Electronic marine charts and GPS navigation

GPS marine charts are for boat-navigation what GPS Topo maps are for on-land navigation. Boaters were the first to embrace the blessings of GPS navigation and today almost every not-too-small boat is equipped with a GPS receiver. As GPS is such a tremendous improvement in marine navigation, lots of firms have developed dedicated mapping GPS receivers, called chart plotters, for use on boats.

Charts in raster and vector format

The maps, used in these chart plotters, are called marine charts, which are digital copies of paper nautical charts. Like the maps for land-navigation, marine charts come in two versions: raster charts and vector charts. Raster marine charts are geo-referenced digital pictures of a paper chart. Vector charts are databases of instructions of how the program has to draw the chart. Advantages are that the information can be viewed in layers, showing just what you wish to see and zooming does not deteriorate the image. Usually vector marine charts were only used in dedicated chart plotters, but now vector charts are used in computer-based charting systems as well.

Electronic marine charts producers

Examples of raster marine chart producers are: NOAA, Maptech, SoftChart and Laser Plot in the United States, NDI in Canada and British Admiralty (ARCS) in England. Vector marine charts for chart plotters are produced by C-Map and Navionics. Garmin’s MapSource BlueChart and Magellan’s MapSend BlueNav charts are derived from Navionics vector charts. Other vector marine charts come from Passport and Transas.

File-formats

NOAA and Maptech raster marine charts come in BSB format. Maptech also produces marine charts in the ChartPack format. SoftChart marine charts come in NOS/GEO format.

Marine charts and coverage

British Admiralty, C-Map, Transas and Maptech cover most of the earth. NOAA and SoftChart cover US waters. Maptech’s ChartPack format covers most of Europe, the Mediterranean and all of the Caribbean.

Dedicated chart plotters

Examples of brands who offer several models of dedicated chart plotters are : Eagle, Furuno, Garmin, Interphase, JRC, Lowrance, NavMan, Northstar, Raymarine, Simrad, Sitex and Standard Horizon. Most of the models are a combination of chart plotter and radar, sonar or fish finder sounder.

Marine charts in PC- and pocketPC-based navigation systems

See also our GPS Software page.

Maptech not only produces charts, but also the Offshore Navigator, which is a full-featured PC planning and GPS chart plotting application. Also from Maptech is the Memory-Map Navigator, which includes Memory-Map Pocket Navigator for pocketPC. Both work with Maptech charts and maps in BSB or PCX format.

Also from Maptech is the new Outdoor Navigator for pocketPC Palm PDA and SmartPhones. For a modest annual fee you can download any of more than 60,000 U.S. Topo Maps 1 : 24/25,000, 1 : 100,000 and 1 : 250,000 scale and NOAA Nautical Charts, all scales from overview charts to harbor charts to your pocketPC, Palm or SmartPhone. Present coverage for continental United States and Alaska. With a NMEA-0183 GPS receiver connected, you can do real-time tracking on the map/chart of your choice. Waypoints can be entered on the screen with your finger or the stylus. You can navigate to the active waypoint.

Maptech has Navigation solutions for every boater.

Chart Navigator Pro:

• New Software - Maptech's NEW GPS Planning and Navigation software.
• The Best Cartography - ALL Raster, Vector, Contour 3D, Photo, Topo, and more.
• The Most Complete Coverage - ALL U.S. coastal areas and major river systems on 13 DVDs.
• Excellent Services - Weather forecasts and free chart updates via the Internet.

Sea Ray Navigator gives you all the information needed to keep you headed in the right direction. Its unsurpassed simplicity allows you to become a navigation expert instantly. The intuitive nature of the system will outline your course, conditions and contours with one touch. And the precise charts and visuals will keep you confident whether planning a long voyage or enjoying the waters close to home. GPS (Global Positioning System) is fully integrated into Sea Ray Navigator and displays your position on detailed, full-color, official NOAA digital charts. Key GPS navigation information is displayed right on the screen.

Marine Navigator includes everything in Digital ChartKit: Offshore Navigator GPS navigation software, NOAA charts, NavPhotos…the works! The only difference between Digital ChartKit and Marine Navigator is 3D Charts. Only Marine Navigator has 3D. And to some - especially those of us who fish - this is a big difference. Marine Navigator is available on regional CD-ROMs that cover popular boating and fishing areas.

