Need Garmin Bluechart Chip

[Randygh]

Does anyone have a Garmin Bluechart Chip of Georgia Strait, & Desolation Sound areas? I'm starting to look around for this summer's trip. My chip stops Nanaimo.

[Nehalennia]

Does anyone have a Garmin Bluechart Chip of Georgia Strait, & Desolation Sound areas? I'm starting to look around for this summer's trip. My chip stops Nanaimo.

Is the Blue Chip you're looking for an SD card?
I wonder if you can simply copy the info. I plan on getting one with my upcoming GPS purchase. I want to have one when we go there as well.
I plan on buying a Garmin 545s. I am waiting for the boat show though in case they are launching the next new thing that I would either kick myself for not waiting or pounce on the lower cost of the 545s .....:confused:

[Sunangel719]

We just upgraded our electronics and got one for our Garmin (which is awesome by the way). I found it on clearance at west Marine about 2 months ago. Check it out online. It covers the whole kit and kaboodle you would want in one chip. Awesome! good luck.

[Randygh]

I saw this Blue Chart chip on Craigslist.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/542548616.html

I have the same chip in my 172c and it covers Puget Sound, San Juans, Gulf Islands, Victoria and Aberdeen. I paid $120.00 for mine new from an internet vendor.

[Sundancer]

If you buy a Garmin with coastal maps do you still need the chip? I've been trying to figure out which Garmin to purchase and I've considered the 440, 540 and the 545 since they have the built in coastal maps. So what am I missing? :confused:

Anybody have a slightly used Chartplotter with the San Juans and some waypoints already setup? :mrgreen: It's worth a shot right??

[SomeSailor]

If you buy a Garmin with coastal maps do you still need the chip? I've been trying to figure out which Garmin to purchase and I've considered the 440, 540 and the 545 since they have the built in coastal maps. So what am I missing? :confused:

You don't HAVE to buy a chip, but it's the easiest way. You can also upload TO the chip (things like routes, maps and other maps), but the software carries the serial number combo with it (your unit / your software/ your key).

If I took my software and uploaded to your chip... it wouldn't work in your unit. BUT... my chip (pre-programmed) would work.

I suspect there's something unique in the data that tells the unit it's getting valid maps (from the right chip)

They are VERY nice though.

[Nehalennia]

From what I'm understanding the preloading coastal info is there and will guide you through the deeper waters and land masses,but the chips are like the "HD" Hi Def upgrade.

If we all had Garmin(which I'm also looking at the 545s) can we all share waypoints and routes?

For instance if I go out and play around this winter and spring and save some waypoints and routes, I wonder if I can e-mail that data to Sundancer or any of you, so when you get to the Puget Sound, San Juans and Gulf Islands you already have valid waypoints, etc.?

[SomeSailor]

From what I'm understanding the preloading coastal info is there and will guide you through the deeper waters and land masses,but the chips are like the "HD" Hi Def upgrade.

If we all had Garmin(which I'm also looking at the 545s) can we all share waypoints and routes?

For instance if I go out and play around this winter and spring and save some waypoints and routes, I wonder if I can e-mail that data to Sundancer or any of you, so when you get to the Puget Sound, San Juans and Gulf Islands you already have valid waypoints, etc.?


Yep. Waypoints, routes and that such stuff is shareable between units, but the actual charts are locked to a serial number. Very clever protection scheme they have. Brilliant when you build the hardware AND sell the software exclusively. Very good detail though and well worth it. I still have my Bluechart CDs, but my chip went with the boat. It's nice using the CD on a laptop and planning your route and then uploading that to the unit or chip.

[Sundancer]

So the built in map is probably OK for getting around. I can see where it would help if I was fishing or diving to see additional features. If I lived over there, I would definitely own one and probably will after I "see" what I'm missing!

The search for a chartplotter continues.....:argh2

[Randygh]

My 172c's built in background map isn't very accurate on inland lakes. I put in several waypoints on Lake Chelan and according to the map, the boat is capable to travel overland as well as on the water.

In 2006 we went uplake and by the time we got to Lucerne it was pitch black dark with no lights near the dock. I waymarked the dock on a previous trip and it was nice to go straight to the area, flip on the spotlight and dock without incident.

[Sundancer]

I boat on the land all the time. I have the same problem with my handheld MAP 76 at Lake Pend Oreille. In September they allow some nets placed by the Indians. So we always create a waypoint through the nets to our favorite spot during the daylight. Then we can go out at night weaving through the nets while following the track. We also use it after the Fireworks on Priest Lake. After the rush of nuts have sped off we can hug an island without worrying about running aground. In both instances it looks like I'm boating on land. What a great feature though!

[Randygh]

What in the Lake Pend Oreille are indians netting? The silvers are way down in numbers. Are they netting lake trout? They're too deep to net??? Or are the indians setting net pens for rearing silvers?

[Nehalennia]

I'm planning on buying the 545s Garmin, if not at this years boat show shortly thereafter from the owner of clubsearay.com at BOE Marine 545s (https://byownerelectronics.com/store/cart.php?xid=79d984ae6391a9e8b4cca728f1f6752f) which is $200.00 less than West Marine.
West Marine 545s (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/272463/377%20710/0/Garmin%20545s/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=Garmin%20545s&Ntk=Primary%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=Garmin%20545s&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&classNum=10803)

I just want to make sure that Garmin's not coming out with "the next best thing" before I buy.

Either way if we all stick with Garmin and "can" share waypoints and routes, this website will be a great resource for all.

[Sundancer]

I stopped into the Garmin store in Chicago before Christmas. The employees were reading and watching training video's about all the new products that had just been announced. From what I could tell at that point it looked like the new products were in the higher end stuff (Autopilot in LATE 2008 ) and aviation GPS, not the smaller chartplotters. Apparently the 444/540/545 were all new last year or so and still in their lifecycle with no planned changes. I was hoping for a price drop too!

[Sundancer]

What in the Lake Pend Oreille are indians netting? The silvers are way down in numbers. Are they netting lake trout? They're too deep to net??? Or are the indians setting net pens for rearing silvers?
Beats me! I think at that time of year the Rainbows come to the surface or something. I'm sure they have some grandfathered quota that allows them to do that every year. We usually see 3 to 4 nets at the south end of the lake and I'm sure there are others up north too. They are gill nets and not rearing pens. They usually have to floats about 30 yards a part and the net hangs in between.

[SomeSailor]

There is an Indian boat that sits in front of my work in Mukilteo most every day netting salmon. I've watched him with binoculars and he's definitely pulling in fish. Probably black mouth. Hard to believe they get away with netting year-round. :(