OpenCPN.org is the one I like.
US charts free. Dunno about Canada.

I pay for Caribbean charts. I also have CM93 2011 charts (I think these can be downloaded free on the net. Worldwide.)

 

OpenCPN is impressive.

But I don't know of any reasonably-priced charts for Canada. The price list for the official charts from the CHS (ironically, a publicly-funded government agency) would make Garmin and the Sopranos blush.

 

I've been playing with Open CPN,, seems a full functioning product though I've never done any open navigation with it. Has that "Open Source" feel to it,, plain and simple with just a few set-up quirks.
But the price is right...

 

I've been playing with Open CPN,, seems a full functioning product though I've never done any open navigation with it.

Ive done a circumnavigation with it.

 

I'm looking at Aquamaps again. They have a "forever" license on their Canada/USA chartset which looks to be perfect. If they offer full coverage of my area, I'll be dumping Navionics when my license expires.

I'm no fan of Garmin's 800 lb gorilla practices either.

Do you mean Aqua Map? Interesting.

 

O Charts for OpenCPN at 20 Euros per coast of Canada
o-charts | Charts for OpenCPN

 

Despite downloading and installing it, I never could figure out how to load charts into OpenCPN, so I never used it. I'm still clinging to PolarNavy's Polar View NS on my laptop.

Aqua Map is good on my Android devices, but it crashes on me at least once per year on each device where I have it loaded (usually when I am actively navigating). It also has a really annoying aspect in that if you have to uninstall, and re-install in order to stop it from crashing. It also REQUIRES that you log into your GEC account and then download and reinstall all of the charts. This is not good if you are in unfamiliar water or without a WiFi connection (or both).

I really LOVE Polar View. Too bad it was discontinued in 2019.

 

I guess I'm looking, too.

I have a Garmin Echomap mounted above a Raymarine MFD.

In my home waters, I rarely look at the GPS. We took a trip through the North Channel last summer, and it was... enlightening. My Garmin didn't show some islands that were shown on the Raymarine Navionics charts and by my old MKI eyeballs. We checked- the islands were mostly granite or basalt, and were probably there LOOOOONG before the g3 Bluechart was published. After we returned home, I've been paying better attention to my Garmin chartplotter. Some pretty important bouys are not shown, either. I've played with the assorted display options- no joy. There seems to be plenty of critical info that is not available.

My Garmin is running the latest Bluecharts and will not work with Navionics, so...

 

I guess I'm looking, too.

I have a Garmin Echomap mounted above a Raymarine MFD.

In my home waters, I rarely look at the GPS. We took a trip through the North Channel last summer, and it was... enlightening. My Garmin didn't show some islands that were shown on the Raymarine Navionics charts and by my old MKI eyeballs. We checked- the islands were mostly granite or basalt, and were probably there LOOOOONG before the g3 Bluechart was published. After we returned home, I've been paying better attention to my Garmin chartplotter. Some pretty important bouys are not shown, either. I've played with the assorted display options- no joy. There seems to be plenty of critical info that is not available.

My Garmin is running the latest Bluecharts and will not work with Navionics, so...

Buy or borrow a current copy of "List of Lights". (K does Our part of the planet Aust)
It shows every light. Harbour entrance/leads and channel markers on the planet.Everybody cruising outside local waters should have a copy or copy of one.

 

I think the e chart options becomes an issue when one heads off to new sailing locations. Sailing locally in LIS - Southern New England I am using Navionics on some devices... Actually all I am doing is following the historical tracks.

 

Canada is not nearly as enlightened when it comes to nautical charts. We pay for their creation with our taxes, and then we get to pay for them again if we actually want to use them. Pisses me off, but that's the reality.

I have two issues. One is chart detail and accuracy. The other is not having to maintain a current subscription just to access charts downloaded on my device. I'm not opposed to paying, but I don't trust any system that can erase data from my device.

Part of my problem is that, for my area, Navionics offers the best chartsets. Here are three screen shots from the online chart views for: 49º55.6'N 55º44.07'W

Aquamaps

Cmap

Navionics

It's one example where Navionics is clearly ahead of the others. But I can't find a way to view O-Maps charts for this location (Harbour Round, NL). Can you view, or show me how to view, O-Maps chart for Harbour Round?

