A common question we receive is: Do I need a chartplotter, or can I use my laptop as a chartplotter instead somehow? Does my old Garmin/Megallan handheld have any value?
There is no easy answer, but let's break electronic charting into 4 methods:
| 1 | Stand-alone dedicated chartplotters or multi-functional displays (such as a Raymarine A, C or E series, Navman/Northstar, Standard Horizon, Garmin 420, etc) in conjunction with electronic charts (C-MAP, Navionics Gold, Garmin G2 Vision, etc) PROS: Dependable, easy to use, can be mounted in cockpit, great value. Displays huge amounts of data such as cross-track error and direct routing, and most can be set up to display fish-finding, depth, radar, tides, AIS info and much more. Good charting functionality though basic. CONS: Requires a specific format of chart - choose wisely. Difficult to find repairs/service on remote islands! | ||||
| 2 |
| Ship's computer or laptop with GPS USB antenna (or perhaps your old handheld), navigation software and electronic charts. PROS: Huge choice of chart formats, including digitally-scanned images and GRiB files. Laptop can be used for various other tasks (movies, music, e-mail, weather info, office-work). Laptops can be serviced cheaply around the world. US charts (and other areas excluding Canada) can often be downloaded for free or shared. Usually very good charting functionality. Look for models with a 'night view/dark screen' setting to save your eyes on the night watch. CONS: Laptops cannot be mounted outside (waterproof monitors and pointers are available but functionality is lackluster). Laptops crash, get viruses, fall, break and are vulnerable to lightning and surges. Better suited for computer-saavy boaters. Requires many components - can end up being the most expensive option depending on the software and charts purchased. Luckily, your old handheld GPS might be compatible to use as the antenna. | |||
| 3 | Handheld GPS with compatible charts. PROS: Simple, dependable, portable and easy. Waterproof. Inexpensive. Same GPS unit can be used for navigation on shore for other activities. Great as a back-up for emergencies. CONS: Small display so not recommended for serious or overnight navigation. Usually requires batteries. Requires charts of specific format. Charting functionality is severely limited. | ||||
| 4 |
| Smartphone or iPhone with compatible charts PROS: Simple, easy to use, portable and can be incredibly cheap (US charts are free from NOAA. Canadian charts are not free!). Charting functionality is basic but decent. Can be used for multimedia and often weather info. CONS: Don't drop your phone overboard or get it wet! Small display - not recommended for serious navigation or overnight voyages. Does not display amount of info that chartplotters can give you, though other 'apps' may exist. |
Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10, Windows 8.1. See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Marine Navigation - Canada - Marine / Nautical Charts - derived from CHS data. How to transition from traditional NOAA paper nautical charts to ENC-based products, including paper NOAA Custom Charts. End of Traditional Paper Charts - In November 2019, NOAA initiated a five-year process to end all raster nautical chart production, including the five traditional paper chart products described on this webpage and within the expandable blue bars below. Hot 100; Billboard 200; Billboard Global 200; Billboard Global Excl. US; Artist 100; All Weekly Charts; YEAR-END. Year-End Hot 100 Songs; Year-End Billboard 200 Albums; 2020 Year. FME enables you convert BSB nautical charts for use in nearly any application while preserving data integrity. Constructing conversion workflows is easy using FME’s pre-built tools and graphical interface, which help you get started fast. Workflows are built once and then run automatically.
Chartplotters (Option 1) are the best option, no doubt about it. It seems expensive but it really is an incredibly smart investment. You will never look back, especially if you are not particularily technologically saavy. If you are headed off-shore or navigating overnight, a chartplotter is a must-have. Sure, boaters have navigated around the world using paper charts for centuries.. but then again, mutinies weren't all that uncommon either.
Laptops and computers (Option 2) are becoming commonplace even on small boats and it is possible to turn them into powerful charting machines. It is especially useful for offshore long-distance sailing - using the laptop as a primary means of navigation with integrated e-mail, weather data. You can turn your laptop into a state-of-the-art communications/navigation/weather/multimedia machine! It's much cozy to plan voyages on a laptop in the cabin, rather than on the chartplotter in the cockpit. However, when navigating channels and harbours, this option is impractical unless you can bring the laptop outside.
Handheld GPS receivers (Option 3) are excellent... as a back-up! For dinghies and fishing boats, this type of system is often all you need. For bigger boats, handheld GPS receivers should be combined with paper charts and plotting tools at the nav station. Any overnight navigation is not recommended if this is your primary form of navigation unless you are confident with paper charts. All offshore sailors should carry at least 1 handheld GPS receiver in their ditch bag. Many sailors keep one in the stove during storms, just in case of lightning strikes (the stove might prevent the GPS from being damaged).
Smartphones or iPhones (Option 4) are exciting possibilities but should be treated just like Option 3 above.
The bottom line:
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Some Recommended Products:
| GPS Chartplotter | See GPS Chartplotters page. |
| Electronic Charts: Card/Chip Format |
For more information, see products at top of this page! |
| Electronic Charts: CD-ROM Format |
For more information, see products at top of this page! |
| Charting Software |
For more information, see products at top of this page! |
| GPS-USB Antenna |
For more information, see products at top of this page! |
| GPS Handhelds | See GPS Handheld page. |
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online, free nautical charts and publications
open data/open access - libre accès
Cartes marines gratuites et ouvrages nautiques en ligne
List by country A to G |
DO NOT TRAVEL | NE VOYAGEZ PAS |
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About Nautical Free
Nautical Free provides a list of free nautical charts and online publications.There is a list by country from letter A to letter V, for each country the organizations and for each organization a list of free online documents (charts, nautical books, notice to mariners...). There is two special lists: one for the international organizations and one for the private companies. There is also a reverse list by type of documents: sailing directions, radio signals, tide tables, nautical charts... You can also find on Nautical Free wave forecast maps for tomorrow, space weather forecast for GPS, how to check your computer clock, as well as information about celestial navigation or about ice navigation...
