Best map for chartplotter

Uh Oh · 07 June 2021, 20:13

Looking for help and advice please.
Im a complete beginner when it comes to chartplotters fishfinders. I've got a Lowrance Hook reveal 7, which I had fitted today. I bought it as a fish finder and chartplotter. My principle reason for including a chartplotter was to help with depths, (planning journeys), and basic navigation which I am beginning to read up on. (I have a place on a RYA Powerboat level 2 this summer). I never intend to lose sight of land so close inshore waters only.

The guy who fitted it told me it only has a base map??
Anyhow, it looks like I need to buy an SD card with a map on it. I only need South Devon for the time being so if there's a map that covers that area, it will be a bonus if it also covers a wider area.
As far as I can make out, my choices are Navionics and Cmap. I'm sure they both are good.
I would be really grateful for any pros and cons of each or personal experience, particularlyif you've tried both. Which is the simpler, more intuitive to use? Anything that will help me make a choice, and hopefully get the one thats best suited to me.
Many thanks in advance.

jeffstevens763@g · 07 June 2021, 22:37

Navionics IMO I have uk maps on my lowrance hook 7 I use mine on the fishing map good detail

Uh Oh · 07 June 2021, 22:43

thanks Jeff. Much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Navionics IMO I have uk maps on my lowrance hook 7 I use mine on the fishing map good detail

Uh Oh · 07 June 2021, 23:11

Jeff, which version do you use please? Navionics + or the platinum ?

jonp · 08 June 2021, 07:16

Garmin now own Navionics, Cmap and g3 vision etc. I moved away from Lowrance and platinum to better detailed G3 vision charting which I have loaded onto my phone and two Garmin gps maps on both boats.

RickW · 08 June 2021, 07:58

Pretty sure Garmin don’t own CMap that is Navico (lowrance, Simrad, B&G)

Got both currently prefer Navionics using Platinum + and the iOS app

What the difference between Platinum + and G3?

jonp · 08 June 2021, 08:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Pretty sure Garmin don’t own CMap that is Navico (lowrance, Simrad, B&G)

Got both currently prefer Navionics using Platinum + and the iOS app

What the difference between Platinum + and G3?

Garmin bought it in 2017 https://www.navionics.com/usa/blog/p...ires-navionics

RickW · 08 June 2021, 08:08

Yes they own Navionics but they don’t own CMap that’s Navico

jonp · 08 June 2021, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Pretty sure Garmin don’t own CMap that is Navico (lowrance, Simrad, B&G)

Got both currently prefer Navionics using Platinum + and the iOS app

What the difference between Platinum + and G3?

Maybe Im wrong but I thought it was part of the buy out back in 2017 . I was told by our local dealership that they owned Cmap too but maybe you are right, will ask next time in in store.

RickW · 08 June 2021, 08:57

https://navico.com/2018/07/02/navico...nounce-merger/

Yup

Anyway back to the Navionics goodness - what do you get with G3 which you dont get with Navionics Platinum Plus?

jonp · 08 June 2021, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Pretty sure Garmin don’t own CMap that is Navico (lowrance, Simrad, B&G)

Got both currently prefer Navionics using Platinum + and the iOS app

What the difference between Platinum + and G3?

The difference with platinum for my area was that it had less detail and less options for plotting courses. With g3 I can simply touch the screen and it will navigate to where Ive touched and avoid any hazards along that passage. I can also plot courses where I tell the unit to avoid certain depths etc or alternatively colour certain depths with any of the 15 pallet options which comes in ever handy for targeting different species of fish that hold at different depths . Then there's the vision seafloor charts which I can not only have on both of my head units but also on my phone for just one fee. I can use my phone checking out underwater structures and plotting trips from the comfort of my lounge and then just upload them to my headhunts or use the phone or iPad as a stand alone plotter on any vessel I go on. This is very handy as I work on different small vessels targeting shellfish and I can take my own detailed seafloor surveyed charts on any boat with just the phone.

These are from the 105 echomap in the small rib, my other boat is set up a little different in regards to plotter detail. The quality is low because these are just photos taken with my phone and not screen shots.

RickW · 08 June 2021, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonp

The difference with platinum for my area was that it had less detail and less options for plotting courses. With g3 I can simply touch the screen and it will navigate to where Ive touched and avoid any hazards along that passage. I can also plot courses where I tell the unit to avoid certain depths etc or alternatively colour certain depths with any of the 15 pallet options which comes in ever handy for targeting different species of fish that hold at different depths . Then there's the vision seafloor charts which I can not only have on both of my head units but also on my phone for just one fee. I can use my phone checking out underwater structures and plotting trips from the comfort of my lounge and then just upload them to my headhunts or use the phone or iPad as a stand alone plotter on any vessel I go on. This is very handy as I work on different small vessels targeting shellfish and I can take my own detailed seafloor surveyed charts on any boat with just the phone.

