Navionics Vs. C map nt +

[Sensei-san]

I choose Einstein because he kinda looks like me. All shriveled, old and gray.

I understand that he didn't speak until he was five years old. He must have been a slow learner like me. Teachers had to beat me with a 2x4 to make me pay attention in school.

Besides I like his theories. Light bending around gravitational fields. E=MC2 and all that.

[Pitch Pocket]

I have the Furuno 1722 C with C-map. It's got it's limitations, but I've not been dissapointed. Between the two, C-map is by far the better map.

[Rod Holder]

I have Navionics and Furuno charts. I think Cmap has a much better update program with their update club, wish I had Cmap

[Troller]

I have decided on a furuno 1722c radar chartplotter. But having no experience with either navionics or cmap I am not sure what one would be better. I am leaning towards cmap. I will need maps from the columbia to Port hardy or so. Do any of you have a preference and why. As far as I can tell once you buy the chartplotter you are stuck with the standard you went with.

[Sensei-san]

Yes, yes and yes. Hope that helps.

No actually in all seriousness choosing a mapping system is serious business. Furuno for years used to get a custom chip from Navionics. I guess they have opened up their system to allow c-map nt to work with their electronics.

After working with Navionics and c-map nt, I lean toward c-map but really prefer the newer Bluechart system from Garmin. Much better resolution on the scales that most coastal navigators use and it comes standard on a CD-ROM disk so that you can download your waypoints to use at home.

I would seriously look at the Garmin 2000 series chartplotter and blackbox depthfinder module.

www.garmin.com

They have most of their owners manuals and tech spec sheets availible for download.

[Popeye]

SENSEI........Einstein??????

[craigc]

For those of you that know or have experience with the different cartography software packages, would you know if any of them would allow you to do the following;

1. The ability to append additional data entries where the depth was recorded at a specific GPS location ? [ This would allow the program to create more detailed fathom lines ]

2. The ability to import icons from outside the program ? i.e. a crab icon, or a tuna icon

3. The ability to create a 'shaded' area that would be overlayed onto a displayed chart area ? [ This would be used to define a fishing area ]

The people at the store counters haven't been able to answer these questions... thanks, Craig

[Sensei-san]

Craig, The only one that I know for a fact that will do all that you have on your wish list is Nobeltec. The last I heard was that it was still in a beta testing mode. It requires a laptop computer. A little impractical in a trailer boat.

The Garmin Bluechart system is simpler and does let you superimpose your waypoints on the chart and I believe you can change the icons for the waypoint. You can rename the waypoints also. C-map nt does have a USB reader for their chips and you can import the waypoints into Maptech or other software. If you are a licensed dealer you can also burn the c-map chips.

The Bluechart software is far superior to c-map or navionics. The Nobeltec software is a quantum leap beyond Bluechart but is also priced accordingly.

If you wait long enough, you will get all that you want. Eventually making commerically printed paper charts obsolete. You will be able to print them yourself. Part of the internet for fee program. You punch in your credit card and it downloads anything you want.

At that point all the fish will be gone and you will have an entire ocean to sail on. How about an around the world trip? No fishing.

[ 01-24-2003, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Sensei-san ]

[El Shaddai]

Sensei-san:

You've got mail.....

[craigc]

Sansei-san... thank you for your information... I've pulled up their website... and their marketing points are unfortunately as simplified as their competitors.... I'll have to find a dealer and sit down at their counter and play with their software..... I hope their feature, " Shaded Relief. This feature overlays 3D data onto a vector chart"... is close to what I'm looking for...

I'm a big boat sailer, so the investment cost of these features can be amortized over many years and various uses... I thought of doing an around-the-world sail.... but as I've gotten older, I'll be happy just to do coastal sailing... maybe down to Peru... hopefully before the oceans are fished out... thanks again, Craig

P.S. Are you actually 3rd generation vs. Nisei ? Domo..