TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Navionics

Which map do you need for bvi? Caribbean/south america?
Much to my dismay my little hand held seems to have lost my blue sea chip. dang

Caribbean/south america,,,,,, yep

I use it al over the Caribbean, works OK

Or maybe not. Before our recent June charter, I purchased and installed the Navionics app on my iPad, and checked its accuracy using a Dual Electronics XGPS150A receiver. It was right on in comparison to other devices. Using the BVIPirate's set of 8 waypoints, I then created and saved a route into Savannah Bay and then Pond Bay.

As we successfully navigated into Pond Bay, relying principally on the boat's Garmin Chartplotter and two very astute bow observers, I watched the iPad and noted that the pre-loaded route was 250'-300' north of our actual and correct path. I should have checked the app again later in the trip, but was so disillusioned by the first experience that I just put it back in the bag. Will try again in the Spanish Virgins in October, but will not rely on it.

I have had a similar experience with ray marine chartplotters in Road Town where the plotter indicated I was over the cruise ship pier. I have seen this elsewhere to.

The charts were created decades ago,if not longer.

The plotters, no matter what brand, need common sense to true up the on screen position with reality.

We can't trust the chart plotter to have our position accurately depicted all the time, everywhere.

According to our Ray Marine system we have sailed right down the main runway of Arrecife Airport and through the main terminal building in the Canary Islands!

Invaluable technology but I agree with Warren460. You're on a boat, not in a car...use your noggin!

Thanks, Got the maps. We have a chart plotter aboard probably won't even use it. The only time i really use it is heading to anegada to pick up the outer bouy.The only reason I carry one is a few trips back i got caught in a fairly nasty tropical wave for about 2 hours heading to Jost from andgada. Couldn't see much and had no chart plotter. not fun. Always have a backup now.