidJ]

South coast today ...the Med & World tomorrow. Can't say I've done any scientific comparisons but I'm very pleased with C-Map and as your range grows you can trade in your old cartridge. Very expensive though at £72 local, £98 standard, £158 wide and £260 superwide (ref LBS incl VAT)
C-Map is used by a whole range of equipment.
Have a look at www.c-map.com

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[Talbot]

Look at the cost of updating the ctg - superwide for c-Map is abt £80 (reduced by 30% if you are a C-Club member) plus the ability to exchange for different areas foir the price of an update. This is cheaper than Garmin. C-map is also backwards compatible, which garmin system wasn't. IMHO there is no contest however I am sure other forum members will dispute this /forums/images/icons/smile.gif - I have a navman 5500 which I like very much.

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[robind]

Hi Talbot! how do you join the C Club is it part of the C map organisation?
regards
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[David_J]

We have Furuno 1650 cos thats what the boat had fitted. Just bought Navionics cartridges as it dont take Cmap. £80/90 for small area and £180 for large area plus VAT. Furuno tchnology cannot access the tidal data on the Navionics cartridge. When I quizzed Furuno on Saturday they confirmed this to be the case untill next generation gizmo released. Not too happy about that.

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[ArthurWood]

If you are only looking for a small plotter, I recommend the Garmin 176c.

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[jfm]

There are three basic standards, CMap, Bluechart, Navionics.

CMAP and Garmin Bluechart are vector charts, ie the chart data is stored as a series of points at different spaces and computer joins the dots with straight lines to make, say, a coastline. The information can also be layered, ie you can turn differnt bits of the picture on/off. Incidentally, Blue chart uses CMAp data so really Bluechart are CMap.

Navionics by contrast are rasterised (bitmap scans of papercharts). Much bigger files and less layered information. Most boat plotters have limited computer horsepower so redraw times as you zoom in/out tend to be slower with navionics

Hence, CMap are much better imho, though all will work perfectly well in most cases.

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[Talbot]

Club C-Map is well described on the US site, but is a new item for UK. There is nothing on the UK site yet, but their stall at LBS was initiating membership. There is no cost to join, and considerable benefits. Suggest you apply via:

sales@c-map.co.uk

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