Best Electronic Charts for Bahamas

[prroots]

Originally Posted by Amapola

We use Garmin charts which are integrated with Explorer charts. I wouldn't trust anything else.

Thanks. We have the Explorer charts on our Garmin 441s and we also have the Explorer chartkit for the Exumas. We're hoping to equip our PC with Explorer charts as well. That's the reason for our question in post 13 above
Pete

[AiniA]

How about a different take on this. We have gone through the Bahamas from north to south a couple of times with Navionics charts which are not wonderful but with the Explorer chartbooks (which are incredibly good). We have used the Navionics most of the time but when there are concerns with depths, for example, we use the chartbooks and the Mark I eyeballs. It is a very easy place to pilot by eye. An example of our usage was entering the lagoon on the south side of Mayaguana. You have to go in for close to an hour to get near the town dock. We used the chartbook and eyeball to get in but kept a track running on the plotter that made it easier to get out (or if the light was not good).

[Kettlewell]

I will second the notion that no matter how great the charts you must use eyeball navigation as your primary when in the shallow areas of the Bahamas. No charts are perfect, and conditions change frequently. When your keel is traveling six inches above the bottom your eyes and depthsounder are the most important tools.

[dacust]

Originally Posted by AiniA

How about a different take on this. We have gone through the Bahamas from north to south a couple of times with Navionics charts which are not wonderful but with the Explorer chartbooks (which are incredibly good). We have used the Navionics most of the time but when there are concerns with depths, for example, we use the chartbooks and the Mark I eyeballs. It is a very easy place to pilot by eye. An example of our usage was entering the lagoon on the south side of Mayaguana. You have to go in for close to an hour to get near the town dock. We used the chartbook and eyeball to get in but kept a track running on the plotter that made it easier to get out (or if the light was not good).

In my opinion, you have just given an example of the right way to navigate.

My approach:

• Use your eyes.
• Use local knowledge
• Use all the tools in your possession, but ONLY as support for your personal observations.
• Only rely completely on the GPS when following a track you made yourself and where you remember the exact conditions under which it was made. Example: Only follow a track in the fog if you made it in broad daylight and know your closest approach to danger was way over twice as far away as the current accuracy your GPS is reporting.

-dan