PC plotter software and chart recommendations

[jimi]

Having just purchased a new laptop (windows 10) I'm wondering about better software for route planning ,tracking and AIS display than my existing OpenCPN with 20 year old charts. Any recommendations gratefully received, don't want to bust the bank but happy to pay reasonable price for up to date charts and decent passage planning. I don't interface with anything else other than USB ais receiver, usb GPS and USB interface to VHF to give position. Got Garmin chartplotter at helm I don't plan to touch.

 

[st599]

OpenCPN with brand new charts?
https://www.o-charts.org/map/en/UK/index.html has the UK and surrounding areas for 24 Euros - comes with a licence for 2 devices, so you can have laptop and tablet both running OpenCPN.
oeSENC Charts Plugin

Weather Routing Plugin
AIS Radar View Plugin
Plus many more plugins can give you even greater functionality.

 

[Moodysailor]

I looked around for a while and came to the conclusion that OpenCPN is the best value. You can get better/alternative PC based systems, but they are almost all very expensive, or incredibly difficult to use.

I stumped for raster and vector charts for OpenCPN to switch between the two, and we took our wind, speed & depth data onto N0183 to feed into it as well as AIS & GPS. Overall really pleased and no intention of looking further for anything else.

It's nice having plenty of redundancy on board with MFD, tablets and laptop.

 

[st599]

You could also look at the NanoBaro project on the PBO section of the forum and get weather data and pressure.

 

[DJE]

I don't think you'll find a better AIS display than Opencpn. If you like raster charts the Visit My Harbour ones are good.
2021 Unified Charts New Coverage- BUY NOW : by VisitMyHarbour [Unified Charts (compatible with OpenCPN on Windows)] - VisitMyHarbour articles

 

[jimi]

thanks all, i will stick with opencpn but update the charts

 

[KompetentKrew]

I don't think you'll find a better AIS display than Opencpn. If you like raster charts the Visit My Harbour ones are good.
2021 Unified Charts New Coverage- BUY NOW : by VisitMyHarbour [Unified Charts (compatible with OpenCPN on Windows)] - VisitMyHarbour articles

These charts are really nice - I much favour raster charts to vector ones.

 

[jimi]

just set up on new computer (Surface Pro 7) and set up is a doddle compared to my old laptop ,

 

[Yealm]

I don't think you'll find a better AIS display than Opencpn. If you like raster charts the Visit My Harbour ones are good.
2021 Unified Charts New Coverage- BUY NOW : by VisitMyHarbour [Unified Charts (compatible with OpenCPN on Windows)] - VisitMyHarbour articles

But I don't think it works with Mac ?

 

[DJE]

But I don't think it works with Mac ?

No idea I'm afraid.

 

[Wing Mark]

So the 'visitmyharbour' deal for Android is $8.35 for the Marinenavigator app, plus £29..95 for UK and near continent charts, one time purchase including one up-issue within a year.
Looks like raster versions of UKHO charts.

Pros and cons vs navionics?

 

[dunedin]

So the 'visitmyharbour' deal for Android is $8.35 for the Marinenavigator app, plus £29..95 for UK and near continent charts, one time purchase including one up-issue within a year.
Looks like raster versions of UKHO charts.

Pros and cons vs navionics?

Personally I like having both - I have Navionics vector charts on the ships plotter(s), but these are very pricey to update on these versions - very bad commercial decision by Navionics.
I also have the current UKHO raster charts on my iPad (from Memory Map rather than VmH but sounds like the same charts).

In some cases isolated rock pinnacles are rather difficult to spot on Navionics, and easier to spot on UKHO detailed raster charts.
But both are good, I just prefer having two independent sources on independent devices, to give flexibility and contingency.

 

[tillergirl]

Have a look at Meridian Chartware - Admiralty, Imray, Nautical & Sea charts and chart plotters - Meridian Chartware

You can either have Admiralty Charts or Imray - I use Imray.

