Explorer Charts for Bahamas for OpenCPN online

[bcn]

The Explorer Charts for OpenCPN are again available.
Now via o-charts.org.

The three sets are following the distribution by volumes of the three guide books from Explorer: Near Bahamas, Far Bahamas and Exumas

[cagney]

These new oeRNC Explorer charts are better than the previous published, no longer available version from Fugawi. The current charts are edited to fit right into OpenCPNs way of quilting charts seamlessly without interfering borders.
The explorer charts have all the same information that is printed on the paper charts.
When planning a route it's a good idea to look at the individual charts in single chart mode. Why? Due to quilting some text may be hidden at certain scales.
With the Fugawi charts we recommended users to primarily use the single chart mode. With oeRNC the Explorer charts should be treated like all other raster charts.
Whenever Bahamas is discussed the question of which charts to use comes up.
The general conclusion on this forum is to recommend the Explorer Charts.


The nv-charts for Bahamas are still available for OpenCPN if you are using windows. These charts are OK but not as detailed and updated as the Explorer Charts.
Some users are "enamored" with the CM93 charts. Don't even try to use them in the Bahamas, the geo-referencing, details and depth are way out in many areas.
Navionics charts are known to be inaccurate in many areas, and are not reliable. This conclusion is also supported by numerous discussions on this forum.
There are also charts available that overlays Navionics charts on sat pics. This may sort out the positions of islands etc, but not the depths.

iSailor has an app that uses their vector charts. I have used this quite a bit a few years back, when nothing much was available for OpenCPN.
Just today I compared iSailor and Explorer in a critical area - Bimini. The channel in to North Bimini keeps changing quite a lot. Explorer stays on top of the situation by issuing corrections for each edition, and in between, if necessary. iSailor sticks to old surveys, that, if strictly followed today would put you aground.

Here is Explorers latest update




The oeRNC chart is a bit dated in this area. Probably a year old.




Compare these to this screenshot that includes isailors latest update (20th of June 2019).



Thomas

[fcftampa]

How are updates, new versions, etc. handled? For example if in a couple of years Explorer issues new charts for the Abacos, will a new purchase be needed?
Sorry for the ignorant question

[bcn]

The conditions of updates are up to the editors of the charts. From whom we license. Same how often they provide updates.

When updates become available those get merged into the sets within very short term and users can download them.
We see update intervals varying from weekly, fortnightly, quarterly or yearly. Sometimes with emergency updates in between.

In general your license will have one year of updates from the date of the purchase.
Charts will stay on the system after the end of the licensing period.

Hubert

[fcftampa]

Thanks.