Au sujet de Nautical Free
Nautical Free fournit une liste de cartes marines gratuites et d'ouvrages nautiques en ligne.Il y a une liste par pays de la lettre A à la lettre V, pour chaque pays les organisations et pour chaque organisation une liste de documents libres en ligne (cartes marines, ouvrages nautiques, avis aux navigateurs...). Il existe deux listes spéciales : une pour les organisations internationales et une pour les sociétés privées. Il existe également une liste inverse par type de documents : instructions nautiques, ouvrages de radiosignaux, tables des marées, cartes marines... Vous trouverez également sur Nautical Free des cartes de prévision de la hauteur des vagues pour demain, des prévisions de la météo de l'espace pour les GPS, comment vérifier l'heure de son ordinateur, ainsi que des informations sur la navigation astronomique ou la navigation dans les glaces...
Advice / Conseils
For navigation use only updated regulatory documents /
Pour la navigation n'utiliser que des documents réglementaires à jour.
GPS is more accurate than nautical charts /
Un GPS est plus précis qu'un carte marine.
Web Servers / Serveurs Web
You can use the nearest or faster server / Vous pouvez utiliser le serveur le plus proche ou le plus rapide :
Caption / Légende
- The nautical books are in standard fonts / Les ouvrages sont en caractères droits
- In Italic the maps and the charts / Les cartes sont en italiques
- The last item for an organization is the Notices to Mariners. The first issue of each year is often a special publication /
La dernier item pour un service hydrographique est un lien vers les avis au navigateurs. Le premier numéro de chaque année est souvent un numéro spécial
Noaa Bsb Charts Download
Definitions / Définitions- Raster Navigational Charts (RNC)
- Bitmap electronic images of paper charts that conform to IHO standard S-61 /
Carte marine matricielle, fac-similé numérique d'une carte papier (scan) conforme à la norme de l'OHI S-61 - Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)l
- Vector charts that conform to IHO standard S-57 /
Carte électronique de navigation, carte vectorielle conforme à la norme de l'OHI S-57
⇑ | Country : A - B - C - D - E - F - G - I - J - K - L - M - N - P - R - S - T - U - V - INT - COM : Pays Document : Sailing Directions - Lights - Radio Signals - Tide Tables - Charts - Other : Document | ⇓ |
- I - List by Countries and Organizations / Liste par pays et organismes
- II - List by Type of Document / Liste par type de document
I - List by Countries and Organizations / Liste par pays et organismes
- Australia / Australie
- Belgium / Belgique
- Brazil / Brésil
- Canada / Canada
- Chile / Chili
- China / Chine
- China - Hong Kong / Chine - Hong Kong
- Colombia / Colombie
- Croatia / Croatie
- Denmark / Danemark
- Finland / Finlande
- France / France
- Germany / Allemagne
- Greece / Grèce
- Iceland / Islande
- Japan / Japon
- Republic of Korea / République de Corée
- Latvia / Lettonie
- Montenegro / Monténégro
- Netherlands / Pays-Bas
- Hydrographic Service / Dienst der Hydrografie
- New Zealand / Nouvelle-Zélande
- Norway / Norvège
- Russian Federation / Fédération de Russie
- Spain / Espagne
- United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni
- United States of America / États-Unis d'Amérique
- Venezuela / Vénézuéla
- International organizations / Organisations internationales
- Private companies / Sociétés privées
- Aqua Map: Online charts
- FlyToMap: Online Charts
- Imray: Corrections to Charts and Books
- Inmarsat: Maritime Satellite Handbooks
- Iridium: Maritime Satellite Ressources
- Navionics: Online Charts
- NV. Verlag: Online charts
- OpenSeaMap: The free nautical chart
- Portmaps: Online charts
Bsb Charts
- Main Nautical Publications / Ouvrages nautiques principaux
- Tide tables / Annuaire des marées
- Nautical charts / Cartes marines
- Various Nautical Documents / Documents nautiques divers
III - Miscellaneous Maritime Informations / Informations maritimes diverses
- OpenCPN: Software for Marine Navigation
- OpenSeaMap: The free nautical chart
- Inland Waters Resources: Free Charts of Inland Rivers
- The Nautical Almanac: Free celestial navigation information
- Port websites : list of port websites classified by country
- Marine Traffic: Worldwide AIS Map
- Fédération Nationale des Associations de Pensionnés de la Marine Marchande (FNPMM): associations of pensioners
- RNT Fondation: Prevent impact of space weather or cyber-attack on GNSS
- DeckOfficer.ru: информации которая пригодится Вам в учебе, а также при трудоустройстве...
- Admiralty EasyTide: Worldwide Tidal Predictions in English
- Calcul de la marée: Worldwide Tidal Predictions in French
- Met Mar : Revue de météorologie maritime de Météo-France
- Severe Weather Information Centre: Centralized Web Site for Severe Weather around the World
- MARC: Coastal observations and forecasts for the coastlines of France & Overseas (Formerly PREVIMer)
- Ice Logistics Portal: Sea ice information
- METAREA: Worldwide Weather Forecasts
- NAVAREA: Worldwide Navigational Warnings
- Search and Rescue Contacts: Find rescue coordination centres worldwide
- Medical Guides for Ships: for non-doctors
List by country A to G |
⇑ | Country : A - B - C - D - E - F - G - I - J - K - L - M - N - P - R - S - T - U - V - INT - COM : Pays Document : Sailing Directions - Lights - Radio Signals - Tide Tables - Charts - Other : Document | ⇓ |