Raymarine Axiom charts for Mexico (Baja)

[Tenedos]

Preparing for a potential Mexico cruise along the Pacific coast in December, I started looking for charts for my Raymarine Axiom MFD. I currently use Navionics charts for the US. Looking at Navionics's website, I see "Mexico-Central America" is what I need but they charge $299 for a year, which is almost as expensive as the chartplotter itself!

Am I doing something obviously wrong here? Do I have any alternatives (other than using iSailor on my phone or tablet, for which the charts seem to cost only a $10 or so)? I would hate to not use my chartplotter but this feels like a rip off.

[Tenedos]

Found a much a more reasonable chart (Hawaii, California South To Baja - Microsd/Sd) for half the price

[pdxsailordiver]

What did you find??

[Tenedos]

Originally Posted by pdxsailordiver

What did you find??

Just a different Navionics chart that covers California, Western side of Mexico, Baja, Sea of Cortez and Hawaii. That is the region I am sailing in so it is perfect.

Previous one I found covers a broader area that includes Central America.

Good thing is this is almost half the price at Amazon with my additional 5% discount. Still not cheap but I can appreciate this price point. Previous one felt a little outrageous.

[Bamboo1]

Hi,
We are from the UK and have a boat in Mazatlan in the Baja and love it in Mexico. We use C-maps on a B&G chart plotter.
Can I suggest Charlies Charts old fashioned I know, but really good.
Please also note that the electronic charts can be up to a mile and a half out as the waters were charted back in the 18 hundreds.
We have sailed down to Banderas Bay and taken an island to starboard and the chart plotter shows us on the port side of the Island. We had a yacht master with us and he couldn't believe it.
Our old Raymarine outfit has us on land as we come into Mazatlan in the channel.
Please be careful and have someone on watch all the time.
Best regards,
John.

[PNWSalmon]

A good friend of ours that has sailed extensively in Mexico in the past few years as highly recommended the Blue Latitude Press charts. They are available on charts.raymarine.com

He showed me the sample of the charts and their high level of accuracy in places where Navionics was completely wrong. I'm planning on using these myself.

[alansmith]

There isn’t a better book than “Sea of Cortez, A Cruiser’s Guidebook” by Scoot Breeding and Heather Bansmeer. Published in 2009. I also have Charlie’s Charts, and they are also beyond cool. But Scott and Heather have nailed with tons of information that wasn’t available back in 1983 when Charles Ward wrote his excellent book. I recommend both.

My boat is in San Carlos trailered and stored in the yard.

Be aware!!! Many sailor’s get caught in the Baja Vortex and once they enter the SOC never leave. You have been warned.

[Tenedos]

Originally Posted by PNWSalmon

A good friend of ours that has sailed extensively in Mexico in the past few years as highly recommended the Blue Latitude Press charts. They are available on charts.raymarine.com

Thank you so much. Sadly, these charts appear to be for Lighthouse II only. This is the older Operating System from Raymarine. The newer MFDs, including mine, are using Lighthouse III, which is incompatible with those :-(

That being said, Latitude Press seems to be selling a Pacific Mexico Book and charts for iNavX, which is one my backup navigation solutions. I will certainly buy both to cross-reference. Once again, thank you for the pointer!

[Cpt Mark]

Originally Posted by Tenedos

Found a much a more reasonable chart (Hawaii, California South To Baja - Microsd/Sd) for half the price

can you provide a link to the product you chose? Are you buying the card or is this some bs subscription thing?

[Tenedos]

Originally Posted by Cpt Mark

can you provide a link to the product you chose? Are you buying the card or is this some bs subscription thing?

This is the cheapest:

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Navionics-Platinum-Plus-Hawaii-California-South-T-p/navmsd-644p-.htm

It is a card but I believe you can only receive updates for a year, then whatever update you have stays.