(PREMIUM
PRODUCT)
GROUP TEST
TOP PERFORMER
PREMIUM
BUDGET BUY
EURONAV SEAPRO 3000 SYSTEM £342.50
PRODUCT
BEST BUY
FIRST LOOK
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
UK LIVECHART £97.82 OR £146.76
RECOMMENDED
1
Route planning in seaPro is
FOR MULTI-PACK OF UK AND FRANCE. excellent with a table appearing
when you click plan that takes
into account tides and shows
Initially, we didn’t get on too well with the passage times based on a range
seaPro, finding the LiveChart cartography of departure times. The chart
cluttered and awkward to use. We also felt also shows the expected ground
distracted by the flashing light feature on all track, so for a cross-Channel trip
the marks. (1) it curves away one way then the
Then Chris Pontet, the Product Manager other as the effect of the tide is
from Euronav, came to our rescue and felt. It also calculates and displays
explained its features. We were shown how the CTS for each leg. However,
to reduce clutter, which is not (as you might seaPro needs to have the dongle
imagine) achieved by deselecting groups of plugged in whenever the plotter is
items on the charts, but rather by limiting the
number of cells, or sub-charts, that can be
displayed at one time. (2) & (3)
2 3
He also showed us how to disable the
annoying (to us) flashing lights. Apparently
many seaPro users love the sequenced lights.
We didn’t – particularly not in a congested
area like the Solent.
Euronav also owns Livechart, makers
of vector charts, so naturally this is their
preferred cartography. However, the seaPro
program can also be used with Navionics
Gold, Platinum and Platinum+ (when
connected via a dedicated card reader, the
same as with PC Plotter), along with ARCS running, which some may find inconvenient. be downloaded and overlaid. The Euronav
and Maptech raster charts. The factory default brings up a box of data for website lists sources of data available online,
every AIS target, which so you simply pick your supplier, download
soon clutters the screen. the file and save it. Open the file from a drop-
CONTACTS These can be switched down menu in seaPro. Chart updates can
UKHO/RYA 01823 337900
www.ukho.gov.uk off (settings-display- be downloaded, but most people prefer to
Imray 01480 462114
www.imray.com
clear all), leaving just receive a CD. It’s half the cost of a new chart.
the arrowhead, which
Maptech 0870 744 6414
www.maptech-marine.co.uk
is much better. If you Summary
Nobeltec 01329 822140
www.nobeltec.com want to know about the Ticking a lot of boxes for most
PC Plotter (Future
target simply click over it people, seaPro also allows a choice of
023 8028 4369
www.pcplotter.com
Data International) to open the data box. cartography supplier. Customer Support
seaPro (Euronav) 02392 373855
www.euronav.co.uk
Weather data can appears to be excellent.
Raster/ Chart source Ease of Dongle Tidal Tidal flow Tidal Tide MOB icon Weather Chart updates Range AIS receiver AIS transponder ARPA/ Digital radar Click and Output to
Vector (as tested) installation required diamonds arrows curves calculations forecast rings compatible compatible MARPA input drag to autopilot
in routes overlay input move chart
UKHO/RYA Raster UKHO ★★★★★ No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No None. Buy new annually No No With transponder No No Yes No
manufacturer’s software
Imray Raster Imray ★★★★★ No Yes Optional Optional Manually Yes No Online free Yes Yes With transponder Yes No Yes No
for Primary manufacturer’s software
Maptech Chartnav Pro Raster UKHO ★★★★★ No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes £95 annual replacement Yes Yes With transponder No No Yes Yes
or write your own overlay manufacturer’s software
notes
Nobeltec VNS Vector C-Map MAX ★★★★★ Yes Yes Yes*** Yes Yes*** Yes Yes 1 year free online Yes Yes Yes – in Nobeltec s/w Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pro corrections
I
M
R
PC Plotter Vector Navionics Gold ★★★★★ Only at start Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 50% £ of chart No Yes Yes – in PCP s/w No No Yes Yes
A
YseaPr
•
o 3000 Vector Livechart* ★★★★★ Yes No Yes Some** Yes Yes Yes 50% £ of chart 1 Yes With transponder Yes From Koden No Yes
P
C
manufacturer’s software radar PC
P
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O
T
T
E
R
•
A
D
M
IR
A
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• MAP
TECH CHART NAVIGATION
54 Sailing Today July 09
ST147 Group
Plotters_RTG.indd 50 15/5/09 10:06:32
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