PC CHART-PLOTTERS
PC PLOTTER £244.68 FOR PROGRAM (including security dongle and Navionics card reader)
Navionics Gold chart £176.16.
arrive at a particular time. (2)
Coverage UK, N France, Belgium,
The whole route planning process 1
Holland. Optional weather forecast is very good, but to be fair we
module £50.
didn’t have a problem with routes
on any of the products. Waypoints
and routes can be saved in many
O
n start-up you need to have the dongle formats for use in other plotters and
and the chart reader plugged into the GPS sets. (3)
PC. Once everything is running, you can Another feature we really liked
unplug them. To move around the chart you on PC Plotter was the weather
TOP PERFORMER
can simply select ‘click and drag’ or ‘stretch- forecast overlay. You need to buy
PREMIUM
BUDGET BUY
PRODUCT
the-box’ with the mouse. Refresh time
BEST BUY
FIRST LOOK
was quick.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
We thought PC Plotter handled AIS
2
RECOMMENDED
better than the other products, mainly
3
because individual targets are shown
in different colours according to the
type of vessel. (1)
Alternatively, targets can appear
with red/green lights to help simplify
night time identification.
Next to each AIS target is the
vessel’s name. You merely click
to reveal the full details (a feature is automatically overlaid on the chart. Some
common to other products). forecasts – particularly those with very fine
The tide package is good, but not brilliant. the Weather software add-on, but after that detail – have to be paid for.
Tides are shown for specific points and as the forecasts themselves are free. With an
streams with arrows, but tidal curves are Internet connection available, click Weather, Summary
absent. Tides in the route planning function Download Forecast from the web. Excellent charts, intuitive software, easy
are excellent, though, so you can plan the Pick a provider (we found the Raytech to use, best AIS, but lacks a simple
time to leave for the shortest passage or to North Atlantic 3-day ideal) and the forecast GOTO feature.
ADMIRALTY LEISURE UKHO/RYA £48.88
T
his is an entry level electronic chart edge of the current chart into the next one. fixed, so boat moves across, or the boat can
system that includes Raster charts of the We found the route function quite limiting, be fixed in the centre with the chart moving
whole UK South Coast, which, like the Imray in that you can only create a route on one around it. Page up zooms in, Page down
package, is truly fantastic value considering Raster chart, so you need to select one that zooms out, or you can use the arrow keys.
the number of charts that are included in the has your planned start and finish. Tidal diamonds are shown as rectangles.
price. You don’t need a dongle to run the This is likely to mean your route cannot Click on one to open a box showing a 24-
program, but the CD has to be in the drive at continue up a creek on a detail chart, which hour tidal curve for any date. (2)
all times. you get round by creating another route for Overall, the UKHO/RYA system is easy
When you start a passage you have to the detail chart. to use, though lack of AIS and weather
find and select the chart you want first (1), We liked the way the screen can be forecasts limits functionality. That said, it’s a
though you can click Find boat and it’ll open great introduction to electronic navigation and
a chart for you. As with the Imray system, is simple to use and understand.
charts are not quilted together, so you cannot
2
Unlike the Imray package, chart corrections
click beyond the edge of a chart to open the cannot be added automatically, though you
adjacent chart unless your boat moves off the can gather data from Notices to Mariners and
add your own notes to charts as an overlay.
Routes and waypoints can be transferred
1
when you buy next year’s pack.
Summary
Good value entry level system, let down
by the lack of an AIS function. >>
ION PRO • NOBLETEC VNS MAX PRO • EURONAV SEAPRO 3000 • IMRAY
July 09 Sailing Today 51
ST147 Group
Plotters_RTG.indd 47 15/5/09 10:05:39
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