Bahamas Charts

[drakes]

Planning a cruise to the Bahamas Interested in feedback on what the best Charts to get are. I hear mostly Explorer? Any input appreciated Thanks

[sailorboy1]

Explorer

They are a little more than just charts. There is guide book stuff on them also. Don’t bother with the Dodge book on the Abacos, IMO it wasn’t helpful.

[boatpoker]

There is a very good reason you mostly hear "Explorer". They are the choice of experienced Bahamas cruisers.

[hpeer]

Explorer. I have them on iNavEx on my iPhone and paper chart kits also.

[drakes]

Thank you.

[Potatohead]

I have a set to sell if
you become interested.

[SSgtPitt]

INavX has only one option for Explorer and that’s the quilted charts. Is this what we need?
I have the Navionics charts already. Is there a significant difference?

[hpeer]

The quilted charts are a PITA. You need to sit somewhere with a GOOD internet connection and then go over the entire chart area. And not just at one scale, you need to zoom in to make sure you pick up the large scale/detailed charts.

I also have Navionics on my chart plotter. But I use iNavEx and Explorer charts. It’s worth the effort. Seriously.

I know lots of folks use Navionics. And get by. Although I’ve heard reports of the occasional ooopsie. I’ve also heard Navionics does not correct known issues. To me it’s cheap insurance.

[SSgtPitt]

INavX doesn’t need an internet connection for the Navionics and NOAA charts that are on my iPad. Is that different with the Explorer quilted charts?

My chartplotter is an old Raymarine C80 that still works great. I need to update my card this week from Navionics Gold to the new Nav+. It’ll cost $99.99. Is there an Explorer card that works w the C80, I haven’t checked yet, but if Explorer is so much better, maybe I should go that route instead.

[hpeer]

You only need the internet connection for the initial download. It’s just that there is now good way (I know of) to get the Explorer charts to download without having the app request them. Also I think you want to make sure you buy your charts through the app, somehow that makes a difference if you need to change devices? Something like that.

[SSgtPitt]

Hmmmm, doesn’t look like Explorer works with Raymarine.

[jibstay]

Originally Posted by SSgtPitt

Hmmmm, doesn’t look like Explorer works with Raymarine.

I use the CMAP charts on my Raymarine. They’ve been great.

I also use the waypoints from the Dodge book on the Abacos and they’ve been spot on.

[Pitchondesign]

We have an older E80, and the C Map, nor Explorer Charts work. Navionics works in most places and is getting better. However there are still places where Navionics will put you aground. C Map is vector Explorer Charts. We use both Navionics on the E80 and C Map on our android tablet. The tablet C Map app was Plan to Nav, which I'm not sure is still available. There is a newer C Map app that is not as good as Plan to Nav, but does get you the C Map/Explorer Charts.