Navionics Gold vs. Nauticpath?

bamaboy473 · 05-15-2009, 11:13 AM

I've used the Gold in both a Lowrance and a Raymarine. Now we need a new GPS for a pleasure boat but it can be a basic/basic unit.

Since Lowrance supports both the Nav Gold and NauticPath, tell me why there's over $100 worth of difference between the products if they both give similar detail?

G8RDave · 05-15-2009, 12:26 PM

I've wondered the same thing. Plus, with NauticPath one card covers the whole US. There has to be a difference, I just don't know what it is. I need to buy a new card since I somehow managed to erase the one I had.

Can't decide if I want to go with Navionics or NauticPath.

Anyone know what the major differences are?

bamaboy473 · 05-15-2009, 07:07 PM

JimB has offered his Nauticpath to me for testing/comparison. I'll post results when I get to try it out against the base chart of the new HDS-5.

I'll PM you with the results, too.

240 LTS · 08-01-2009, 07:50 PM

I know this thread is old, I don't come here often, but when I was doing my side by side comparisons the Navionics is way more detailed. That's what I went with.

Jeff@Navionics · 08-03-2009, 02:31 PM

Navionics is,

More Current to NOAA NTMs
More Accurate
More Fishing Detail
More Wrecks
Trade in and update program

The only advantage to the NP is redraw speed is a bit faster.

grubbab · 08-28-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

I've used the Gold in both a Lowrance and a Raymarine. Now we need a new GPS for a pleasure boat but it can be a basic/basic unit.

Since Lowrance supports both the Nav Gold and NauticPath, tell me why there's over $100 worth of difference between the products if they both give similar detail?

I have a Lowrance LCX28C HD purhcased in 2008. It came with NauticPath charts installed. When I first used them in Bimini, Bahamas, the chart showed my location 0.24 miles away from my GPS location at about 306 degrees. This is a big and dangerous difference, showing my boat up on land when near the shore. I believe this is because the original NOAA charts for Bimini were incorrect. I bought the Navionics Platinum card, and it is accurate in that area.

My old Humminbird NS-25 used C-Map charts that were also incorrect in Bimini, but that unit had a manual chart offset that could be used to make the GPS and Chart locations match. The Lowrance Unit does not have that feature.

The NauticPath chart is accurate in Florida.

So, depending on where you cruise, I strongly suggest the Navionics.

Billdc · 08-28-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240 LTS

I know this thread is old, I don't come here often, but when I was doing my side by side comparisons the Navionics is way more detailed. That's what I went with.

Which level did you get? I have a HDS5 that I went low budget with the Nauticpath. Well 3 mts into it I am looking at upgrading to the Navionics, I think the only reason I would want the Platinum is for the tide charts. It does not look like they are included in the Gold. Maybe Jeff can help me out with this one. For now I can get the tide charts on my wifes I-phone. I am in the Chesapeake bay most of the time if that helps you Jeff.

tcm · 08-28-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billdc

. It does not look like they are included in the Gold.

Tide charts work with The Gold card, as well as the Nauticpath and
Nautic Insight charts, if you have those on you HDS5.
Gold is a good choice for the HDS5. Same exact charts as the platinum
but without the special features (aerial photo, 3D etc.), not so very
usefull on a five inch screen, but they will work. Not as expensive either.