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Old 27-05-2013, 13:41   #1
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Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

Me and my husband and two small children are moving aboard. He put me In charge of finding the best navigational software. What do you use? How do you like it? Should we just stick with paper charts? Of course its always probably good to have paper back up.... We have a 37 foot sailboat... GPS, no GPS? whats good? Looking for any and all input
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Old 27-05-2013, 13:57   #2
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pirate Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

Hi Waterbabe..
I use a Notebook and GPS puck with a Nimble Navigator program and CM 93 Charts.. also use the OpenCPN program for some areas...
Also carry a HH GPS and paper passage charts..
Cheap n Cheerful
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Old 27-05-2013, 14:06   #3
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

Thank you! That's exactly the kind of thing I want to know.
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Old 27-05-2013, 14:10   #4
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

Do you have to pay for Nimble Navigator yearly?
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Old 27-05-2013, 14:16   #5
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

We are currently looking into getting a Nexus Tablet and snagging one of the popular apps out there. All of which work on Android based software, IE; Phones as well
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Old 27-05-2013, 14:19   #6
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

Do you ever have trouble getting service on your phones?
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Old 27-05-2013, 14:26   #7
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

No, we have the 4GLTE which is extremely reliable. I have paper backups if needed, but myself being 21 I find myself more involved in technology than most on this forum.

The tablet is capable of doing much much much more than your average chartplotter or handheld GPS.

You can pick up a Google Nexus 7 by ASUS for $150ish on ebay, in pristine condition. Most apps are 20$ or less with unlimited map and chart downloads. Simrad is currently working on technology to incorporate cross usage between tablet(or phone) and autopilot devices.. You see where Im going with this?

Plus you can throw angry birds on it for the kids
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Old 27-05-2013, 19:10   #8
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Re: best navigational software or paper charts only?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KemoSabe View Post
No, we have the 4GLTE which is extremely reliable. I have paper backups if needed, but myself being 21 I find myself more involved in technology than most on this forum.

The tablet is capable of doing much much much more than your average chartplotter or handheld GPS.

You can pick up a Google Nexus 7 by ASUS for $150ish on ebay, in pristine condition. Most apps are 20$ or less with unlimited map and chart downloads. Simrad is currently working on technology to incorporate cross usage between tablet(or phone) and autopilot devices.. You see where Im going with this?

Plus you can throw angry birds on it for the kids

i think my husband willbe more excited about the angry birds than the kids
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Old 27-05-2013, 19:40   #9
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Re: Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

We have OpenCPN loaded on two identical laptops. One is a dedicated nav computer and the other is my personal laptop. I can't imagine why anyone would use anything else. I also have a variety of apps on my Galaxy S3 and they are of varying usefulness. I use an AIS app regularly when we are in water with heavy commercial traffic. I use several weather apps and I have a tide/current app which pisses me off more than it assists me.
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Old 27-05-2013, 21:11   #10
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Re: Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

We are a little old style with our stuff ! Connie has her lap top with a complete Capt set up with world wide charts. I have two battery powerd hand held Gps,s one I use daily and a spare. I work with paper charts only and ck my possition daily with Connies stuff. It seems to work well for us ! At least it has for a lot of years and many miles ! With the stuff available out there to day it would seem silly to go to sea without an electronic system of some sort !! As we are cheap cruisers, we will continue on with what we have ! If I was starting out I would sure go with the Open CPN talked about on this site all the time ! But I would still have my hand held gps, and as many paper charts as I can afford ! Just always feel safer with my paper charts, nothing like haveing a harbor chart when ya are gonna make a landing ! Just my 2 cents
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Old 27-05-2013, 22:06   #11
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Re: Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

I have yet to find any kind of electronic charts that A) is truly updated for the LNMs, or B) is easy to update myself.

Therefore, I don't rely on electronic charts unless they agree with the paper charts that I've updated myself.
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Old 28-05-2013, 12:15   #12
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Re: Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

I have a feeling I'm going to be referencing this thread a lot you guys rock.
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Old 28-05-2013, 15:43   #13
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Re: Best Navigational Software or Paper Charts Only?

We have been full time liveaboard cruisers for years. We use two laptop (my notebook uses less electricity than Jim's). C-maps for the world are installed on both computers, along with Open CPN. Perfect coastally in the first world areas we have visited. We keep and use paper charts for ocean passages. We log positions on our sailing log, basically a notebook. The only problem with electronics (besides salt in the air) is that nearby lightning strikes often spell their doom.

Ann
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Old 28-05-2013, 15:53   #14
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I use matech chart navigator pro its great navionics on the I pad works to.. But nothin
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Old 28-05-2013, 15:54   #15
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Nothing beats paper tho
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