NavSim Charting Program and C-MAP

[HorizonMarine]

We are currently in Mexico and are getting ready to add a computer charting program. We are heading to Panama, Caribbean (maybe, maybe not) for a year, then South Pacific. We think we will use C-Map charts which have good coverage there. Looking for charting program, hopefully less than about $600 or so. I like the Navsim Sail Cruiser program. Anybody using that out there? It WIL do the AIS but.... It does NOT do GRIB overlays. Would that be a dealbreaker to you? or just view the GRIB files some other way? They have a free download which I will try in a couple of weeks when I am back on board. Any real world comments? I am not locked into anything, so feel free to suggest other ideas.

[jaak ennuste]

We use SailCruiser PRO on our Grand Soleil 42R. I tried many, Noeltec, Maxsea, Furuno etc. I found NavSim SailCruiser + C-Map Max as most ergonomic and usable in use. Very easy zooming, panning, route planning. I linked it to our B&G H2000 and see actual wind data on-screen, makes a lot easier to plan next leg sails.

[HorizonMarine]

I ended up purchasing this little known charting program for less than $300 that has been very stable and does what the big $$ programs do, but without all that cost. I have a USB gps hooked into it (<$50) and will hook in my AIS this fall. I have seen the AIS in use on another unit and it works well. The program uses CMap and can also use ENC, Map Tech, BSB, Chart Kit, NOS etc.
Check it out at www.Globenav.com
Has all the hookups available like radar, video, autopilot, instruments etc. Only thing missing is GRIB files. I think the $1200 programs are a little cooler, a littel fancier, but I liked the price and it does what I need. I'll spend the money saved on a nice Kyocera 135 solar panel and controller!

[rdempsey]

DigiBOAT
A$60
I've been using this, seems to have everything for a very low price, and they have a free trial.
(just a happy customer, not affiliated in any way)

From their website:

• Real-time tracking of ship's position and velocity directly on the chart
• Easy chart panning, zooming and level changing
• Designed for Touch-Screen use (additional functionality for mouse users)
• Compatible with all NMEA navigation instruments (directly with 0183 instruments, via Actisense converter for NMEA2000 instruments)
• Most number of NMEA sentences, AIS message types and DSC messages and GRIB Data-types decoded of any Navigation Software
• Print the displayed chart to any Windows™ printing device
• User selectable Data Folders location
• Simple "Drag-and-Drop" support for most of SOB's file types
• Super-size mode for clear viewing from a distance (ship's symbol, PastTracks, targets etc)
• Grey/Red/Black Night mode settings + 10 settings for chart shading
• Keep Ship's Target auto-centred on display (don't allow Ship's Target to "sail" off the display)
• Two-clicks to manually re-position the Ship's Target
• Dozens of Keyboard Shortcuts
• Zoom to a Window (create a sizeable "zoom-window" with a middle-mouse button drag)
• Look-ahead lines for either, both or none of, ship's heading* and course-over-ground
• Drawn to-scale ship's symbol
• Flexible Lat/Lng input (use DD.ddd, or DD°MM.mm or DD°MM'SS">
• GPS Satellite acquisition display
• Synchronise internal PC clock to GPS time
• Alarms for many conditions

[jaak ennuste]

Many programs are meant for motorboats mainly. They calculate wrong time to destination, not taking account added distance of tacking. SailCruiser is affordable program wiht polar data and tack calculations.

Jaak

[RikHall]

We use FUGAWI ENC - does AIS, does GRIB overlays - all for less than $300.00

(I am not in any way associated with the company - just a satisfied user)

Rik

[Ugly Dawg]

Jaak,

I'm new to the cruisersforum and really appreciate the information about Sailcruiser. Your blog is very informative as well. Keep up the good work.

Ugly dawg

[jaak ennuste]

Originally Posted by Ugly Dawg

Jaak,

I'm new to the cruisersforum and really appreciate the information about Sailcruiser. Your blog is very informative as well. Keep up the good work.

Ugly dawg

Thanks for Your compliments. SailCruiser is one of the best price/performance sailing softwares and very user friendly with common windows interface, unlike many high end products.

Jaak

[Dixon Biff]

But CE's included Guide Book data, access to TerraServer photo maps and its new abilities to display Panoramio photos and CE user community POI info (photos included) make Maptech data somewhat less important. Which may be a good thing, in a way, as the relationship between CE's creator.