Navigation software is rapidly moving into the mainstream, both on racing and cruising yachts. Once the expensive preserve of the professionals, it is becoming more and more affordable - not least because laptops and even permanently installed onboard computers are becoming ever less expensive.
With most marinas these days equipped with wi-fi networks, the attraction of being able to surf the Internet for the latest weather forecasts, keep in touch with home or work by e-mail, or simply use it for amusement when the weather is bad, is encouraging more and more of us to take the laptop cruising.
And if it's on board anyway, why not make the most of it to help with navigation?
A laptop and charting software can actually work out cheaper than a high end chart-plotter. And the laptop is much more versatile, and has a life outside the boat.
The downside is that you have to find a way of securing it in place in the navstation and protecting it from the elements. The dedicated chartplotter is of course more robust, permanently installed, and waterproof. But for the budget conscious, the laptop solution has a lot to recommend it. But how do you decide which software to use?
The MainSail has compared three solutions. The Admiralty's Electronic Chart Plotter, Imray's Digital Charts, and Raymarine's top of the range Raytech RNS software.
The Admiralty chart packs, covering 12 areas of the British coastline (so far excluding most of Scotland) offer the best value for money - not least because currently they are available free to those who have spent £50 on other Admiralty leisure products this season. Otherwise each chart pack costs just under £50.
Imray offers a similar service, with chart packs of the main cruising grounds - Southern North Sea, Eastern Channel, Central Channel, Western Channel, Solent and Brittany, including basic navigation tools, for £55 each.
Raytech RNS is an altogether more sophisticated (and expensive!) product, designed to allow the serious navigator to make full use of all the features available via Raymarine networked electronics - radar, plotters, instruments etc..
Whereas the first two simply take information from the boat's GPS, to show where the vessel is on the chart and where it is heading, Raymarine interfaces with all the instrumentation to provide all kinds of extra information, including polar diagrams of ideal boat performance in different conditions. It will even gather weather information.
It's an incredibly useful and versatile package of software, but one it will take time and effort to make the most of. And at £400 plus it doesn't come cheap. But for the serious navigator, whether on the race course, or cruising, it has an immense amount to offer in return.
For more information visit www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk, www.imray.com, www.raymarine.com
Watch out for detailed reviews of all three products coming up on TheMainSail.
Do you use chart plotting software on your boat? Tell us what you use, what you like about it and what you don't! Share your experiences, and help fellow sailors to choose what's best for them.