 

Maps should be a free resource available to anyone who has a compatible device. Maybe I am wrong about this... but it could be argued that it is in the interest of everyone that maps and charts be free and easily available. Everything is monetized of course. I suppose this is no different.

 

I tried these oeSENC Canadian charts back in 2019 and for my cruising area (Georgian Bay) they turned out completely useless. I suspect they were missing many detailed chartlets for the area. Not sure if they got better since then.

Canada 2019 oeSENC chart:

2012 CM93 chart:

 

Unfortunately access to charts at a reasonable price point is often tied to using a particular app. It would be much better if countries provided official charts at what I'd argue is the market price point for them (i.e. similar to iSailor, Navionics, O-charts, etc.) so that one could use them with the app of their choice.

My own preferences:

• Apple: SEAiq
• Android: OpenCPN

My recommendations to others:

• Apple: iSailor
• Android: ??

Aqua Map looks like it might be viable in that second category for both Apple/Android, but I haven't played with it enough myself.

Reasoning: I have particularly snobbish standards for what features an app needs to be suitable for navigation. That includes certain plotting functionality, safety features, integration with boat instruments, and the ability to use official charts. But, I know many others just want something that will let them follow a line on the chart, so my "recommendations to others" represent the runners-up that are still decent even if they don't tick all those boxes.

 

So, the dilemma I seem to be facing is that while I dislike Navionics, it is the only one which appears to offer full details on smaller harbours in my neck of the woods. It's been suggested to me that this has something to do with CHS's conversion to vector-only charts. Apparently they have yet to convert all their old raster charts yet, and some of these are the little-travelled small harbours of my cruising grounds.

 

Hi Mike,

I have also used the Navionics app [and independently their charts- and simultaneously C-Map charts- on our chart plotters] for years now. Its only redeeming feature is the autorouting- which I find very useful for what-if route analysis in the Alexander Archipellago. [No, I don’t blindly follow the auto routes, but they are quite good for evaluating various options.]

I also use:

• Aquamaps [Apple phones and tablets]; but I find their chart details lacking [vector only] in our neck of the woods. And topographic info is important for our area, but Aquamaps dropped that date unannounced a couple of years ago. Their one strong point is their anchor alarm. I dropped the subscription earlier this year, but the charts continue to work (and even update…)
• OpenCPN [Mac laptop]; Vector and Raster, but the US is on year 5 [from memory] of deprecating raster charts, and it is now showing in that the detailed charts are disappearing- leaving only the large scale charts with little detail of specific areas.
• SEAiq [Apple phones and tablets]; Also uses free US charts, and having the same problem with Rasters being phased out. Best AIS supplement in that it includes buoy data broadcast over AIS frequencies. Very useful around here, but perhaps less critical with the proliferation of Starlink…
• Nobeltec’s TZ iBoat [https://mytimezero.com/tz-iboat; Apple phones and tablets]; This is by far the best [and ironically most cost effective] nav app by a wide margin for where and how we navigate. It includes raster and vector charts, and the raster are not subject to the NOAA deprication. The land topo date is excellent, and since you can view in 2D or 3D, the topo view in 3D is superb for evaluating various anchorages for expected wind conditions in archipellago sailing. There is much more to be said for this app, from the makers of arguably the best PS nav software; Time Zero. I have also found them to be very responsive to both bug reports and enhancement requests. This is my #1 pick and highly suggested nav app when asked.
  • I checked the TZiBoat for Canadian charts [I’m only using US at the moment] and found your area for US$20/year; vector, raster, and topo.
  • 
    

FWIW in case any of this is of interest.

