T&T: Navionics Bahamas Charts

[Chester Brummett]

I use a dedicated computer running Coastal Explorer as my primary ENS.  For
the Bahamas, I use the raster charts from Maptech / CYC, and found it to be
outstanding.

Three years ago, I purchased a Furuno vx2 radar, which came with chartplotter.
I ordered the Navionics option, I had read and thought that was better than
the C-map option.

Used the Bahamas Navionics charts in 2006, and was very dissapointed.  they
provided very little depth information, limited detail.  I discussed this
issue with Furuno, they stated that for the Bahamas the C-map was much better.
Furuno demonstrated the C-map on their system, I saw much more detail than the
Navionics.

 I talked with Navionics at the 2007 Miami boat show, and was told that they
were in the process of updating their charts and "they were going to be
great", but no promise on availability.

As a result, I had the Furuno system reprogrammed to use the C-map charts.
Used in the Bahamas in 2007 and 2008.  Much better detail than the Navionics
available 2 years ago, don't know if they have finally brought out their
improved maps.

In some areas, I found that the C-map vector charts on the Furuno provided
more detail than the Maptech / CYC raster charts.

I just contacted Rosepoint to ask if I would still be able to use the Maptech
/ CYC raster charts with version 2.0 of CE.  Answer:  Yes.  They are adding
the capability to read Navionics, but not removing any of the old capability.

Also, the latest promise full release of 2.0 is now the Seattle boat show, 23
January. Hope they make it!

CYC had updated the northern and southern Bahamas sets of charts in '07; they
were promising an update on central Bahamas (including Exumas) in late '08.
Don't know if they are available, plan to check before going to Bahamas in
April

Chet
Cygnet, DeFever 49
Daytona Beach, FL