plaicemat Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 I see from this month's BFM that Lowrance are producing charts, that are compatible with all their products, called NauticPath. The UK one covers from the Netherlands to Portugal, including ALL of the UK for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Terry, If you do a search on Google for NauticPath (UK only) you will find shops selling it. This gives you details of the coverage. http://www.outboard-engines.co.uk/download/np.pdf and these guys are selling it: http://www.seamarknunn.co.uk/catalog/items/item16939.htm Haven't see it myself yet, so cannot comment on the quality. The Lowrance web site details the models that are compatible so I'm not sure all models can use this software. You'd need to check your model. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_reg_Fisherman Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Hi I use the lowrance gold charts I think they are very informative and clear. but expensive. I think I paid about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted February 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Thanx. Bob. I've now checked further and find they are compatible with my 3500C and are available from these two sources. www.redcar-fish.co.uk/ at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 Let us know what you think when you see the charts Terry. I like Navionics Gold, which is one of the reasons I chose Lowrance/Eagle. The detail and colour shading of the detpth contours is important for me. Will also be interested in the detail of the tidal information, including tidal flow. And how quick do the pages redraw (but that's more a function of the processor in the plotter). Good luck BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 I have (or will have when Redcar and their shipping agents get their act together) both the Navionics Gold and Lorance charts and will post some screen shots for comparison in due course. The Lowance Nautipath range are based on Transas cartography which differes from the Navionics (unlike Garmin's Gcharts which were the same for example) but it's going to be as much about how the unit displays the info as anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reg Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Have been in touch with jgtech and they say that the new charts are only half as good as the gold. Its the old addage you only get what you pay for. Reg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 No surprises there then. I like the Navionics gold and as Duncan says the better your plotter the better the definition is. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted February 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 I have to say, though, that for those of us who make occassional forays to other parts of the country, in my case Norfolk and Suffolk (& Burnham), The Lowrance is a cheaper alternative. As a second option, it has to be better than spending another Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Yes, they could be useful for that, Terry. My Navionic XL3 chart covers Burnham, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 If anyone wants to see examples of the Lowrance mapping, go to www.lowrance.com/Mapping/NauticPath/default.asp (sorry, I don't know how to do links), they can be expanded. To me, being used to Navionics, they look rather confusing and 'graphic'. Bob, I only got the small chart of Poole area with my 3500c but have now decided to go for the larger Navionics Gold, two of which cover the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted February 26, 2006 Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 have now spent some time comparing the 2 charts on the one plotter.................. 1. No discernable difference on detail overall but the odd thing like Nothney Marina Pontoons missing from the Nautipath 2. Nauti path has a lovely 'recomended route' in some of those 'hazadous' areas (around the Channel Islands and North Brittany etc) which looks excellent. 3. Navionics has more land based info like 'landing stage' in words on it. 4. Nautipath seems to use colour better showing the drying areas pretty much as a chart whilst my Navionics shows clear contour lines but no shading below HW mark. This means that the Nautiparth gives a better picture to my mind. 5. Navionics handles buoyage better overall - Nautipath needs to be at the right scale for it to all look balanced; but then it's really good. 6. Tidal heights (Nautipath) and flows (both) need testing in action but look useful. Will check them both on the B&W (15MT) next time I have a moment on the boat but initial reaction is that the Navionics will be run in the BW unit and the Nautipath in the colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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