mvweebles
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2019
- Messages
- 7,644
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Weebles
- Vessel Make
- 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
I finally broke down and spent some quality time figuring out OpenCPN. As posted a couple days ago, I found a couple decent tutorials that actually made sense to me (https://youtu.be/OJf9eL3-RkA).
Mexico charts are a bit of a black hole. CMAP has a set that are rumored to be inaccurate (I can validate as the 1/4 mile breakwater protecting Ensenada is not well marked). Navionics has coverage but not on a PC (though Navico uses Navionics).
"SouthboundGroup" is a Groups.IO list of about 1000 contributors, many of whom are seasoned cruisers in the Pacific. Bruce Balan has been kind enough to share a ton of electronic charts including converted Navionics' charts, BING satellite charts (which he says are better than Google Sat), and Google satellite charts. Its excellent coverage of the Sea of Cortez, and down the Pacific Coast to Panama.
Attached Screen Shot sows coverage available at Chart Locker
https://chartlocker.brucebalan.com/
Bruce Balan, keeper of the "Chart Locker" list of MBTiles, does have a tutorial video. It's about 1-hour long and wanders a bit. But I did get some very useful information on setting up file directories to keep the OpenCPN desktop from getting ridiculously cluttered. A bit clunky (sort of lovable in an old-school DOS way), but once I figured it out, really helped.
https://vimeo.com/channels/1687099/517970398
Not sure OpenCPN will displace Coastal Explorer, but there are some cool plug-ins for weather. I will probably buy Blue Latitude cruising guide and perhaps some charts, but they are on a 1-year license so won't purchase until I'm close to departure. These Chart Locker MBTiles are a great interim.
Peter
Mexico charts are a bit of a black hole. CMAP has a set that are rumored to be inaccurate (I can validate as the 1/4 mile breakwater protecting Ensenada is not well marked). Navionics has coverage but not on a PC (though Navico uses Navionics).
"SouthboundGroup" is a Groups.IO list of about 1000 contributors, many of whom are seasoned cruisers in the Pacific. Bruce Balan has been kind enough to share a ton of electronic charts including converted Navionics' charts, BING satellite charts (which he says are better than Google Sat), and Google satellite charts. Its excellent coverage of the Sea of Cortez, and down the Pacific Coast to Panama.
Attached Screen Shot sows coverage available at Chart Locker
https://chartlocker.brucebalan.com/
Bruce Balan, keeper of the "Chart Locker" list of MBTiles, does have a tutorial video. It's about 1-hour long and wanders a bit. But I did get some very useful information on setting up file directories to keep the OpenCPN desktop from getting ridiculously cluttered. A bit clunky (sort of lovable in an old-school DOS way), but once I figured it out, really helped.
https://vimeo.com/channels/1687099/517970398
Not sure OpenCPN will displace Coastal Explorer, but there are some cool plug-ins for weather. I will probably buy Blue Latitude cruising guide and perhaps some charts, but they are on a 1-year license so won't purchase until I'm close to departure. These Chart Locker MBTiles are a great interim.
Peter
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