Chart plotter, gps, sonar suggestions

[killyourguitar]

The title of those two tabs is Select catalog and download charts. Under the select catalog tab I have successfully added two catalogs, one is for California. There's not much of Options under select catalog and then when I go to the download chart tab now I see the charts! What gives? I don't understand this is not been here before and I spent ample time messing with this thing! D:

[killyourguitar]

Okay evidently there's no progress bar for the download. I went ahead and selected all of the charts for the West Coast which is probably not the right thing to do.

[killyourguitar]

Ok my local chart just loaded! I'm about to run laps around my boat! D:

[rslifkin]

As long as you have the disk space, downloading extra charts won't hurt anything.

[killyourguitar]

All right now that I've downloaded the charts I went ahead and click okay on the download window and it disappeared now when I try to bring the options window back up under the tools menu nothing happens. I think I'm going to restart the program now. I am running a Toshiba Satellite with an AMD A8 processor and 4 gigs of RAM on Windows 10.

[killyourguitar]

I'm getting an error message when I tried to restart the program that said the last session failed and asked if I wanted to start it in safe mode. Then while I'm writing this the program starts! I guess I have to be more patient. I don't believe I selected a beta version, do you experience any bugs with this software?

[killyourguitar]

Okay, software seems to be running right now. I went back to the download charts window and everything looks to be marked either up-to-date or new. My local chart is loaded and I suppose now all I need to do is connect the GPS Puck and get it to talk to the program so it can point my location, am I right?

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by killyourguitar

Okay, software seems to be running right now. I went back to the download charts window and everything looks to be marked either up-to-date or new. My local chart is loaded and I suppose now all I need to do is connect the GPS Puck and get it to talk to the program so it can point my location, am I right?

Yup, that should be all it takes. Once the GPS is working, you should get a "you are here" boat icon on the chart.

[grantmc]

I'd suggest persevering with Open CPN. With a GPS antenna added to your laptop you actually will have everything needed to plot courses and make passages. The main advantage, cost wise, is that all the electronic charts (including google earth maps) are free. From what you've said this is where you're having difficulty. Once the charts are installed the app is actually really easy to use.

There's an excellent section on the forum for Open CPN queries. I'm no expert, but using a laptop version to do all your passage planning, setting way points etc then transfer the plan to a cheap tablet to use as you travel can work for some people. A serious benefit is you've created a backup if one of the units fail. Warning: not all tablets have a GPS.

An alternative is using Navionics or equivalent app on phone or tablet. This is still cheap, but you have to buy sets of electronic charts for the regions of the world you travel to. Also the subscription needs annual renewal.

A depth sounder is nice to have. But then so is radar, AIS, Epirb, multiple VHFs, In Reach, Sat Phone or SSB, liferaft, auto pilot and paper charts are also handy. You'll need to ponder the solution to getting weather information when out of cellular signal reach. And most circumnavigators would also have at least one backup of each too and that's without looking in the grab bag. Oh and let's not ignore training, practice and experience in all things nautical.

I guess I need to add too that this is a minimum quality, entry level approach. I'm sure most serious yachties, doing big blue water passages, would opt for a decent chart plotter acting as the intelligence for an integrated navigation and command system. How much does one value one's own life and the lives of those that come with us?

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by killyourguitar

As far as mapping the bottom I thought that would be a cool feature near remote Islands and shoals and so forth in case I decide to stick around there I could make my own charts. I suppose that's the way it works anyway, please correct me if I'm wrong. Like I said I'm pretty green when it comes to the electronics. And thank you!

Just curious, how far are you thinking of getting on a McGregor 25'? Catalina Island would be about as far as I'd venture and you can see that from Long Beach. Not sure you really need anything beyond the depth sounder you already have.

[Captain Anthony]

Following

[killyourguitar]

Originally Posted by joelhemington

Just curious, how far are you thinking of getting on a McGregor 25'? Catalina Island would be about as far as I'd venture and you can see that from Long Beach. Not sure you really need anything beyond the depth sounder you already have.

Oh the MacGregor 25 was one of my trailer sailers which I no longer own. I have what's supposed to be a very capable offshore vessel now. Definitely appreciate the attention. So I've moved from trying to figure out the software to trying to figure out if I can use a cell phone handset GPS to feed my laptop.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by killyourguitar

Oh the MacGregor 25 was one of my trailer sailers which I no longer own. I have what's supposed to be a very capable offshore vessel now. Definitely appreciate the attention. So I've moved from trying to figure out the software to trying to figure out if I can use a cell phone handset GPS to feed my laptop.

Depending on the phone, you can likely use an app to feed GPS data to a laptop over bluetooth. However, I'd be inclined to get a cheap USB GPS. Then load a charting app on the cell phone and it can be an independent backup for the laptop.

[killyourguitar]

Originally Posted by grantmc

I'd suggest persevering with Open CPN. With a GPS antenna added to your laptop you actually will have everything needed to plot courses and make passages. The main advantage, cost wise, is that all the electronic charts (including google earth maps) are free. From what you've said this is where you're having difficulty. Once the charts are installed the app is actually really easy to use.

There's an excellent section on the forum for Open CPN queries. I'm no expert, but using a laptop version to do all your passage planning, setting way points etc then transfer the plan to a cheap tablet to use as you travel can work for some people. A serious benefit is you've created a backup if one of the units fail. Warning: not all tablets have a GPS.

An alternative is using Navionics or equivalent app on phone or tablet. This is still cheap, but you have to buy sets of electronic charts for the regions of the world you travel to. Also the subscription needs annual renewal.

A depth sounder is nice to have. But then so is radar, AIS, Epirb, multiple VHFs, In Reach, Sat Phone or SSB, liferaft, auto pilot and paper charts are also handy. You'll need to ponder the solution to getting weather information when out of cellular signal reach. And most circumnavigators would also have at least one backup of each too and that's without looking in the grab bag. Oh and let's not ignore training, practice and experience in all things nautical.

I guess I need to add too that this is a minimum quality, entry level approach. I'm sure most serious yachties, doing big blue water passages, would opt for a decent chart plotter acting as the intelligence for an integrated navigation and command system. How much does one value one's own life and the lives of those that come with us?

I'm glad you mentioned weather, I'm wondering about the weather fax system, I believe it's still in use, I just have to learn how to receive and use the data. As far as epirbs and all that stuff I'm pretty much one leg in the grave and the other on a slipping banana peel so if I die out there at least I'll be in a place I want to be. I don't want to be cremated and I don't want to be buried on American soil. No offense, it's just my personal preference. Also, thank you very much for the great response! Very informative! I am using CPN and I think it's going to work out just fine. I'm working on trying to use some old cell phone handsets for a GPS signal. Not sure if that's a good idea but I figured I got the time to try it.

[j.g.evans]

I have a friend that may still have a Garmin 5212 chart plotter for sale. I have one and like it a lot. The 12", touch sensitive display is easy to read in daylight. It comes with charts of all of the US and Bahamas. I am not sure if he will sell it for $200 but maybe $400. A new equivalent is about $4000. Get back to me if interested.