These are from the 105 echomap in the small rib, my other boat is set up a little different in regards to plotter detail. The quality is low because these are just photos taken with my phone and not screen shots.

They have relief shading now on Navionics which of course is the same mapping as G3. I like it for mucking about on the iPad but tend to turn it off when out on the rib

I just tried to find the same area to see if I could replicate it not realising you are in Australia! 🤣

Have only just figured out how to transfer routes and trials/waypoints from the Navionics maps to the MFD on my set up. Unless I am doing it wrong it seems to involve exporting to a card from the ipad rather than wireless but chart updates are wireless (I think)

Havnt looked yet as to how it works on C-MAP as prefer Navionics mapping

Dock to dock auto routing is available on my set up (auto routing) but I think it is a paid feature

If anyone has an expired sub maybe they can confirm either way

Uh Oh · 08 June 2021, 14:17

Thank you everyone for your input. To summarise, I'm thinking of getting the Navionics + on an SD card, with the Falmouth to Chichester map on it.

2 more questions, if I may please.

Other than the power and transducer lead sockets, there is only an sd card slot on the unit. How do you update the unit software and the Navionics map please?

Can I put the SD card in a laptop and look at the map and try it out at home? Rather than only when its fitted to the chartplotter on the boat?

Many thanks again.
Gordon

RickW · 08 June 2021, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uh Oh

Thank you everyone for your input. To summarise, I'm thinking of getting the Navionics + on an SD card, with the Falmouth to Chichester map on it.

2 more questions, if I may please.

Other than the power and transducer lead sockets, there is only an sd card slot on the unit. How do you update the unit software and the Navionics map please?

Can I put the SD card in a laptop and look at the map and try it out at home? Rather than only when its fitted to the chartplotter on the boat?

Many thanks again.

Gordon

Do you have the Navionics app? That would show you the what the mapping looks like

Alternatively their web app gives the same

Uh Oh · 08 June 2021, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Do you have the Navionics app? That would show you the what the mapping looks like

Alternatively their web app gives the same

Hi Rick No I don't have the app.

I've been trying to contact the UK distributor in Plymouth for help and advice. I've left a message and await a response. All I currently have is a hook reveal unit. I dont know anything about the app. Whether it is an additional cost, comes free with a map, or is freely available. As I previously mentioned, I'm a complete beginner. I'm sure the maps will look OK to me, in that context. It was more about other users opinions, having used them. And whether, having purchased a map for use on my hook reveal, I could review and plan journeys without having to plug the unit into the rib.

RickW · 08 June 2021, 18:15

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@6&key=_olrHrefX

Try this

Hope the link works for you - its their website app and looks like the app and what it would like on any plotter (sort of) irrespective of brand

There is a blue globe icon bottom left - press/click on that and then select sonar chart to get more detail and zoom in

Enjoy!

RickW · 08 June 2021, 18:21

The app is free but to get to use it costs 34.99 for a year post the trial period

Uh Oh · 08 June 2021, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@6&key=_olrHrefX

Try this

Hope the link works for you - its their website app and looks like the app and what it would like on any plotter (sort of) irrespective of brand

There is a blue globe icon bottom left - press/click on that and then select sonar chart to get more detail and zoom in

Enjoy!

Thank you ever so much. The link worked and it was so bleddy useful.

I am grateful.

Brinormeg · 08 June 2021, 19:53

Nice thing with the Navionics App which I paid for is I can run it on an old Ipad mini for reasonably good quality(including the new shading feature) or on pc and phone.
Cant say I can really see much difference between C-maps and Navionics on their normal maps, but c-map wont let you try their Custom shading without buying, so cant really compare properly
I do find that my old ipad struggles to process cmaps but is fine with navionics, but then again I can download their maps to the ipad which might help.

Uh Oh · 08 June 2021, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

Nice thing with the Navionics App which I paid for is I can run it on an old Ipad mini for reasonably good quality(including the new shading feature) or on pc and phone.
Cant say I can really see much difference between C-maps and Navionics on their normal maps, but c-map wont let you try their Custom shading without buying, so cant really compare properly
I do find that my old ipad struggles to process cmaps but is fine with navionics, but then again I can download their maps to the ipad which might help.

Thank you. Really helpful.