Help with marine maps

[Stingray 195FX]

I have a Magellan Crossover GPS and I'm looking for some good marine maps. I've tried contacting Magellan support and all I can say is WOW that was an eye opener. Their email support has to be a computer generated reply because the answer each time (3 emails sent) was completely off base. It's as if they were answering some other question. Phone support wasn't much better. I got the reply from sales that support would have to answer my question only to have support tell me that sales has the information I'm looking for.

Anyway, to the question at hand. I'm looking for some good maps of the Intracoastal Waterway that runs through both North Carolina and South Carolina. I don't really need the off shore maps but understand they will probably be part of the package. Ideally I would like to find a product that would also contain the larger lakes in North Carolina but I don't know if I would need to buy the Lakes USA cd as well.

Can anyone suggest which product I should get? (BlueNav Local Charts, BlueNav XL3, Lakes USA, etc.) I would love to hear from those of you who have experience with this software. Since the software runs on various models of Magellan GPS units please feel free to share your opinions even if you've not used the Crossover unit.

I think I'll get better help from you all than I did from Magellan atleast I hope. :redface:

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Help with marine maps

stingray i noticed nobody has got back to you, so maybe its a tough subject. If I were you, and was getting no help from Magellan, I would try to find a local dealer and ask them, doesn't even have to be local, any dealer...

I think the maps your looking for will have a broad range, either for the ocean, or for inland lakes. Good luck.

 

[Stingray 195FX]

Re: Help with marine maps

Well I decided since I couldn't find the information I was looking for to confirm my decision I would just take the chance and see what I get. I knew I wanted the local lakes of NC so I purchased the USA Lakes - South maps. It contains great detail of the local lakes and even includes the Intracoastal Waterway. The catch is the waterway is simply a body of water with no details such as depth or buoy location but that is better than nothing. Without the lake maps card installed I don't even get the blue water outline of the waterway. The ocean is there but it goes straight from land to the ocean with no indication of a waterway. At least with this I can see where I am on the waterway. I've traveled it enough to know my way around but having the depth contours and close by streets will help. I can't justify spending $175 for the detailed BlueNav maps for this purpose.

As I said earlier the local lake maps are great. I know my lake very well but now I can find every drop off and hump a bit easier. The gps will get me to the correct location then the fish finder will help me find the exact spot I was looking for.

Anyway, I wanted to update my post in case my "find" helps someone else in the same position I was in.

 

[HONKER1]

Re: Help with marine maps

I find your posting very interesting, as I also have a Magellan unit. I wanted to purchase some maps of the Northwest area, but was reluctant because of past experience with Magellan software. I couldn't get the help I needed to get aspects of it running properly, and the website help was worthless.(As you discovered)
I checked with several sporting goods stores about differant GPS units for boating, and they told me that Magellan units were very proprietary, and other companies software won't run on a Magellan unit. If this information is incorrect, please let me know. I feel that Magellan, althought they make a good unit for land lovers, they just haven't got up to speed in the marine field.