Thread: Marine e-charts.

New to this stuff so I could do with some advice on the best way to get good charts on my plotter.
I have a Garmin Echomap 62+ with the shit base map on it and am after something with good contour and the ability to track and mark waypoints.
I have found a couple of really good maps (one on the internet and one is an app) but both need cell coverage to work and ideally I don't want to be pissing around with my phone when I have a chart plotter screen right in front of me.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You can download a version of the Navionics charts from the App Store and it gives you a free 14 day trial if you want to see what they are like.

As you can upload contour info to Navionics (if you have the right gear) they have fairly comprehensive contour info for the Sounds, but not sure about Tasman Bay.

Navionics app doesn't require a phone signal to work. It's actually quite good and the map is not different from what you would get on a chartplotter. Some people have dedicated phone/tablet holders on their boat which makes life easier. Having said that, it's nicer to have the maps on your chartplotter and no concerns about waterproofing. If you want a map on your fish finder unit, then either Navionics or C-Map on an SD card will do the job.

+1 for the Navionics. Good app, and good charts.
I have a simrad evo3 with it in, plus on phone. The phone one is great to decide where your going (works distances, fuel burn, etc) , or having a chat to a mate where they've been/going etc.
Been meaning to get the phone to talk to the head unit, but I've stuffed something up, but when that's done, you can plot courses on phone or computer, and transfer into head unit. Plus pull tracks and way points back out to Navionics account for backup.

On this subject, how do you find good e-charts for inland waterways??? They don't seem to exist, or am I missing something. I've looked everywhere.

I've been using Genesis Live too, but while it seemed to update the server maps in January, files I've recorded in subsequent trips over the last 6 weeks haven't updated the online maps. They've uploaded to the server, but they don't appear to have updated the maps. I'm getting to the point of giving up. I'm using a Lowrance system.

Inland waterway charting does not exist as the market is too small to make it cost effective.

Garmins own charting is quite good. I think they only support their own charting with some Navionics features included
Navioincs and CMAP apps are quite good and cheap, their charts (the same charts) on SD / MMC or other types of card storage are generally NOT cheap $200-400 or more usually depending on area's covered.

I would suggest download either the Navionics or CMap app and use that for a bit, if you like the charts then you might be able to justify the cost of the SD card version

Re: Inland waterways - a couple of manufacturers are offering units which chart as you go. i.e. you make your own charts via sounder readings. These charts are then stored and can be used in the future. My next chartplotter/fishfinder will have this option. As good as Navionics etc are, they cannot be expected to mark every single bit of reef and area of interest.

Originally Posted by MB

Re: Inland waterways - a couple of manufacturers are offering units which chart as you go. i.e. you make your own charts via sounder readings. These charts are then stored and can be used in the future. My next chartplotter/fishfinder will have this option. As good as Navionics etc are, they cannot be expected to mark every single bit of reef and area of interest.

Yeah. My Garmin has this feature. Yet to use it though. At the moment I have "all the gear, no idea"

+1 navionics

Originally Posted by Shearer

Yeah. My Garmin has this feature. Yet to use it though. At the moment I have "all the gear, no idea"

You're away then! If you don't want to spend money on charts, use a phone app to get you going, then make your own charts. You might have to RTFM!