OpenCPN chart options for Bahamas ?

[NahanniV]

I have all the Explorer chartbooks for the Bahamas.

But I’d like to be able to use OpenCPN as well.

It seems that Fugawi is no longer selling charts ?
Is there another option ?

How difficult would it be to scan my chartbooks ?
Is that legal ?
Anybody able to help with that in the Vero Beach FL area ?

[cagney]

Right now, it's just "NV charts" that makes charts for Bahamas that can be used with OpenCPN if you're using Windows.

These charts are not that well known but seems fairly OK to me. Comparing them with my tracks from 3 years of cruising the Bahamas, I would say that they are generally on the cautious side, perhaps a bit dated. I can identify a few errors, but that holds for all charts. They are not quite up to Explorers standard, but still OK.

Thomas

[NahanniV]

It’s not clear to me from the NV website how to purchase charts for OpenCPN.
All they mention is an APP.
Emais to their support have not been answred.

Do you have these charts ?
Using them with OpenCPN ?
When did you purchase them ?

[cagney]

It seems like nv is still using the concept of selling Paper charts and electronic charts as a bundle. I agree that their web site is not very clear and user friendly.

Follow this link https://eu.nvcharts.com/index.php?page=content&coID=43 and choose "2016" and "Caribbean" to take you to the three choices for Bahamas.
Selecting any of these leads to a download link.
To use the charts with OpenCPN you will need to download the nv-plugin and get a code key to decrypt the charts. Notice the phone number to nv.

Yes I have these charts installed on OpenCPN, but I got mine through Fugawi, an option that no longer exists.

I think it's a fairly safe bet that Explorer charts will once again become available for OpenCPN, but most likely not before the next cruising season (end of 2019). Not that it helps you now....

Good Luck!

Thomas

[Richfind]

I am in Vero. I have an 11x17" scanner but I have never converted a scanned image to an OpenCPN format. I have the set of Explorer chart books as well as well.

Regarding legality, not sure. If I scanned the chart books I own and use them with OpenCPN and don't share them maybe not.

If I scan them and share either a printed or electronic version then definitely illegal.

Personally I would like to purchase them, and not have to deal with all the work and bad karma

[Richfind]

PS
Since the Explorer pages are larger than 11x17 it would be necessary to scan each page twice and then stitch them together.
A lot of work.