Nav Planning Software

[pks1702]

One of the acquisitions from LIBS this year was Navionics Nav Planner Software and Card reader.

I am quite impressed with it.

Trying to Passage Plan a route on a plotter can be a little fiddly but on the PC with larger screen Passage Planning is made so much easier.

This system uses an Card Reader with encryption which takes most of the plotter manufacturers card formats. You can then plan routes etc save the route to the card and have it available when you reinstall the card in your plotter on the boat.

On a 24" Screen it is positively excellent and will be a definite step down when viewing on the plotter again

[Guest]

Hi Salties

Anybody out there use the Seaclear software and chart disc and what is your opinion of it? I am thinking of buying it as a backup to the main systems tied in with a separate GPS and AIS feed. Would also be desirable to pre plan passages and waypoints.

Comments appreciated.

James

[MY littleboat]

James-not really impressed with seaclear it is very expensive for what it is. If it isnonly a backup you can buy the admiralty chart pack for around £70 and a GPS dongle for as little as £10 but why not then buy a good hand held GPS with marine charting as this would be handy for a grab bag?

Perry. I have a Garmin plotter which is excellent as the software to do all your planning on a PC costs £29! This is supplied on an SD card which then copies the mapping from your plotter and it is as sime as just moving the Sd card back to the plotter on e you have entered the route and it automatically loads! Another benefit is that you can park routes on it that, although you may use again one day, may not for the foreseeable future!

All good!

[Guest]

Thanks Gav

Must just do check on the plotter on the boat. Was on her yesterday but will check the specs at the yard website.

Wait out !

James

[Antares_9]

I use the Nav planner for my Raymarine plotters and Garmin Home port for the Garmin unit, there is very little if any difference in functionality really. I can do it a little easier onboard too as one of my plotter / fishfinder / and onboard systems monitoring screens is 20"

Nothing like sitting in the Shipwreck with a pint and a laptop transferring stuff from the origonal paper plot to a laptop though.

[MY littleboat]

Yes David , sorry about my earlier iPhone edited post, agree that both the HomePort and the Raymarine software work well although I favour HomePort as once on the Garmin the route copies to the Raymarine too!

Either way, as David and Perry point out, working offline on a laptop is far easier than punching it into the plotter!