Maptech Pocket Navigator software displays Maptech digital charts on Pocket PC handhelds. For a low cost electronic backup navigation system, connect a handheld GPS receiver to a Pocket PC for a powerful, mobile chartplotter showing your exact position on NOAA charts. For charts add the Maptech U.S. Boating Charts on DVD which includes all the NOAA charts for the US coastline and river charts from the Army Corp of Engineers.

NOAA Raster Charts and Army Corp of Engineer River Charts

Transfer charts from U.S. Boating Charts on DVD to your computer and from there to a Pocket PC using Pocket Navigator software.

The Next Step: Making a Better GPS — Connect a GPS to Your Pocket PC

Pocket PC handhelds have bright touch screens that display maps in full color. Connect a GPS receiver to the handheld, and you have a low cost, mobile chartplotter as a back-up to the onboard electronics. If your Pocket PC is Bluetooth-enabled a great solution is to use a wireless GPS.

Smartphones and Pocket Navigator

With Smartphones running Windows Mobile 2003 or Mobile 5 with Pocket Navigator software you can transfer the charts from a laptop or desktop computer to the Smartphone phone.

Key Navigation Features

• Printing: Print sections of the chart with or without overlays or the entire chart as seen on the computer or Pocket PC.
• Marks Planning Tool: Adding Marks is as easy as clicking on the screen.
• Routes: Create routes by tapping the screen. The Route Properties window displays range and bearing information for each waypoint you've created.
• “Go To” Navigation Arrow: Whenever you are "going to" a mark, a navigation window appears. The arrow, range and bearing will continually update until you reach your destination.
• Tracks: See Where You've Been: Track lines will show where you've been on the chart. Track properties will display total time, distance and speed. If your track forms an enclosure, the area will also display.
• See the Pocket Navigator Tour: Go to www.maptech.com.

System requirements

Pocket Navigator 5.1.2: Pocket PC OS 2002 to Mobile 5; 4MB of free memory; Active Sync 3.0 (or higher); additional storage for charts, maps, and photos. Desktop software requires Windows 2000 or XP; Pentium processor; 32 MB of RAM; 8 MB free on hard drive for installation; mouse or drawing equivalent.

SeaClear is a PC based chart plotter for Windows 2000/XP/NT/95/98/ME. With a GPS connected it displays the current position, speed, heading and other data on the screen. The chart is repositioned and new charts are loaded automatically as needed. Tracks may be saved to file for later reviewing and log book entries can be manually and automatically entered. Unlimited number of routes and waypoints can be created and used to assist the navigation. The screen area for charts is maximized with most functions accessed with the right mouse button. Zooming is provided with support for IntelliMouse wheel. SeaClear is created for nautical navigation but can probably be used for other navigation needs.

GPS

The GPS must be capable of transmitting NMEA 0183 1.5 or higher messages. Most modern GPS units with PC communication will work. Virtual serial ports, such as USB GPS units with serial drivers, are supported. Optionally other NMEA instruments may be connected. Depth, Compass and Wind is displayed if present. With AIS receiver connected targets are displayed on screen. On units capable of receiving NMEA waypoint and route data, uploading from the PC is supported.

Charts

SeaClear II uses raster charts and can use most BSB/KAP version 1 - 3 and GEO/NOS commercial charts. Encrypted charts, like BSB/CAP can not be used. Most common projections are supported. Chart datum's are supported. You can add your own charts, scan or capture them, save as PNG, BMP or other common format. Skewed and rotated charts can be calibrated. Chart border can be set to reduce the actual chart area.

Routes

Unlimited number of routes are easily created. Maximum number of route points limited by memory only. Several routes may be joined. Tracks can be imported. Cross track error alarm. Calculation of time to go, total time to go, bearings, steering indicator and output to NMEA.

Waypoints

Unlimited number of waypoint files can be created. Maximum number of waypoints limited by memory only. Multiple files can be merged. Quick locate of waypoint loads map and centers waypoint on screen.

Tracks

Tracks are saved to file and plotted. Saved tracks can later be plotted and used to create routes.

Logbook

Automatic and manual log book entries into a text file.

Import / Export

Import and export of routes, waypoints and tracks using G7ToWin and to G7T and Waypoint+ text file format. Export of waypoints and routes to supporting NMEA devices.

Language independent

Most text and menus can be user translated to any language without any special tools. Several languages are included (Documentation file in English).

