Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

[praetorian]

I've got a Garmin 60cs and bluecharts. I think I unlocked the right area since I get the depths, etc for the lake, but where the Marinas are it just marks Yacht Harbour, with no name. I can search for names on mapsource, but not a single marina on this lake is listed. <br /><br />Am I doing this wrong or is there little or no info for Lake Simcoe

 

[cuzner]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

If your getting the depths I think you have the right area un-locked. I have another area unlocked and got no information for Lake Simcoe. Most of the info used for bluecharts are from U.S. sources,I would'nt expect too much detail.I seen a booklet in Barrie last sumer that listed the cordinates for some of the marina's on Simcoe and rice If you can get your hands on something like that you might have to put them in manualy.<br /><br /><br /> Good Luck<br /> Jim

 

[maxum 2300]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

I found the same as you when I unlocked my charts for Simcoe and surrounding areash as well. I phoned Garmin and their answer was the same as Cuzner states. If you look at the buffalo area you will see much more detail. I just ended up building waypoints at the spots that required, although I was hoping for phone #s etc. for places on the lake.<br /><br />Cheers

 

[praetorian]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

A few others at my marina (Kon Tiki) use c-maps and they say the newer ones have all the marina's identified with names, services, phone and vhf, etc. <br /><br />I think I might go this route, but I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually seen c-maps on lake simcoe!<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[praetorian]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

I went and bought a Standard Horizon 175c with the maps for Simcoe to Georgian Bay last night. <br /><br />This unit is really nice. It's FAST! the screen is very easy to see at night or in the sun, and it has every marina, island, obstructions, etc. listed.<br /><br />IT seems cmaps updates the maps twice a year, and they actually list how many changes to each region they make in each revision right on their website. I wondered how many they make, but simcoe has over 400 changes from the last rev. I don't know what those changes are, but if it's just one rock that's in my way and I know about it in advance, that pays for the update!<br /><br />I'm really happy with the unit and the place I purchased from (the Rigging Shop in Scarborough) was extremely helpful and knowledgeble. They even burned the cmap cartridge that I was interested in just so I could see it in the unit so I could make the best choice. They also showed me the Raymarine (with map). <br /><br />I couldn't have asked for better service and now I'm really confident I bought the right one.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

Praetorian...thanks for the update, do you mind sharing the price of the unit and the map? Does the map just get you to the bay or does it cover Simcoe and the Bay?

 

[praetorian]

Re: Bluecharts for Lake Simcoe, Ontario

I paid about $1300 CDN for the chartplotter and $400 for the maps. You can get cheaper maps that cover less area but mine covers Simcoe, Trent, and Georgian Bay.<br /><br />I used the plotter this weekend quite a bit and found the maps to be very detailed and accurate. It was nice to be able to find out what services were offered at marinas close by. Even the markers are very accurate (at least the ones I passed). <br /><br />The trackback feature was handy for getting hom Saturday night in the dark.<br /><br /><br />Also the DSC functionality of the VHF was helpful in meeting up with another boat when I went in for gas and they continued on.