https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/ Charts, software, systems, tools and tips en Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:28:11 GMT vBulletin 60 https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/update-on-gps-interference-in-europe-300565.html Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:15:55 GMT Not sure if this had been previously mentioned, but Veritasium just yesterday came out with this video discussing GPS interference over Europe: ... Not sure if this had been previously mentioned, but Veritasium just yesterday came out with this video discussing GPS interference over Europe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz23G_UXCGAf

It's a good watch, and covers both the basics of how GPS works, then dives into the work by Professor Todd Humphreys and Dr Zach Clements at the University of Texas at Austin who identified the source as a satellite in a Russian missile warning constellation. ]]> Navigation requiem https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/update-on-gps-interference-in-europe-300565.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/north-up-or-heading-up-cognitive-question-300506.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:14:56 GMT A few years ago, I took a trip with two crew members. It struck me that both found a north-up chartplotter display uncomfortable to use. They... A few years ago, I took a trip with two crew members. It struck me that both found a north-up chartplotter display uncomfortable to use. They preferred heading-up and found north-up confusing, while I'm exactly the opposite.

My assumption was that the difference came from how we learned navigation. I learned on paper charts, where everything was oriented around north and the compass. When I transitioned to electronic navigation, I kept that same mindset. To me, knowing where I am includes knowing where north is, and a heading-up display doesn't convey that information as clearly.

Yesterday I saw an Instagram video that made me realize how much modern GPS has changed navigation. Today, you can get almost anywhere simply by following a software generated route, without necessarily understanding where you are (or even the context of the route) in a broader geographic sense. As a result, many people may never develop the skills needed to navigate without GPS.

I'm curious about the reasons for viewing preference. Not whether you prefer one or the other. Opinions matter only to the users, but my question is “can you explain why the preference”? ]]> Navigation SailFastTri https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/north-up-or-heading-up-cognitive-question-300506.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/what-does-the-reeds-nautical-almanac-include-for-the-netherlands-300440.html Thu, 28 May 2026 10:21:07 GMT Hello everyone,

I' getting my shopping list of navigational aids completed, and of course I a planning to get the Reeds Nautical Almanac. I was just wondering how much of the semi-inland ports it covers. I mean areas like the Waddenzee and the Ijsselmeer / Markermeer.


Because I never had a Reeds, I was wondering if I will need to buy complementary guides from the ANBW for example to get all the info on the aforementioned areas.

If I have to buy those anyway, I would postpone buying the Reeds, as I would go coastal later this year. Thus postponing the end date of the updates.

Best regards, G. ]]> Navigation Old_Greenhorn https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/what-does-the-reeds-nautical-almanac-include-for-the-netherlands-300440.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/offshore-from-masonboro-inlet-to-norfolk-question-300424.html Wed, 27 May 2026 13:07:17 GMT In mid-June my wife and I are planning on sailing offshore from Masonboro Inlet to Norfolk. When rounding Cape Hatteras how far offshore - given we... In mid-June my wife and I are planning on sailing offshore from Masonboro Inlet to Norfolk. When rounding Cape Hatteras how far offshore - given we have a good weather window - is it necessary to go? Should we go outside of Diamond Shoal Light? Is it recommended to go further out to stay in 600 ft or greater water? We have a 33' heavy displacement full keel ("Brewer keel") cutter rigged boat. ]]> Navigation lady sophie https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/offshore-from-masonboro-inlet-to-norfolk-question-300424.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/looking-for-suppliers-of-digital-charts-with-perpetual-or-single-purchase-license-300397.html Mon, 25 May 2026 12:05:49 GMT Hello everyone, I have been researching for a while now, but unfortunately I find a lot of conflicting and outdated information. Therefore I would... Hello everyone,

I have been researching for a while now, but unfortunately I find a lot of conflicting and outdated information. Therefore I would like to ask you all for up-to-date info on this topic.

I want to choose a supplier for digital maps that are not limited to a year of usage.
I understand that those type of charts are called "perpetual" or "single‑purchase license".


1.) It would be essential that the charts are useful for cruising, not for commercial shipping. (Should include detail maps of ports etc.)


