Bahamas Explorer Charts in BSB Format?

geoffschultz · 04-12-2004, 13:48

I swear that I've seen the Bahama's Explorer charts in raster/BSB format on CD, but I can't find a source for them. Anyone know where I can get them?

-- Geoff

Wahoo Sails · 04-12-2004, 18:15

I have these on a CD .... uh .... with no label on it

... if you would like a copy ... e-mail me.

L S/V Eva Luna

Bob

exposure · 04-12-2004, 18:31

The maptech BSB chartkits for the Bahamas use the explorer charts as well as their own.

Talbot · 05-12-2004, 03:46

Are these better than the C-Map charts?

exposure · 05-12-2004, 07:55

Maptech makes the paper Chartkits that cover most of the US coastal areas and some outside the US such as the Bahamas. They are based on NOAA charts.

Explorer charts are also paper chartkit type sets that cover only the Bahamas. For the Bahamas, things are constantly changing and the NOAA charts are not too accurate. The folks with Explorer charts are cruisers who are constantly updating the information

Maptech simply rasterizes their paper charts to make electronic versions in whats known as the BSB format. To make the charts more accrate they have licensed the Exlporer charts to overlay over theirs.

http://www.explorercharts.com/

Now having said all that, a quick check of the web sites indicates that Maptech no longer uses the Explorer chart infomation and instead Nobeltec now does.

As comparing Explorer to C-Map, I think the Explorer charts for hte Bahamas will be better due to more frequent updates.

MLC101 · 14-12-2004, 09:15

We just cruised through the Bahamas extensively this year. We have the latest CMAP on our chartplotter and also had the Explorer charts in raster format for our chartplotter and in paper form.
The Explorer charts are MUCH more accurate than CMAP and in fact anything else out there. They are the absolute standard for the Bahamas and virtually all serious cruisers are using them.
Often we would be anchored "on land" according to the CMAP, while the Explorer would be accurate.
In practice, I would plan the route using Explorer raster charts, then transfer the waypoints into the CMAP chartplotter to actually use at the helm and drive the boat. Occasionally I would bring the laptop into the cockpit, when conditions warranted it.
In my opinion, relying only on CMAP to drive the boat was not safe.

04-12-2004, 13:48	#1
geoffschultz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Marlborough, MA Boat: Freedom 40/40 Posts: 19	Bahamas Explorer Charts in BSB Format? I swear that I've seen the Bahama's Explorer charts in raster/BSB format on CD, but I can't find a source for them. Anyone know where I can get them? -- Geoff

04-12-2004, 18:31	#3
exposure Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fernandina Beach, Fl Boat: Prout 37 Snowgoose Elite Posts: 367 Images: 11	The maptech BSB chartkits for the Bahamas use the explorer charts as well as their own. __________________ S/V Exposure, Prout Snowgoose Elite 37

05-12-2004, 07:55	#5
exposure Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fernandina Beach, Fl Boat: Prout 37 Snowgoose Elite Posts: 367 Images: 11	Maptech makes the paper Chartkits that cover most of the US coastal areas and some outside the US such as the Bahamas. They are based on NOAA charts. Explorer charts are also paper chartkit type sets that cover only the Bahamas. For the Bahamas, things are constantly changing and the NOAA charts are not too accurate. The folks with Explorer charts are cruisers who are constantly updating the information Maptech simply rasterizes their paper charts to make electronic versions in whats known as the BSB format. To make the charts more accrate they have licensed the Exlporer charts to overlay over theirs. http://www.explorercharts.com/ Now having said all that, a quick check of the web sites indicates that Maptech no longer uses the Explorer chart infomation and instead Nobeltec now does. As comparing Explorer to C-Map, I think the Explorer charts for hte Bahamas will be better due to more frequent updates. __________________ S/V Exposure, Prout Snowgoose Elite 37

14-12-2004, 09:15	#6
MLC101 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5	CMAP vs Explorer We just cruised through the Bahamas extensively this year. We have the latest CMAP on our chartplotter and also had the Explorer charts in raster format for our chartplotter and in paper form. The Explorer charts are MUCH more accurate than CMAP and in fact anything else out there. They are the absolute standard for the Bahamas and virtually all serious cruisers are using them. Often we would be anchored "on land" according to the CMAP, while the Explorer would be accurate. In practice, I would plan the route using Explorer raster charts, then transfer the waypoints into the CMAP chartplotter to actually use at the helm and drive the boat. Occasionally I would bring the laptop into the cockpit, when conditions warranted it. In my opinion, relying only on CMAP to drive the boat was not safe.

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04-12-2004, 18:15	#2
Wahoo Sails Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marathon, Florida Boat: Cape Dory 28, "Night Wind" Posts: 354 Images: 16	I have these on a CD .... uh .... with no label on it ... if you would like a copy ... e-mail me. L S/V Eva Luna Bob

05-12-2004, 03:46	#4
Talbot Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Stavanger, Norway Boat: Last boat was a Catalac 9m Hi-Jude Posts: 2,054 Images: 23	Are these better than the C-Map charts?