Coastal Explorer Bahamas Charts

[Ski in NC]

Three years ago I was in the Bahamas and bought Jeppesen C-map max charts and loaded onto my CE laptop. Found them to be ok, but not that great.

First Q: Is that the best there is? I will have along the Explorer books for both Abaco and Exumas so gots me some backup.

Second Q: I got a warning that the c-map charts were out of date. What is the way to update them? I called the 1-800 number displayed on CE and they guy that answered acted like I had two heads and said Rosepoint was responsible. I called them and being a computer idiot that I am, I got lost in the menus and yelled at my cat.

Anyone else updated the c-map stuff? No big deal if not, as I don't think they will be my primary nav source anyway.

 

[caltexflanc]

Here you go... at least for the Bahamas issue and C-Maps. The Explorer Charts are the gold standard, IMO.

https://explorercharts.com/chatter/?page_id=8936

 

[Ski in NC]

Thanks for the link.

Sounds like the C-Map stuff I already have.

 

[Benthic2]

Have you apologized to your cat yet ?

 

[menzies]

Get the Dodge Guide for the Abacos. The Explorer Charts are good for Exuma.

Your Garmin Chartplotter is also a great resource.

 

[Ski in NC]

I don't have a Garmin, just a basic HP laptop running Coastal Explorer. It has such good charting for the SE USA, then I get the C-Map stuff for the Bahamas, it just is not that great. I'm good with the Explorer paper charts, just wish there was an electronic version I could run on the laptop.

 

[Gordon J]

Why is it not that good? How do you know?

 

[Maerin]

I don't have a Garmin, just a basic HP laptop running Coastal Explorer. It has such good charting for the SE USA, then I get the C-Map stuff for the Bahamas, it just is not that great. I'm good with the Explorer paper charts, just wish there was an electronic version I could run on the laptop.

Ski, there are differences in the C-Map versions, the Explorer chart website details those differences. I use NA-M022.30. It's some out of date, but the charts on that version use the Explorer charts. Some other versions indicate "Explorer chart data" which is not as good. Fine line, but I find this C-Map version to be nearly identical to the paper charts. I also use a C-Map card in the Furuno, exactly the same charts.

I'm not concerned enough with updating for Bahamas travel, I haven't seen any discrepancies that would push me into getting spendy new charts. AFAIK, "update" = "new".

As an aside, Navionics Bahamas charts are reputed to be rife with inaccuracies. My older Maptech charts were based on "Wavy Line" admiralty charts, they suck. Explorer charts for the Bahamas enjoy a deserved reputation as the best.
Have a great time.