Electronic Charts for the Solomon

[oflo]

I'm looking for electronic charts for the Solomon Islands can anyone help me out?

[reflectionsv37]

We were in the Solomon Islands 18 months ago and the CM93 charts were accurate and provided good coverage. There are some places like Liapari that are missing detail. We used google earth charts to supplement that. Try and make your google earth charts in advance. Internet services are limited and expensive in the Solomon Islands!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by reflectionsv37

We were in the Solomon Islands 18 months ago and the CM93 charts were accurate and provided good coverage. There are some places like Liapari that are missing detail. We used google earth charts to supplement that. Try and make your google earth charts in advance. Internet services are limited and expensive in the Solomon Islands!

Good info! Which year's CM93 portfolio were you using? The coverage seems to keep changing from year to year.

Jim

[reflectionsv37]

I have the May 2009 set of CM93 charts.

If you can, get a copy of the Solomon Islands Cruising Guide by Dirk Sieling. Some of it is dated, but still probably the best overall guide for the islands.

[reflectionsv37]

Another thought! There is at least one chart you'll want to buy in Honiara. It is the chart of Morovo Lagoon. I don't think it's available in electronic form. There is an Institute of Hydrology near the main post office in Honiara. You can get the chart from them. It was reasonably priced and you'll be glad you have to navigate in the lagoon. Sieling's book also recommends buying the chart of the Florida group if spending much time there. We found coverage for the Florida group was sufficient for the few places we went.

Some areas in the Florida group are not considered safe, so beware. I don't think you can get these charts outside of the Solomon Islands. Tulaghi Harbor in particular. A few violent attempted break-ins of boats with crew on boat in recent years. For the rest of the islands, you should lift & lock the dinghy and don't leave things lying in the open. They can disappear quickly! People are very friendly and generous. Takes lots of trading items. The people there want & need just about everything. They will trade for lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and lobster.