djlewis Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 Does anyone have the Garmin Bluechart software, for use with a GPS and/or standalone on a desktop. I'd be interested in hearing a bit about your experience and opinion... here or by e-mail (djlewis at triadic dot com).Thanks. --David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathyfoley Posted October 12, 2004 Share Posted October 12, 2004 David:I have the Garmin Blue Chart software and really like it. I have a Garmin Map76 GPS with only 8MB of memory and it still works fine. The program recommends 16MB. It's expensive software at $150 a copy, but you'd pay much more than that if you bought NOAA charts to cover all the area you can unlock with one code.When you first buy the software, you are given an unlock code. This allows you to "unlock" one region anywhere in the Americas. I was able to unlock Portsmouth, NH to Block Island, RI, including all of Cape Cod. To unlock other areas, you must pay for another "unlock" code to Garmin on their website. (another $69 I think) The CD has all of the the Americas and Carribean.The program also limits you to downloading the software to only two GPS units, both of which you must register as users of the program with Garmin. (In other words, this is not software you can pass around or sell to someone else once you've used it)The software allows you to plan trips/routes/waypoints (and saved them)very easily on the computer and upload the nav charts and trip information to your GPS in just a few minutes. The map detail is very good and includes all navigation aids, shaded depth contours; all that you would find on commercial navigation charts. It also includes tide predictions, marina information and phone numbers.It is also possible to print small areas of charts on a regular printer in color and create your own paper charts. The really nice feature for kayaking is you can create the scale you need (I believe a scale of 80ft is as close as you can bring it in.)Another nice feature is I can leave the saved trip file on my computer as a record of my planned trip( a float plan). I tell my roommate how to access it in the event I don't return or call in a reasonable amount of time. She can easily give that info to the USCG or other potential rescuers.I've created my own charts for two recent excursions (Gloucester Harbor and Marblehead)and found them to be very accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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