2.) The charts should be usable in OpenCPN running on raspberry-pi and on Linux!


3.) The charts should cover the regions of the Atlantic coast of Europe, north-west Africa, the islands in the north Atlantic, central America, and the Carribean.

4.) In case of total loss of the Device (raspberry-pi and/or linux pc) or the storage (SSD/SD-Card) it should be possible to still use a backup copy of the charts on a cloned/backup device.


One additional question:
Is it possible to use charts that are confined to be used with a S-63 license in a fashion described 4.)?

Thanks in advance, cheers, Greenhorn :thumb: ]]> Navigation Old_Greenhorn https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/looking-for-suppliers-of-digital-charts-with-perpetual-or-single-purchase-license-300397.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/app-for-navigation-300376.html Sun, 24 May 2026 05:17:47 GMT Like everyone else, I am a slave to GPS and my chart plotter. Long before, I used RDF (it also had an AM/FM radio built in) and then moved on to... Like everyone else, I am a slave to GPS and my chart plotter. Long before, I used RDF (it also had an AM/FM radio built in) and then moved on to LORAN. I've been sailing over 50 years, but I've never seriously gotten into celestial navigation. I bought a couple books, plotting charts, parallel rulers, ( a pencil!), a plastic sextant, almanac, etc. but since I pretty much knew where I was, I never could make myself do it frequently enough to get the hang of it. Even after a retirement gift of a Celestaire, I didn't feel the benefit was worth the discipline needed. These days, I'm thinking I'd like to try it in a New Age kinda way. There's an app for that- lots of 'em. So I got one, Celestial Nav- free- But there isn't an ounce of documentation. So before I try to figure this one out, are there apps that are more self-explanatory? I realize using a navigation app with an iPad is kinda like using a helicopter to climb a mountain. ]]> Navigation Mickeyrouse https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/app-for-navigation-300376.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/raymarine-chartplotter-boat-icon-orientation-problem-300324.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:14:56 GMT I have a Raymarine Axiom plotter and for some reason, the boat icon does not point the direction of the boat (it just sort of changed on me day, I'm not sure why). I have tried recalibrating several different ways, including recalibrating my compass (I am pretty sure the boat orientation is pulled from the compass), but doesn't seem to want to point the direction of the boat. The orientation is fixed (it doesn't vary with change in heading), and there are no problems with GPS location. This probably very easy to fix, and I am guessing worse case, I can just turn the compass physically, but that seems like a cop out, lol, I'd like to actually know why this is happening. Any suggestion? ]]> Navigation saltwaterone https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/raymarine-chartplotter-boat-icon-orientation-problem-300324.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/offshore-chart-from-cape-fear-to-norfolk-300322.html Wed, 20 May 2026 20:50:52 GMT We are planning to go off shore from Southport, NC - Cape Fear inlet - to Annapolis. We have good charts for the Chesapeake but need charts for the... We are planning to go off shore from Southport, NC - Cape Fear inlet - to Annapolis. We have good charts for the Chesapeake but need charts for the offshore trip. I found a chart kit from Cruising Guide Publications but have not discovered a way to purchase and phone calls are not answered or returned. Is there a good chart covering this stretch without buying 6 or 8 individual charts? Charts probably are not needed as there are no accessible inlets but always nice to have to plot progress. ]]> Navigation lady sophie https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/offshore-chart-from-cape-fear-to-norfolk-300322.html https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/nautical-atlas-of-crete-pdf-a3-for-self-printing-300170.html Mon, 11 May 2026 11:20:17 GMT Plese try download and see my works - Nautical Atlas of Crete. Format - A3 PDF, suitable for self printing Content - 10 nautical charts, scale... Plese try download and see my works - Nautical Atlas of Crete.
Format - A3 PDF, suitable for self printing
Content - 10 nautical charts, scale 1:150 000, Mercator, WGS 84 Data
Note - outdated, for leisure sailing like back up chart, for planning.

Any comments are welcome! ]]> Navigation valery https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f121/nautical-atlas-of-crete-pdf-a3-for-self-printing-300170.html