What charts???

[skoobi]

Hi I know this has been a point of discussion and more down to preferance but im just wondering what chart software is best for planning day trips and crossings and so on... Ive seen this one but dont want to shell out £50 if its not going to be the right ones...
http://shop.memory-map.co.uk/acatalog/info_UK_Ireland_Marine_Chart_Folio.html

Cheers
Chris

[ls]

Hi Chris,

I've used the previous version for a few years (think the only difference is it's now under the Memory Map brand, with updated data), as far as I've made out they are the cheepest and best - most of the other chart packages are for use as moving map display's, and have limitted ability to print them - these charts can be printed and / or viewed on screen.

Personaly I generally use OS Maps, and take relevent info from the charts / pilots and write it onto the maps by hand. (I think thats a Scottish prefference, with folks in the elsewhere tending to use Charts to navigate on the water more frequently)

[Dave28]

I use memory-Map charts, and have a large chunk of 1:25000 OS on memory map as well.

Means I can set pointers on the charts to show up on the O/s map - useful for printing out large scale maps showing buoys etc for night nav exercises.

[Jim]

Hi Chris,

I've used the previous version for a few years (think the only difference is it's now under the Memory Map brand, with updated data),

I think the main difference is that you can now get the whole of the UK for £50 instead of paying something like £120 for just say, NW Scotland. The old maptech version charts could be opened in memory map once you had the encryption stuff set up properly - my biggest bug bear with the old product ( even more than the cost) was the fact that if I changed my computer hardware (add or swap a hard disk for example) I had to email for a new code to unlock the charts each time (I used to keep up to date with the latest hardware, don't bother now).

I must get around to ordering it, does anyone know do you get the whole range of admiralty charts at all scales or just a selection covering the whole coast at selected scales?

I think the change in heart from UKHO is that for commercial shipping etc. there is a major move towards vector charts (like a Cad drawing that re-sizes the lines as you zoom in and can add layers of detail depending on zoom) whereas these are raster charts, effectively scans of paper charts so just get bigger or smaller as you zoom (although with the right settings in MM it will switch to a different scale chart if one is available).

It may also be worth bearing in mind that if yoiu have a Garmin GPS Mapping device the Garmin Bluechart product may be a better option because you can transfer the charts to your device, but otherwise I would go for MM, or maybe as well!

[skoobi]

Thanks for your replies... Ye im more used to Os maps but wanted somthing on the computer. Was going onto bing maps and choosing the osmaps there then printing it off but if im doing open crossings and so on id rather have the right tools for the job...
I think it will be a case of memory map... Cheers for all your advice....