Northern Spy, I have used OpenCPN for about 5 years but I recently did something that deleted my Canadian chart. I understand that I will have to buy a new one but I can't determine which one I need. I have a raster chart that basically shows from the border up to Ballenes but nothing in the Trincomali Channel, etc. I want a chart or charts that will show from Vancouver Island to the mainland coast from the border up to the Broughtons.
Can you recommend the charts I need or a suitable package?
Canadian charts for OpenCPN are purchased from
o-charts. All they have is Vector. CHS is quickly moving away from raster. You might be able to find the last available raster charts from CHS
here. As stated above, there are no free Canadian charts.
Not factual, but memory, dock talk etc. NOAA and CHS charts used to overlap considerably. Then NOAA and CHS got into a pissing match and decided not to do that any more. Dock talk told me it was CHS. NOAA charts are free because some people / groups fought for it, more dock talk.
And now a rant. If I want current raster-ish charts for US and Canada I'd go Navionics. The tablet app is affordable at about $50 / yr. I say raster-ish because Navionics charts are not true raster but they more resemble raster in appearance. To see if you might be happy with Navioncs mobile device charts go to Navionics Online Chart Viewer. Not as robust and functional as the mobile app but you will get to see what the charts look like.
For me, that's saying something. I'm not a fan of Navionics. But the future is clear. NOAA and CHS are dropping raster. Their vector charts in my opinion are not what I want, not enough visual detail. Takes more time and effort than I like to find the info I want / need.
I don't like that I'm being pused the propritary chart products. But that's the way it is.