Cheers, Bill

 

• Nobeltec’s TZ iBoat [https://mytimezero.com/tz-iboat;Apple phones and tablets]; This is by far the best [and ironically most cost effective] nav app by a wide margin for where and how we navigate. It includes raster and vector charts, and the raster are not subject to the NOAA deprication. The land topo date is excellent, and since you can view in 2D or 3D, the topo view in 3D is superb for evaluating various anchorages for expected wind conditions in archipellago sailing. There is much more to be said for this app, from the makers of arguably the best PS nav software; Time Zero. I have also found them to be very responsive to both bug reports and enhancement requests. This is my #1 pick and highly suggested nav app when asked.
  • I checked the TZiBoat for Canadian charts [I’m only using US at the moment] and found your area for US$20/year; vector, raster, and topo.
  • 
    View attachment 151732

Nobeltec recently changed their chart sources and no longer use CMap data. I don't know what sources they use now, but in every single case for the areas we cruise (Western Caribe), TZ iBoat has become useless because the charts are now terrible when they used to be very good. Entire islands and countries that show up as base map level detail with no large scale or harbor information at all. In some cases, the charts are so far off that they are completely unusable even as a base map of general information. I've complained to TZ and they admit their new charts have a lot less detail and they told me that they hope someday to have better charts. Otherwise there was nothing they could do for me.

Digging into it, they have simply hoovered up free old charting data from decades or centuries ago. Many of their electronic charts in our areas have exact replicas in old pictures hanging on walls of bars around here. It is ludicrous just how bad they are now.

Mark

 

Thanks for the detailed response Bill. Ironically though, I did settle on TZ iBoat last year, but when I paid my money, I discovered that the charts for my area were less detailed than the equivalent Navionics charts. They also appeared to be offering older charts, compared to Navionics -- at least in certain places where I measure the difference.

I know the chartset I licensed is now discontinued, and there appears to be a replacement. But I paid in last year based on the promise of them offering ALL Canadian charts, and what I got was something less. When I brought it to their attention, they responded right away and said they would address the situation. But then all I heard was crickets. I followed up many months later, and still got nothing. So while they seemed responsive, they didn't actually do anything.

Maybe this chartset is better. I suppose I should try it, especially if I can get the 7-day trial. I really do like the way they do weather, and I prefer their chart presentation. But I want to have the most detailed charts possible for my area, and so far only Navionics seems to offer them.

 

Thanks for the detailed response Bill. Ironically though, I did settle on TZ iBoat last year, but when I paid my money, I discovered that the charts for my area were less detailed than the equivalent Navionics charts. They also appeared to be offering older charts, compared to Navionics -- at least in certain places where I measure the difference.

View attachment 151733

I know the chartset I licensed is now discontinued, and there appears to be a replacement. But I paid in last year based on the promise of them offering ALL Canadian charts, and what I got was something less. When I brought it to their attention, they responded right away and said they would address the situation. But then all I heard was crickets. I followed up many months later, and still got nothing. So while they seemed responsive, they didn't actually do anything.

Maybe this chartset is better. I suppose I should try it, especially if I can get the 7-day trial. I really do like the way they do weather, and I prefer their chart presentation. But I want to have the most detailed charts possible for my area, and so far only Navionics seems to offer them.

Hi Mike. I’m not at all surprised you already have experience with TZ iBoat.

I understand the need to constantly compare chart sources. I run C-Map and simultaneously in our chart plotters, and in some of our less forgiving areas I split the window with one on each side to compare details. In this case, they take turns with one typically better covering an area the other is lacking details in- going back and forth depending upon the area.

Likewise for the apps on phones/tablets. I started using TZiBoat this summer, and the Alaska charts have been very good. I haven’t had a chance to compare the western Canada chart set they offer yet.

If you have the time and inclination [and assuming they still offer a free trial with downloaded charts] I would be curious what you determine regarding the usefulness of their charts for your area…

Best wishes sorting this all out. It is a moving target for us…

Cheers, Bill

 

There is a good solution, but it requires some work. Sat2Chart is a free program that makes charts in .kap and MBtile formats that are usable by OpenCPN and SeaIQ (maybe others - I don't know). This program works with SASPlanet and can use an astonishing array of data to make charts. Satellite photos from many different services, CMap, Navionics, NV, Aquamap, and others. Making charts can be automated from defined routes or defined areas, and at different scales. You have free access to all of the chart data from the likes of Navionics and others.

