Any fellow sailors/boaters using a Garmin system for charting and plotters? Navionics is looking for beta testers to try out SonarCharts for Garmin. These charts are really cool and are constantly being updated from community-submitted sonar logs - a huge plus if you sail in a place where chart details are lacking! If you're interested I can get them to send you a free beta chart, just let me know!
Navionics is looking for Beta Testers for SonarCharts
- Thread starter JTulls
- Start date
If the Navionics charts are compatible I would be interested in testing/evaluating them.
Is this an overlay onto the garmin charts loaded in the plotter or is this a replacement of the garmin charts altogether?
Garmin uses the Explorer charts in the Bahamas which are significantly more accurate than navionics. A big new catamaran ripped out their bottom following a RECOMMENDED course line of a navionics chart. No thanks!
Garmin uses the Explorer charts in the Bahamas which are significantly more accurate than navionics. A big new catamaran ripped out their bottom following a RECOMMENDED course line of a navionics chart. No thanks!
There are some limitations on locations for the beta testing, but long term the goal is worldwide. As the community submits their sonar logs for certain areas to Navionics, they make updates to maps with any new information.
gettinthere - the Navionics charts would be different from the base maps in the Garmin system. The SonarCharts for Garmin have one foot contours for coastal areas out to 80 feet, 3 foot contours to 250 feet, and 6 foot contours beyond that. As more and more sonar logs are submitted, the maps get better and better, but it's unfortunate to hear about that catamaran. As with any routing software, users should always double check depths around an automatically generated route, but I'll bring the incident up to the team and see if anyone has heard of the incident and see if the charts have been updated for that area.
gettinthere - the Navionics charts would be different from the base maps in the Garmin system. The SonarCharts for Garmin have one foot contours for coastal areas out to 80 feet, 3 foot contours to 250 feet, and 6 foot contours beyond that. As more and more sonar logs are submitted, the maps get better and better, but it's unfortunate to hear about that catamaran. As with any routing software, users should always double check depths around an automatically generated route, but I'll bring the incident up to the team and see if anyone has heard of the incident and see if the charts have been updated for that area.
The beta testing is only for the Garmin systems at the moment, but if you take a look here, http://www.navionics.com/en/compatibility, you will be able to find some information on compatibility with Lowrance systems.
I'm still struggling with the first Google Earth file that they emailed me. While it's cool, on the surface it doesn't appear to have much relevant data in it, but knowing full well the unseen potential of the dreaded "meta data", and the possible information contained within it's shadowy confines, I'd say the jury is still out. There's a picture and some more big brother-ish musing at
http://meriachee.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/round-and-round/
http://meriachee.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/round-and-round/
Hmm...I agree, I'm not completely sure what the Google Earth track would be useful for other than being a little big brother. But, the recorded sonar charts are intended to make updates like the before and after photos below (notice the added contour lines).
Attachments
Part of the beta testing is to work out compatibility with the various units, but if you have an SD card holder in the unit, we can send you a free card to test out. I'll send you a PM to get some more information.
I'll be submitting my final list Monday morning (12/15), so if you're still interested in beta testing, send me a PM! And if you said you were interested and I haven't responded to you, let me know -- I don't want to forget anyone!