Garmin's exclusive line of BlueChart marine cartography products is designed to provide interactive viewing of detailed nautical chart data. These detailed electronic nautical charts look just like paper charts when displayed on your Garmin chart plotter. Descriptive details for features typically found on nautical charts can easily be viewed with a simple key press. Cursor movements over the chart provide descriptions for contour depths, chart number, navaid name, and much more. BlueChart data includes shaded depth contours, intertidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, port plans, restricted areas, cable areas, anchorages, and more. Additionally, BlueCharts include information from the paper chart used in the digitization process, such as chart number, name, scale, revision date, and Notice-to-Mariners date.

Interactive viewing of detailed nautical chart data

Features include shading between depth contours, spot soundings

Cursor movements over the chart provide descriptions for contour depths, chart number, navaid name, and more

Includes information from the paper chart used in the digitization process

See product description for compatibility information

Average Customer Review: ( 35 customer reviews )
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With "Bluecharts" they have gotten to a level of detail (including multiple colors) that they look almost as good as a paper charts. The advantages of vector charts is that they take up much less room on your hard drive and run much faster on a PC. This is important when you are zooming in and out to see your depth or proximity to a wreck while moving on a boat.

I use mine with an eTrex Legend and am able to load most of the detail (depth, obstructions, nautical aids, etc) onto the handheld. For the full look of charts, I connect the GPS unit to my laptop. The package also includes tidal charts, which are much more detailed and accurate than the little tide chart booklets I used to use. Overall, it makes navigation a breeze...your boat is automatically represented on the chart and you have many simple tools to calculate distance/time to a given destination. It also incorporates additional information on Marinas and service locations.

The Garmin application the charts run on, "MapSource" allows you to easily switch between map types. I have "Americas Bluechart," "MetroGuide" (streetmaps), and "Tides and Marine Services," all without having to reconnnect the GPS unit.

The only hassle is the "Unlock" process, which is a bit time consuming and involves providing the Garmin website with a bunch of codes, including the serial number of my GPS unit to unlock a set of charts from the CD-ROM. I'm not sure, but I think it will only work with that specific unit, which worries me a bit as I am thinking about buying a second unit for backup.

49 of 51 found the following review helpful:

Simply the best!Apr 29, 2002

I'll cut right to the chase--if you have a Garmin GPS unit that is MapSource compatible, and use it on the ocean, buy this CD! Garmin's Water Ways & Lights CD is a total joke compared to the BlueChart CD. The level of detail is an exact duplication of NOAA paper charts--very, very accurate and very, very detailed. I use this software with my GPSMAP 162, and the only drawback is that with the detail level set to high, it slows the screen redraw rate down considerably. but, when you're actually on the water, this isn't even noticeable. Bottom line--this is a great product.

20 of 20 found the following review helpful:

read the fine printMar 09, 2007
By Richard C. Kullen III "slickrick"
be aware that this chart system, unlike the road map versions, includes an unlock code for only a small portion of the coverage area. if you want more areas, you pay a new unlock code for each one.

20 of 20 found the following review helpful:

It is exaclty what is saysOct 16, 2006
By T. C. Mattison
As of 10/16/06 V8.5 is the most current version, and that it what was shipped to me.

Once you install the CD you get to only choose from a rather small area. Like 1/4-1/2 of your state (for me, Orlando-Key west). This was a HUGE disappointment. City navigator gives you the ENTIRE US map on DVD for streets, that's 2 gigs of data, so why does Blue Chart only give you like 20megs of bluechart data on a CD. It just doesn't make sense.

This software is pricey, but necessary for boating.

All and all I'd like to give it 3 stars for making me feel ripped off but I gave it 4 stars because the product itself is actually very good.

I also feel that once you buy their overpriced software, that you should be entitled to updates for it. But of course you are not. You have to go and plant down more money to Garmin if you want the next version.

Don't get me wrong, Garmin is a great company with great software, I just wish they weren't so greedy.

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