Here are charts made for free of Mike's example showing Navionics, Bing Satellite, and ArcGIS satellite. The satellite charts can be overlayed with Navionics using adjustable transparency for an even better chart experience,.

Mark

 

The 1968 version of Admiralty chart 285 "Orange Bay to Gander & Notre Dame Bay & White Bay" has an insert that looks suspiciously close to the Navionics data. All you need to do is geo-reference the image, convert it to BSB/KAP, or whatever the kids do these days! Hi-res versions available here.

 

Interesting! Harbour Round (Newfoundland) soundings from French Govt, 1884!

IF Navionics is using these, they should indicate they are from 1884. (CHS raster charts that use such old information - - and they are actually few and far between - - actually indicate the year(s) of the soundings.)

O-Charts is same as CHS ENC, so viewing CHS chartviewer will give the info.

Official e-Nav App EN

e-nav.ccg-gcc.evouala.com

As I noted on another forum, I use combination of O-charts (i.e., CHS ENC) and CHS raster to get best version of up-to-date charts for British Columbia. BUT I also create satellite "charts" with soundings (both self-obtained and CHS NONNA10) using SASPLANET & SAT2CHART.

(Navionics does NOT keep up-to-date with CHS charts!)

The suggestion above to use SASPLANET/SAT2CHART to fill in "holes" with Navionics (for free, except for your labour... ) is a goos idea.

 

Yer killin’ me!

Frustrated with Raymarine Customer Service, I was contemplating a switch to Garmin, but not if I have to pay a subscription fee for charts.

A lot of people like B&G, but when I wrote to B&G with a pre-sales question, I never got a reply.

 

Has anyone used iNavx lately? I was a happy user for many years, but then they went through some serious stability issues, and the final nail was the death of Navionics charts (because Garmin bought them, and stopped allowing access). I still have the app, and I can see they've rebounded with new "iNavx Professional+" chartsets, apparently based on ENC data from SiiTech Inc (whatever that is).

 

Can’t Navionics be loaded into a cellular enabled I pad? That’s what I use on the recommendation of a young millennial live aboard.. works pretty well for me. Also on my I phone…

 

That is what Mike is talking about. Navionics increased their subscription price for their tablet/phone app and no longer allow the use of the charts offline if your subscription expires. It was those changes in its service that are the problem here. Otherwise, it still works as before on those devices.

Mark

 

Ahh. Navionics was gobbled up by Garmin or is Garmin. I think I knew that but forgot. I read it as Navionics on a Garmin chartplotter. 😆. I’ll sit back down….

 

Predictable outcome we (the consumer) allow Skyne... err, Garmin to establish outsized control over the industry and now they can charge more or less what they please.

I didn't know this had happened until I read the thread, but then it was easy to verify. The regional subscription I think is new too? We previously had access to charts for the whole world, now it looks like each continent/region requires a separate US 49.99/year subscription.

Unfortunately, until a serious competitor shows up on scene (maybe something from China?) I will probably stick with Garmin.

 

I'm still looking at TZ iBoats, iNavx, and seriously considering Aquamaps. I've been very impressed with how responsive Aquamaps has been to my queries. They seem to take customer communication seriously -- and I'm not even (yet) a customer.

 

Please see my concern in post #8, which I have just bolded for ease of finding. Otherwise, it is a good app!

 

I am assuming this does not apply to the Navionics memory cards that plug into chartplotters. I have a Navionics chart card in my Lowrance chartplotter and still have access to the charts even though I am not signed up for the chart update service. Or at least I did when I last used it in September. I believe the update service is $99 per year.

 

If Navionics could figure out a way to disable past purchases, I am sure that they would. I have not updated my Navionics chart on my Raymarine MFD since 2017. It still works.

 

As I am sailing "locally" in waters I've sailed in for decades... what I usually do is follow an old track... and most of them are the same routes. Of course with varying winds the tacks cross the rhumb line. Navionics on the smart phone is handy. I set up a plotter under the dodger as well. It's been ages since I had to do any actual navigation.

 

i have a garmin gpsmap 78 wich came with 2 cards preprogrammed . one is bluechart g2 and the other is inland lakes for canada