Visit our Popular Forums

Alecadi · 11-06-2012, 09:56

I tried to make a search but everything is about open CPN.

Anybody can recommend or tell about his experience with a commercial navigation software?
which is a simple efficient one?

jackdale · 11-06-2012, 10:04

Do you mean software used on commercial shipping or software which must be purchased?

Alecadi · 11-06-2012, 10:12

Nope
I meant software that are not free like Open CPN

bobofthenorth · 11-06-2012, 10:26

The only other one I've used is Fugawi and my advice is to run away from it as fast as you can. Open CPN does everything I ask it to do - and does it easily and reliably.

xymotic · 11-06-2012, 10:34

I really liked iNavX for the mac. It's commercial, but just barely, really inexpensive, easy to use, full featured and REALLY good support.

the only reason I might pick something else would be if I wanted radar overlay, and if so your options get extremely limited (furuno & I think opn cptn)

I'm currently using am older gen version of Nobletec and hate it.

msulc · 12-06-2012, 03:24

I use coastal explorer and think it is a very good software package and easy to use. They have a free trial version you can try out. Once out of the US, you need to start spending money on maps as well. CE is not cheap either, and not sure if they did this, but they were going to start charging an annual fee to use parts of the software. Not good for cruisers on a budget. I have not bought any maps outside of the US, so I use Garmin Homeport with the maps about for my Garmin Chartplotter to do my routes occasionally now, even though homeport is not, in my opinion, good for much. I use OPENCPN as well and that is a great package for the price!

delcrest · 12-06-2012, 03:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alecadi

I tried to make a search but everything is about open CPN.

Anybody can recommend or tell about his experience with a commercial navigation software?
which is a simple efficient one?

I agree opencpn seems a great program, but if you aRE lookinf for charts other than noa its not easy for me, ( not very computer literate) to try using the different converting software from image to .kap and when I do get it done i am not sure it is correct and scared I have made a mistake !
OPENCPN would be great if there was a simpler way to convert image to .kap, when you have to start going into DOS it becomes toooo much for me
maybe I am missing something?

SailFastTri · 12-06-2012, 04:01

Very happy with Coastal Explorer. It's very powerful. I used to use Nobeltec Visual Navigation Suite, also very powerful, but overall I'm happier with CE.

rolandcavanagh · 12-06-2012, 04:11

I've been using Coastal Explorer for 4 years, love it! Several trips RI to FL in the ICW on our trawler. Continually updated with new features plus automated updates and NOAA chart syncs allow me to go boating, not maintaining software. No affiliation, just a delighted user. BTW, have a Garmin plotter/sounder on my sport fisher that Garmin decided to stop supporting 3 years after purchase, no chart updates! Can't recommend their products.

conachair · 12-06-2012, 04:32

I used maxsea for a long time, the switched to opencpn. Maxsea has more bells and whistles but as for simple and efficient, open cpn does the job just as well and now I'm used to the interface i prefer it to maxsea.

Ziggy · 12-06-2012, 04:54

Try PolarView, available from PolarNavy.com. It's lightweight, simple to use, has a free trial period, and now you can get a never expiring license for up to 5 PCs for $29.99.

It has a few minor quirks but I haven't encountered any really serious bugs or flaws.

I'm a customer, but otherwise unaffiliated with the company.

**Cotemar** · 12-06-2012, 04:55

Have used memory -map for 10 years now. Works well.
www.memory-map.com

jmackay · 12-06-2012, 05:01

Over the years I have gone from DR>RDF>Loran>GPS>SeaclearII>Coastal Explorer with a little Celestial in for fun. Bear in mind that everything uses the same chart datum. Your $5,000 chart plotter could be using a chart that is 30-50 years old and most likely is.

Over the last 3 years I have probably done 15,000 plus NM from Maine to the Bahamas. I bought a set of electronic charts for the Bahamas, the rest came with the software.

I have found their customer service very helpful , they remotely fixed a configuration problem.

**deepthought** · 12-06-2012, 05:42

For OSX (APPLE / MAC) what ever its called these days. I have MacENC, Polarview, OpenCPN.

Polarview: I like the most over all however. There is a nice selection of charts available in Polarview and a great grib overlay. The bad thing about buying charts through Polarview is "To avoid minimum order fee, your order amount must be more than 25.00 EUR". And some of the the charts I have purchased seem a little dated when comparing them to other charts. (missing marinas etc..) I have not purchased any of the Navionics charts but I assume they are probably more upto date.

MacENC: I find a little bit bloated and not that user friendly, think the gui needs some work. I do use iNavX from the same company on my Iphone/Ipad2 and charts cheaper for the Iphone and it works well.

OpenCPN: I am really using the most now because I just happen to have all the charts available for it. However if I had to purchase charts I would choose another solution.