Other

NMEA Depth, Wind, Compass and AIS. GPS based Log, Hours and estimated fuel consumption. Night modes with shaded charts.

Sailbase from SailSoft.nl is developed with the SOLAS V regulation 34 in mind. This regulation demands all seagoing vessels (including pleasure craft) to prepare a proper passage (voyage) plan before departure.
With Sailbase you can prepare and print such a passage plan in a relative easy way. Although the passage plan is the main purpose of the program, it can do a lot more than just that, including uploading unlimited waypoints and routes to your GPS, and including real-time tracking of your position. The program supports raster type charts. You can scan these charts from paper charts yourself, or obtain them from various other sources e.g. from the internet. The calibration process in Sailbase is really very simple.
You do NOT need any electronic chart to be able to use most of the functions in the program, like the passage plan, the crew list, the maintenance of waypoints and routes and uploading of these to your GPS. Of course you will need an e-chart if you want to use the "navigate" function with tracking, and the "point-and-click on the chart" method of acquiring waypoints. For Windows PC.

DeadReckon, also from SailSoft.nl, is a program for sailors. It will calculate the compass course to steer and the distance to reach your destination, applying current set and drift, and compass deviation and variation to the result. The result can then be used for DR or passage planning. For pocketPC.

The NavPak program from Global Navigation comes in two versions. The Professional version for PCs and the Pocket Edition for pocketPCs. NavPak features include ARPA tracks, AIS plotting, radar overlay and great circle route plots and it can handle bathymetric charts and C-Map NT/PC vector charts. More Information on AIS.

MaxSea is one of the most feature-rich programs on the market today. It can handle both raster, vector and 3D cartography, as well as the high-tech Mapmedia Raster.mm2 charts of the Mediterranean. When connected to a depthsounder, it will set up a forward-looking profile of the ocean bottom ahead of your boat. Navigator+ is the entry-level program, Commander is for yachts and the Explorer for sportfishing boats.

With the RayTech RNS from Raymarine you can morph a nautical chart and a synchronized aerial photo of the same area. It accepts radar and depthsounder images and provides radar overlays for chart cartography. The new RNS 6.0 adds Navionics cartography, including the high-tech Platinum series and DSC tracking on charts.

Nobeltec has the Visual Navigation Suite (VNS) for PC, which supports all popular electronic chart formats, including the Passport World Charts and the new Passport Deluxe regions. VNS also includes Nobeltec’s ChartBlending and ChartDraping, enabling you to combine different chart types together for greater chart detail.

The Tsunamis Navigator of Transas Dataco has brought the power and accuracy of the world famous Transas professional chart technology into the hands of private boat owners. Simple to use on any PC, all systems employ fully vector charts derived from official sources to provide high-resolution color displays of the utmost accuracy and detail, giving you up to 50 individual layers of data.

The Capn Voyager Mosaic for the PC from Nautical Technologies finds automatically your marine charts and your GPS. Comes with voice command alerts for Cross Track Error, Next waypoint, Alarm Zone, and much more. User-selectable north-up, course-up and route-up chart rotation. Supports Maptech ChartKit (BSB/NOAA) marine charts and SoftChart charts. For the pocketPC there is the zCapn. It displays the ship’s real-time position on your handheld from your computer and GPS in the pilothouse.

TeleType GPS automatically plots your position as you move in real-time right on top of the marine charts in your pocketPC. All the charts are geo-referenced. You can choose among more than 100 marine chart CDs. Over 1200 marine charts can be downloaded in NOS or JPG formats. Easily use street maps when needed.

Navigation Dynamics offers the NaviGator in Standard and Pro version, both for the PC. They use the Transas vector marine charts for true worldwide coverage. When zooming in, all text, buoying and navigational symbols remain the same size and when a chart is rotated chart text will not be affected. The Pro version will interface with a NMEA compatible autopilot and ARPA radar.

OziExplorer is a full featured GPS mapping program that imports all BSB format digital marine charts and Maptech RML or PCX charts. Included with the OziExplorer program is a basic tide program covering the world, called Xtide. Aerial photos (anchorages, harbours etc.) can be calibrated and used as a chart in Moving map display. Proximity Zones can be set around waypoints so that an alarm will sound when entering a zone. Digital charts can be converted and used with Ozi CE and a pocketPC.

Fugawi is compatible with all BSB, SoftChart and Maptech chart and image products and can send NMEA output to your radar and autopilot. Fugawi is a complete navigational system.

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