Navionics

[floatingdoc]

Recently Garmin stopped allowing the ability to open a chart viewer & plan routes on my computer. They only allow it on the iphone app but I find it much more user friendly doing it on my computer and having it saved to my phone. Does anyone know of a similar website that allows for this?

 

[pgandw]

Garmin is working very hard to chase away their small time customers. They have doubled chart subscription rates, and - as you noted - gotten rid of the chart planning tools from their web site (chart viewer and ability to import from said viewer).

In other words, if you don't own a Garmin plotter, you aren't important to Garmin.

I chose Navionics 2 years ago because their supplemental depth finder info (sonar overlays) filled in a lot of gaps on charts in my area. And it was only $25/year then for updated charts.

I am seriously reconsidering an alternative, given the loss of ability to plan a cruise on the computer and download it to my phone - my primary nav device in my 19ft boats. I have a sneaking suspicion Garmin will end up dropping the Boating App completely in the next few years.

Fred W
19ft Carolina Skiff
Stuart Mariner 19ft sailboat

 

[floatingdoc]

Garmin is working very hard to chase away their small time customers. They have doubled chart subscription rates, and - as you noted - gotten rid of the chart planning tools from their web site (chart viewer and ability to import from said viewer).

In other words, if you don't own a Garmin plotter, you aren't important to Garmin.

I chose Navionics 2 years ago because their supplemental depth finder info (sonar overlays) filled in a lot of gaps on charts in my area. And it was only $25/year then for updated charts.

I am seriously reconsidering an alternative, given the loss of ability to plan a cruise on the computer and download it to my phone - my primary nav device in my 19ft boats. I have a sneaking suspicion Garmin will end up dropping the Boating App completely in the next few years.

Fred W
19ft Carolina Skiff
Stuart Mariner 19ft sailboat

Have you found an alternative yet?

 

[pgandw]

It will be a fall/winter project. I renewed Navionics for 2 years at the old price, so my subscription runs through May 2025. Aqua Maps seems like the most promising - I don't want anything complex or expensive - I have a 19ft Carolina Skiff and a 19ft Stuart Mariner trailer cruiser sailboat.

Fred W

 

[southkogs]

I'm a Garmin fan, but for the products I use most ... I don't pay for them. So, there's that.

It's unfortunate that Navionics is going that direction. It was a good platform that was very reasonable. But I haven't used them for navigation in a while. I've been using the native maps in my Hummingbird when I need them (and they've been sufficient for my use).

 

[pgandw]

Using Phone Link on my Windows computer, I am able to run the Boating app on my computer, which gives me a slightly larger screen to view things in (but will not go full screen). And have the mouse instead of my finger. Better than the phone, but not nearly up to par with the chart viewers Navionics had.

Active Captain has very poor recent reviews, and is designed (but doesn't work well) to link your phone with your Garmin plotter (which I don't have).

No good answers yet.

Garmin has always refused to interface with anything but Garmin. So the handwriting is on the wall for what is left for Navionics since the take over.

Fred W