Charts, charts, charts....

[flyingwelshman]

So it's a bleak day up here in the Great White North.

A great day to pour over my charts (and add rolls and rolls of scotch tape to the folds!).

I am planning a trip for the summer: Southern Georgian Bay; up the East side of the Bruce; cross from Tobermory, South of Manitoulin to Mississagi Straight; into the North Channel then East to Killarney; then around the northern part of Georgian Bay, down the East coast and home. I figure about 3 - 4 weeks.

I have all of the paper charts for the Georgian Bay portion and have ordered all of the paper charts for the Lake Huron / North Channel stretch. I have electronic charts of the whole trip for my Garmin Chartplotter (GPSMap 525).

I want to load waypoints, points of interest, anchorages etc. onto my Bluechart card. The interface to do this on the Garmin unit is a pita. I have Garmin's Trip & Waypoint Manager so that I can upload the waypoints etc via my PC.

The trouble is the map (definitely not a 'chart') that the software uses is not very detailed. It does not have any details re. marine data.

I have an old version of Offshore Navigator (v. 4.4) with the charts for Georgian Bay. I have used it to plan trips as I can copy the lats and longs from there into the Garmin software.

Does anyone have an idea where I can get a reasonably priced (i.e. 'free') copy of the Maptech Lake Huron charts?

I can go through the process of finding locations manually, but, let's face it, it's so much easier the other way.

Thanks in advance.

[Meoseinasepine]

I have an old version of Offshore Navigator (v. 4.4) with the charts for Georgian Bay. I have used it to plan trips as I can copy the lats and longs from there into the Garmin software.Does anyone have an idea where I can get a reasonably priced (i.e. 'free') copy of the Maptech Lake Huron charts?I can go through the process of finding locations manually, but, let's face it, it's so much easier the other way.

[MaptechSales]

Hi Meoseinasepine....

Here are several options to obtain data "reasonably"

You can order one of the following:

DVDRUS.......Complete 2010 US Waters Nautical Charts (DVD Format)...........$49.95
CDRGL.........Complete Great Lakes Coverage Plus Satellite Photos, Topo Maps and 3D Contour Charts, 2010 Tides and Currents
(CD Format)...............$ 99.95

In addition, You may want to consider an upgrade on your Offshore Navigator as V4.4 is VERY old......We're on 5.08b now.....

Third option is to go to NOAA and download the charts you want (free) although you will have to manipulate the download (file structure) to work inside OSN.

If you have any questions....call us!

877-334-BOAT (2628)

[JimsCAL]

Or get the charts free from NOAA and download Seaclear II for free to run them.

[sailingdog]

Since you seem to be a member of the marine industry, I would highly recommend you read and follow the Special Interest Disclosure post in the Boat Buying forum...

Originally Posted by MaptechSales

Hi Meoseinasepine....

Here are several options to obtain data "reasonably"

You can order one of the following:

DVDRUS.......Complete 2010 US Waters Nautical Charts (DVD Format)...........$49.95
CDRGL.........Complete Great Lakes Coverage Plus Satellite Photos, Topo Maps and 3D Contour Charts, 2010 Tides and Currents
(CD Format)...............$ 99.95

In addition, You may want to consider an upgrade on your Offshore Navigator as V4.4 is VERY old......We're on 5.08b now.....

Third option is to go to NOAA and download the charts you want (free) although you will have to manipulate the download (file structure) to work inside OSN.

If you have any questions....call us!

877-334-BOAT (2628)

[flyingwelshman]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

Or get the charts free from NOAA and download Seaclear II for free to run them.

Thanks, that seems to do the trick.

[flyingwelshman]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

Or get the charts free from NOAA and download Seaclear II for free to run them.

I discovered that the NOAA charts can be loaded into Offshore Navigator.
Works great for planning.

Unfortunately the NOAA charts are only for US waters. I can get the larger scale charts of the entire lake though, so that works out.