Another nav equipment post

Ken Cross

Ken Cross

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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
I'm trying to figure out how I want to continue to navigate. Our plotter is agonizingly slow and I think I need to do something to keep from getting crazier. I want to avoid using a tablet or laptop for primary navigation. So here is my question:

Which navigation tools are compatible with USGS charts. Their website says:

“NOAA raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC®) are full-color digital images of NOAA paper charts. RNCs are compatible with most marine navigation software, and are available for free. “

But as best I can tell most manufacturers of plotters seem to sell you their charts. Why would I want to pay for updates when USGS supplies them free? Which plotter can I buy at a reasonable price?

  • I'm looking for Active Captain to be integrated, CHIRP, and USGS charts.

  • I assume updates and uploads via WiFi (I can make my phone a hotspot.)

  • I want a real marine display (I already get most of this on my phone.)

  • Integrated tide and current information would be great.
I know someone has already done this search.



Yes I still carry and know how to use paper charts.

Ken
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,925
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
When you get it all figured out, pm me and let me know what I should buy:banghead::biggrin:;)
 
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capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,072
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Considering most Garmin chartplotters (probably the other companies as well) come w/US charts installed what are you trying to do?
I've yet to find free international charts to download, beyond a few northern Caribbean ones, so you'd still be stuck having to buy chart packs, if you plan to sail very far from home, for your chartplotter or nav program.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,336
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Ken Cross said:
I know someone has already done this search.
Click to expand
Ken, you're a frequent and helpful contributor here. Seems if someone else could have done it...
Google may be your best bet to find it.
capta's right, IIRC you just don't buy BLANK chartplotters anymore and pay extra to load them. While the prices aren't any less than they would be without charts, and are more because they do already have them loaded, that the "model" for the equipment. Betcha if you asked at WM for a blank chartplotter they'd give you a well, uhm, blank stare! :) I think the old days of the Garmin Bluechart CD-ROM unlock code days are over.
www.cruisersforum.com has an electronics forum sub-section, might be worth noodling around there, but I read it daily and don't recall this particular question coming up in the last five years. Panbo is good for their archives. Active Captain has their blogs that they archive and have done quite a bit on this subject of charting.
I think most of the folks here do sailing around their own particular piece of water, so the chart/s that come with their plotters are fine. Others who venture further out may desire and require more extensive charts and try to keep the costs down. Perhaps some who sail up here could comment, since the difference is US and Canadian charts going from the San Juan Islands to the Gulf Islands.
Finally,many chartplotters can only use their own proprietary charts, which is your question, right.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
So you want a Waterproof Multifunctional screen (MDF) that will be connected to a computer system. The screen will give you a waterproof GUI screen touch interface. The system that provides the images on the screen will connect to multiple sensors (radar, sonar, AIS etc.) and the cartography will use free NOAA maps of your choice. The system will have Terabytes of storage. You'll be able to connect to the system through multiple channels (iPad, wifi, blue tooth, wired, etc). The software running this system will be built proof.
Does this about summarize your desired chart plotter?
Cost : Less than $500

To my knowledge this is not yet available, even in vapor ware.

Here is a link to the costly options that are on the street... http://www.qualitymarinesupply.com/gps-chartplotters-c-148_226_234/

We need to talk.
 
marke14

marke14

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Aug 12, 2014
214
Universal Marine Montego 25 San Pedro, CA
jssailem said:
So you want a Waterproof Multifunctional screen (MDF) that will be connected to a computer system. The screen will give you a waterproof GUI screen touch interface. The system that provides the images on the screen will connect to multiple sensors (radar, sonar, AIS etc.) and the cartography will use free NOAA maps of your choice. The system will have Terabytes of storage. You'll be able to connect to the system through multiple channels (iPad, wifi, blue tooth, wired, etc). The software running this system will be built proof.
Does this about summarize your desired chart plotter?
Cost : Less than $500

To my knowledge this is not yet available, even in vapor ware.
Click to expand
Sounds like what you need there is for *only* the touchscreen MFD to be outside, connected via bluetooth or wifi to a laptop that is secured inside the vessel. The laptop is connected to the various instruments and puts it all together so you can toggle through everything on the screen(s) on-deck and elsewhere.

