My nightmare: Ordering digital charts for Canada

[bgallinger]

For my next trip up to the North Channel I decided it was time to get the latest in digital mapping for Lake Huron as offered by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. I just wanted a chart for Lake Huron. I wasn't asking for a security clearance. After spending $75 and 3 frustrating hours of my time, I finally looked at the charts. Never, ever again will I order a chart from the Canadian gov't.

[Mike OReilly]

I didn't even know you could buy directly from the Canadian government. I thought they licensed out the rights to sell charts to 3rd party retailers.

[bgallinger]

To order digital charts from Canada, you will need a 25 digit security code supplied by a supplier like Maptech, then go to...https://inter-j01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/registry-registre/[/URL]
Be prepared to bang your head on the wall frequently.

[DanCan]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

To order digital charts from Canada, you will need a 25 digit security code supplied by a supplier like Maptech, then go to...https://inter-j01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/registry-registre/[/URL]
Be prepared to bang your head on the wall frequently.

Is this because you aren’t canadian?? It makes no sense! It I’m not surprised, our government loves control.....

[Kalinka1]

Did you order them right from the Gov? Chart dealers would have been the easiest I think Just need a credit card. If digital navionics are I believe the Official charts just rebranded.

[Scaramanga F25]

Great, now you have your charts but they will not let you in for this season. Sad state of affairs. I hope the USA lets us in come October.

[paralog]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

For my next trip up to the North Channel I decided it was time to get the latest in digital mapping for Lake Huron as offered by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. I just wanted a chart for Lake Huron. I wasn't asking for a security clearance. After spending $75 and 3 frustrating hours of my time, I finally looked at the charts. Never, ever again will I order a chart from the Canadian gov't.

I did the same thing, gave up a futile time trying to get a number. You can find the charts else where cheaper anyway.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

To order digital charts from Canada, you will need a 25 digit security code supplied by a supplier like Maptech, then go to...https://inter-j01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/registry-registre/[/URL]
Be prepared to bang your head on the wall frequently.

Well how about that. You taught me something ... and ensured I'll never try that .

I've just bought my digital charts from various vendors: Garmin, Navionics, etc. Easy, and pretty cheap.

[roland stockham]

I appreciate and share your frustration when I immigrated to Canada I was used to high quality paper maps being easily available through the UK hydrographic survey or ordinance survey. I found the reason for the difference is simply scale. Canada is a huge area and most of it has a very low population so the volume of requests for any particular map or chart is likewise very low. To cope with this the government surveys went to 'print on demand' very early. Government agency's don't stock maps or charts they manage data bases. From those map dealers print charts when they are ordered. If you want a chart of Puget Sound they local dealers will likely have printed a stock but not for anywhere else. So you have 2 options, order charts from a map distribute and they will print and correct the chart up to the date they send it out. Simple process just ring the chart agent with a list of chart numbers and pay by CC. It is EXPENSIVE. Alternatively use chart cartridges on a plotter, all the major ones do area charts that are more or less simple to get and install and have identical information supplied to them. Much cheaper. Depending on how many maps and charts you use there is a third option. Because I like to have printed maps and don't like paying $20+ for each on I bought a medium format printer that does up to 13"x19". I print charts from digital copies on water resistant paper. Works well and much cheaper, also means I can tailor the area I want but would not be practical on board unless you have a very large boat! If in the USA it means you get printed charts for the price of the paper and ink, wish we did!!

[snippet]

Try Binnacle.com. Binnacle is a CHS and NOAA agent and prints charts on waterproof or water resistant paper. Their chart offerings include electronic charting for Cmap, Garmin and Navionics. I see both CHS and NOAA Great Lakes charts for sale on the website.

Binnacle is based in Halifax and sells a wide array of marine products online. I recently bought charts for the Bay of Fundy and the eastern coast of NS. Too bad I (probably) can’t do that cruise this summer.

[bgallinger]

Originally Posted by DanCan

Is this because you aren’t canadian?? It makes no sense! It I’m not surprised, our government loves control.....

I am a Canadian citizen, but a happy US resident. The Canadian gov't. could simplify the process, but that will never happen.

[Svan]

It is absurd compared to NOAA’s policy the approach of the Canadian Hydrographic service. I don’t run OpenCPN because of the absurd chart situation.

I second the suggestion of Navionics. The iPad app, on a cellular iPad and without using cell data, is excellent.