Chartplotter with Google maps?

[biggles72]

I am looking to buy a new chartplotter.

Lately I use google maps to search out and find interesting anchorages or deserted beaches. Something that can not be seen on a typical chartplotter.

Do any chartplotters have a feature in which a google maps can be overlayed?

Preferably a feature to pre-download Google maps so it can be used without an internet connection?

Your suggestions are appreciated.

[clownfishsydney]

You can use OpenCPN and Google Earth on a laptop. There is an add on that lets you save the areas you want for later use.

[Neptune's Gear]

Yep, OpenPN. Cheaper and better than a chartplotter!

[a64pilot]

Garmins Blue Chart I believe may be Google maps, if not it sure looks like it is.

[Paul L]

Many chartplotters offer sattelite images as chart overlays. I use it occasionally on my Furuno CP. The OpenCPN approach is low-cost and effective as long as you have an Internet connection (or have pre-downloaded the images that you want).

[biggles72]

Thanks for the info. I use OpenCpn now and was not aware of the plugin.

The only problem I see is that internet is required, otherwise the google maps need to be saved by scrolling around in the same area previously. As there is many levels of "zoom"i think this is not practical.

It would be nice if you could select an area and it downloaded all levels of zoom for future offline use. But not complaining, it is FREE.

[Neptune's Gear]

How can you use GE when you're offline?
When you go to new places with GE, it has to download the information it displays from the Google servers.* These are fairly large graphical files, so it can take some time, even with a broadband internet connection.* GE displays a little circle in the lower right corner of the GE window, to show download progress.* When the circle completes (and turns color) then you know that the download for a given view has completed, and you can move on to your next view.* But to save time (and internet bandwidth) GE*caches*(saves) this received information on your computer.* So going back to somewhere you've already been to displays very quickly, because the information is coming directly from your own hard*drive.

So the trick to using GE offline is to use GE to visit those places that you want to go*beforehand, while you have an internet connection.* Then you save the GE cache*files somewhere.* When you cruise to those places, copy the cache*files back so that GE can use them again.



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[barnakiel]

Any smartphone does this. Google Maps App holds on to the tiles you watched last time and lets you use them when you are offline.

b.

[belizesailor]

For reference, FUGAWI supports GE overlays too. You can create the overlay and FUGAWI will cache it for offline use so online access is only required for the initial overlay creation. Transparency level can be adjusted so you get your desired blend of chart detail and GE overlay.

I find this handy for confirming land mass detail/position such as harbor/river mouths.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by biggles72

Thanks for the info. I use OpenCpn now and was not aware of the plugin.

The only problem I see is that internet is required, otherwise the google maps need to be saved by scrolling around in the same area previously. As there is many levels of "zoom"i think this is not practical.

It would be nice if you could select an area and it downloaded all levels of zoom for future offline use. But not complaining, it is FREE.

You can save google earth satellite images as charts.

http://www.svsarana.com/make_charts_...ogle_earth.php