I don't know much/anything about the tech and the standards out there re: data I/O and so forth, but if there are either PC or Mac-based programs that can interface with your PC (via USB add-ons, wifi, etc.) all you have left to do then is have some kind of controller interface for the touchscreens and you'd be in business. Right? :waycool:
 
Captmayhem

Captmayhem

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Mar 31, 2013
234
O'day 23 Pa
for less than $300 you can have exactly that, RPi3 running open cpn, using free charts, has live AIS, radar input if you have radar, live weather, tides .
And displays on a 7" screen (IP67 protection).
Can you just unbox it and plug it in? no, there is quite a learning curve, but then with something this powerful, that should not be a surprise.
Start your reading here: http://www.sailoog.com/en/openplotter
 
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Terry Cox

Terry Cox

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Dec 25, 2000
6,052
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Hi Ken, wrote an article here https://hunter.sailboatowners.com/mods.php?task=article&mid=45&aid=6023&mn=42a few years ago about our Garmin 178C Sounder. This model was manufacturer discontinued several years ago, but it still does the job for us. Since then I purchased a second data card that contains several hundred navigation charts covering from Everett, WA north to the Alaska border, inside and outside Vancouver Island. Someday it will stop working, but until then it has become indispensable to our cruising safety throughout PNW waters; an amazing piece of electronics gear.

If and when our 178C stops working Garmin will be my first choice to replace it. That device was a God send during our 2015 cruise north to Princess Royal Island, BC and all the other cruises north over the years covering thousands of miles through several island groups numerous times; San Juan, Gulf, Discovery, Broughton, etc.
 
Ken Cross

Ken Cross

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Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
Thanks all. So far the replies have been thoughtful, but missed the mark (except captmayhem, but his is certainly more difficult initially)

Chart updates is why I'd like to use USGS charts.
With CHIRP, update accuracy and speed are unpresidented, and our government already provided them free.

Active Captain doesn't seem to appear on any dedicated marine line.

Ken
 
Last edited:
Captmayhem

Captmayhem

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Mar 31, 2013
234
O'day 23 Pa
you'd be surprised Ken, drop $50 on an rpi3 and load up open plotter, it's very little investment and you'll know pretty quick if it's for you or not
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
14,001
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The B&G line comes with basic charts for the US, probably the NOAA charts. For extra money (about $100) you can get charts with more information and Active Captain integration. These usually come with free upgrades for a year or so. The importance of current information really depends on where you sail. Here on eastern Lake Ontario, I'm only aware of 1 buoy being moved in the past 30 years and none of the islands have moved. Old charts are as accurate as new ones.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,336
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
dlochner said:
The importance of current information really depends on where you sail. Here on eastern Lake Ontario, I'm only aware of 1 buoy being moved in the past 30 years and none of the islands have moved. Old charts are as accurate as new ones.
Click to expand
Couldn't current also mean the movement of water? [In spite of Ken's reply #10] It is critical here in the Gulf Islands.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
14,001
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Stu Jackson said:
Couldn't current also mean the movement of water? [In spite of Ken's reply #10] It is critical here in the Gulf Islands.
Click to expand
It could, I took the meaning of current as up to date.

In terms of current, the movement of water, the currents here predominantly the result of weather patterns and river outflows. The strongest currents, seiches, come and go pretty quickly, by the time on was observed it would be over before it could be charted and released.
 
JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
8,019
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
My Raymarine a98 comes with free Nav charts that are Raster. I was told by salesman that the Lighthouse® Vector charts were free for life.

But...

Raymarine sold their charts service an overseas outfit at now $10/year. I still have my free Basic Raster charts. There appears to be a slight positional difference versus Vector chart.

There are some good features of a Vector chart to integrate into your chart plotter.
______
My salesman said they would pay the $10 fee, but it should be Raymarine IMHO.:ass:
______
With the advent of CHIRP sonar and now the equivalent in Radar, the world of 3D is opening up.
The iPad and iPhone technology moves so fast that a chart plotter on board probably is outdated in a few years versus an App.
_______
This didn't answer your question, but like you, I have the free charts PDF's. I have a Large format printer for 36x36 color prints and if you drop by my office, I will print a few for you for a beer.;)

I normally use the Paper charts for group trip planning at a table versus passing a iPhone around the table. Also its tough to draw on a screen in a group.:waycool:
Jim...
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,116
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hey
I think the B&G Vulcan line does what you want. They have 5", 7", 9" displays, wifi, chirp, etc. I bought mine in December and it came with a free chart upgrade (Insight) that includes Active Captain.
Barry
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Shop and buy a purpose-built chartplotter which uses a range of chart products and have it properly installed with marine-rated wiring, hubs and fittings. Do it right and you have a reliable system, do it wrong and you have a less expensive contraption that only you know how to fix. I only change out my Navionics chip every 4 years or so, or when I am doing a new passage. They do a good job of integrating charts into a smooth transition. Money well spent.
 
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