 

[Wing Mark]

Personally I like having both - I have Navionics vector charts on the ships plotter(s), but these are very pricey to update on these versions - very bad commercial decision by Navionics.
I also have the current UKHO raster charts on my iPad (from Memory Map rather than VmH but sounds like the same charts).

In some cases isolated rock pinnacles are rather difficult to spot on Navionics, and easier to spot on UKHO detailed raster charts.
But both are good, I just prefer having two independent sources on independent devices, to give flexibility and contingency.

Do the two systems often tell you different things?

It seems I have got the wrong end of the stick about updating Navionics on a plotter?
I had the impression I could buy an Onwa plotter and a year later update the charts with Navionics if I had a valid subscription?

I can see the attraction of having both sources and styles of chart.
I also quite like the idea of a plotter that is just that and only that, anyone on the boat can use it and it's not going to give any Android/windows update or re-start comedy at an awkward moment.
I'm not focussed on singlehanded sailing, I don't want the nav to be on just 'my' phone, I want it to be something I can read while steering and discuss with others on the boat.
Can the memory map or V-my-H charts be put on multiple devices with one subscription? Have it on my phone and a 'boat' tablet? without everyone on the boat getting on the interweb under my google ID?

 

[westernman]

Having just purchased a new laptop (windows 10) I'm wondering about better software for route planning ,tracking and AIS display than my existing OpenCPN with 20 year old charts. Any recommendations gratefully received, don't want to bust the bank but happy to pay reasonable price for up to date charts and decent passage planning. I don't interface with anything else other than USB ais receiver, usb GPS and USB interface to VHF to give position. Got Garmin chartplotter at helm I don't plan to touch.

How about Time Zero?

 

[Yealm]

So the 'visitmyharbour' deal for Android is $8.35 for the Marinenavigator app, plus £29..95 for UK and near continent charts, one time purchase including one up-issue within a year.
Looks like raster versions of UKHO charts.

Pros and cons vs navionics?

Re Navionics
Pros - it's fantastic !
Cons - Can't use it on a laptop. Doesn't have AIS.

 

[Wing Mark]

Re Navionics
Pros - it's fantastic !
Cons - Can't use it on a laptop. Doesn't have AIS.

Thanks.
I've destroyed a laptop with coffee ashore, I don't think I'd want one as my primary nav helper on a small boat where people get wet. I guess your comment is really extending to the whole windows ecosystem, which is perhaps a shame for people with splashproof keyboards and onboard PCs. But personally, I'm looking at low power stuff like Android or maybe Raspberry Pi.
AIS is a great thing for certain aspects of yacht sailing, I recall one of the later trips I did on a mate's yacht, he'd just got one of the first 'Nasa AIS Radar' units. For picking your way through the shipping lanes it was a revelation. At the moment I'm more focused on sailing in the shallow bits where tankers don't go. 2022, I think we'll have enough to do this side of the channel. Beyond that AIS might be nice.

 

[Yealm]

Thanks.
I've destroyed a laptop with coffee ashore, I don't think I'd want one as my primary nav helper on a small boat where people get wet. I guess your comment is really extending to the whole windows ecosystem, which is perhaps a shame for people with splashproof keyboards and onboard PCs. But personally, I'm looking at low power stuff like Android or maybe Raspberry Pi.
AIS is a great thing for certain aspects of yacht sailing, I recall one of the later trips I did on a mate's yacht, he'd just got one of the first 'Nasa AIS Radar' units. For picking your way through the shipping lanes it was a revelation. At the moment I'm more focused on sailing in the shallow bits where tankers don't go. 2022, I think we'll have enough to do this side of the channel. Beyond that AIS might be nice.

I’d love to have Navionics on my home Mac laptop for route planning and for armchair sailing!
But IPad’s (and iPhone) a great platform- for Navionics and for OS maps..

 

[westernman]

Any one had any experience with Time Zero?

 

[claymore]

Any one had any experience with Time Zero?

Yes
We have had it for 10 years
Absolutely love it.