I liked the title of this article, therefore I posted it... Nothing really new in this story on electronic charts, GPS and fish however. I'm not fishing myself, but doesn't all of this technology take a little bit of the fun out of fishing?
"Drawing upon highly accurate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration source data, depth chips with hydrographic contours make for safe navigation as well as precise trolling. Imagine an on-screen map instead of a paper chart, with your boat�s whereabouts shown in relation to what�s underwater as well as its position on the planet. That makes it possible to take evasive maneuvers around a rock pile and to keep the boat as well as your lines exactly where you want them."
A three meter accurate GPS for $100. Great news for when GPS is a nice-to-have.
"It has a tough rubber armor shell that is impact resistant and waterproof, it also saves up to 500 waypoints, 20 routes and three track-log files with up to 2,000 points each. It weighs less than four ounces and measures 4.6 x 2.1 x 1.3 inches, it uses a 2.3-inch diagnol, four shade grayscale LCD with zoom capabilities and amber backlighting. Magellan TrueFix technology incorporates 14-parallel-channel, WAAS/EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver providing accurate satellite signal acquisition and tracking for precise position fixes within three meters."
C-MAP is introducing a new weather service as well. Last week I wrote about the two services from XM WX (WxWorx) Satellite Weather and The Weather Channel Marine (TWCM).
"C-Forecast can overlay weather info right onto a plotter screen, only instead of the broadband and expense of dedicated satellite, this service works on compact data bundles that you download via cellphone. Most current plotters from Sitex, Interphase, and Standard Horizon are already programmed to display C-Forecast."
A while ago I wrote about Rose Point's Coastal Explorer, recommended to me by a reader who was beta-testing it. Brad Christian from Rosepoint Navigation Systems sent me an email yesterday and asked me to let you all know that their product is finally available. It comes wit a number of, their words..., unique features amongst which the fact that it uses documents rather than a database to keep track of navigation objects such as routes and waypoints. This means users can organize things however they like, keeping everything in one document (like a big database), or keeping each of their trips in a separate document for example. So, if you're looking for an alternative to Raythech, The Capn or Nobeltech, make sure to have a look at their renewed website.
"With a $300 suggested retail price and the ability to use free NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (NOAA ENC�), the cost of using Coastal Explorer can be dramatically lower than most other systems. Coastal Explorer is capable of using any "S-57 ENC" vector chart, including the free NOAA ENC�, the free Inland Navigation Charts (IENCs) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and both the Recreational and Professional Vector digital ocean� charts from NDI. In addition to the vector charts, Coastal Explorer can use raster charts from Maptech, NDI, and Softchart International, including the new BSB4 Format charts that are problematic for some other programs."
Powerboat Reports has a one-on-one review of Si-Tex's ColorMax 6 and Navman's Tracker 5600. A very superficial conlusion in the online introduction, you will have to subscribe in order to read the full text or buy this specific article.
"The Si-Tex ColorMax 6 (left) and Navman Tracker 5600 (right) are faced into strong sunlight here. From both head-on, and at angles from the side, the Si-Tex screen is significantly brighter. The Navman, however, is not advertised as a direct-sunlight machine, and we found its controls a bit simpler to use."
In a review on Yachtingnet Chuck Husick discusses the Lowrance LCX-104C fishfinder and chartplotting capabilities. It's a fairly neutral review, more of an extensive product description.
"Lowrance�s ASP (Advanced Signal Processing) noise rejection system automatically optimizes fishfinding performance under typical operating conditions. A small external LGC-12w GPS/WAAS receiver provides the navigational data. The LCX-104C runs Navionics digital cartography in conjunction with Lowrance�s MapCreate custom mapping software. Two MultiMedia Card (MMC) cartridge slots facilitate simultaneous use of a Navionics cartridge and a blank data-storage cartridge or one custom loaded with MapCreate cartography. The system�s NMEA 0183 output lets it interface with other display devices, as well as the boat�s autopilot."
Ben Ellison has a very interesting column on the real-time weather services of XM WX (WxWorx) Satellite Weather and The Weather Channel Marine (TWCM). Besides his remark that these, and other similar, services are still very much under development, but aleady impressive, he also points at the fact that hardware manufacturers are more and more integrating these services into their products.
"As noted last month, Garmin is featuring XM WX (XM audio, too) as the lead option in its new line of networked multifunction displays. Maptech�s new high-end i3 system, twin to the Sea Ray Navigator, offers integration with the PC version of TWCM. WSI has announced a partnership with Raymarine, which sounds as if it will bear fruit in more than one upcoming Raymarine product line. Both WxWorx and WSI tell me that other partnership deals are close to completion."
Of course, there are still lots of people relying solely on paper charts alone. Nothing wrong with that, but eventually they might run into a situation which clearly demonstrates the power of electronic charts. And after that, they are a believer...
"But earlier this summer, during a run north from Florida to Virginia, I gained a whole new appreciation for electronic charts. I was aboard Motor Boating�s project boat�a Rinker Fiesta Vee 342 equipped with Raymarine�s SL70RCR radar/chartplotter/GPS. On the seven-day, 835-mile trip, I ran inside and outside the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), sometimes cruising as many as 20 miles offshore. I had an opportunity to use and evaluate the unit, along with C-Map�s NT Plus vector cartography with the new marina layout details."
Raymarine's C-series have been out for a while now and there's an interesting discussion over at the Go Boating America's Forums. So if you are in the market for a C120, C80, or C70, make sure you read this.
"I have a C80. Big problem for me is there is no way to manipulate waypoints on my pc and then upload to the C80. I wouldn't have bought the unit if I had known this. I "ASS UMED" that since the unit uses CF cards it would be a poc to swap back and forth. When I queried Raymarine support about the issue they were downright rude, telling me that the swap capability was proprietary information. And then there was the issue of the advertised ability to overlay the chart plotter and the radar. One has to dig deep to find out for that capability you have to purchase an additional piece of kit, the heading sensor, for $650!! I don't think I would do Raymarine if I was starting over."(Raymarine at Amazon.com)
If you're looking for a way to have (pdf, p13) alerts of new shipwrecks highlighted on your electronic charts in real-time, McMurdo has the answer...
"The receiver has a RS422 data output, which enables it to be integrated into an electronic chart display (ECDIS) - which automatically converts the safety warning into an alert which is displayed on the chart (for example indicating a new shipwreck). The electronic chart software can scan the message for a latitude and longitude reference."
I liked the title of this article, therefore I posted it... Nothing really new in this story on electronic charts, GPS and fish however. I'm not fishing myself, but doesn't all of this technology take a little bit of the fun out of fishing?
A three meter accurate GPS for $100. Great 
C-MAP is 
A while ago I 
Powerboat Reports has a one-on-one 
In a 
he also points at the fact that hardware manufacturers are more and more integrating these services into their products.
Of course, there are still lots of people relying solely on paper charts alone. Nothing wrong with that, but 
Raymarine's C-series have 
If you're looking for a way to 