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Navigation solutions for BVI?

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Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/11/2010 : 07:58:48

We are a month away from our BVI charter, and I am looking into nav charting options.

My original plan was to buy charts and load them into my garmin gpsmap76, but then I found out that garmin has switched to mini sd cards in their new gps units, and the memory cards are pricey, and can't be used on your computer. (What?! Isn't the map data free from noaa...) Also, the older gps units don't take memory cards, they need data loaded from cd's, which garmin discontinued at the end of 2008.

SO, what other options have you used for nav charting? Right now I am investigating SeaClear II to view and manage the noaa charts, and connecting my garmin to my netbook for the gps.

I realize the bvi is line of sight and I can probably get by fine with paper charts and sightings with my compass, but I like the accuracy of the gps.

Are there any other solutions you like using?

--Skipper of the Unsinkable2
http://blog.unsinkable2.com
1977 Catalina 25 SK/SR #246 "Unsinkable 2"
1964 Lido 14 #1878 "Tomato Sloop"

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 08:10:49

If you've got a smart phone like an iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, you can download charting software for that area for a pretty reasonable price.

If not, and you're bringing your laptop, you can download all the NOAA charts for free, and they provide links to free viewers on he same page. Alternatively, you could download a commercial charting package and use it during it's 30 day trial.

Won't your charter boat have charts and a plotter on it?

You could also search Craigslist using craiglook.com for chart packages for your Garmin, but that seems like a low probability of success.

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 08:47:21

You really won't need it. Having said that, for my BVI trips, I manually enter key waypoints into my Garmin handheld, which proves helpful on the passage to Anegada, if you're planning to do that. Get a cruising guide, and you'll have all the waypoints you need. It sounds like you're like me, you like to be able to double-check your DR with the GPS. Just punch in the waypoints manually and you'll be good. Imray A231 is your chart for BVI. Realistically, you'll mostly be navigating by sight.

Have fun! I'll be down there for race week, March 27-April 4. Is that when you'll be there?

Edited by - windsong on 03/11/2010 08:54:16

farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 10:33:04

I just went through this with for a trip to the Bahamas three weeks ago. We did want a GPS and plotter because of the shallows around the Abacos. We used a Garmin GPSMap76 in conjunction with SeaClearII and got it to work, but there are several problems with this set-up. First the GPSMap 76 has very limited memory, so it does not have room for additional maps to be loaded onto it. Second, It does not have a USB cable available for hook-up to the laptop. We did find a Garmin cable that plugs into the four pin socket in the back that goes to a serial port type cable, and then found an after-market serial port-to-USB adapter cable that enabled us to get it to work. Maps are a problem. We used the free NOAA maps for Florida, (which worked great around Fla)and one of them included the Abacos, but it's scale wasn't very good (too large, poor detail). Keep in mind that NOAA maps are for the United States only, so you will probably have to pay for commercial maps for the BVI's to load into SeaClear. There were other issues, but the SeaClearII did actually let the laptop/GPS work as a chart plotter.
Smart Phones won't work there. The phone isn't a true GPS, it GPS function just works off where the cell phone towers tell the phone it is. If you are out of range of the towers, it won't work. Also, your phones probably won't work in the BVI's, my Verizon phone wouldn't work in the Bahamas, they have a different system.

Paul
GSL Marina

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 11:25:17

If your phone is tri-band GSM (AT&T & T-Mobile), it'll work in the BVI and most of the Caribbean according to my (very) limited research. You might need to buy a GSM chip when you're there (and if it's an Iphone you might need to jailbreak it, not an option I like).

If your phone is CDMA (Sprint, Verizon, etc.) it won't work there, but there are options to rent one, but it's expensive.

Phone "GPS" for older phones is indeed just cell tower triangulation, but again, if you've got a new phone (Iphone 3GS, Droid, etc.) you have true GPS. You may not be able to make a phone call or get internet, but you'll be able to see maps if they're saved onto the phone (instead of on the internet).

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 11:27:33

Verizon works in BVI, but it's $1.65/min. If you're chartering, they'll give you a phone that's free to call the base and anywhere local for about $.10/min. International calls are cheaper too. I always spring for the onboard, unlimited WiFi, which is about $150/wk. If I didn't run an Internet company then I wouldn't get it. Having Internet on board is like dragging an anchor. I go sailing to escape!

Alas, work is the bane of the sailing class.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 11:39:59

You can always use the gps lat/long position and plot on paper. That helps keep you refreshed on back up methods and is cheap.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2010 : 12:51:45

My T-mobile phone worked on St. Thomas in December 2008 without any extra charges. I have a $20 per month phone-calls-only plan not an expensive unlimited plan with Internet access.

Check here to see which GPS receivers can use Navionics map cartridges:
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/navbascharpl.html
I don't see any Garmin's on the list. Maybe you can pick up a Lowrance GPS and buy a Navionics card for it.

Finally here's a website that MIGHT give you a start toward downloading waypoints to your old Garmin. I used the website to guide me thru downloading an airport database to my Garmin 376C so I could use it for flying with XM weather displayed too. It is not a push-one-button task.
http://csobeech.com/nexrad-weather.html

I bought my Garmin 376C from eBay. Having a weather display in the Virgin Islands would be comforting too.

Bottom line though for a one week or so trip Dave5041 has the best idea.

Edited by - on

keydup
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 03/12/2010 : 21:28:09

Don't stress the nav part of this trip. Your boat should have a capable gps with charts installed. A few planned waypoints, line of sight sailing, you'll be fine. The biggest problem will be keeping enough ice on board to keep the carib and red stripe chilled.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2010 : 17:48:48

Take a look at these charts on paper and CD
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|9489|38715|803256&id=1351945

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2010 : 08:00:39

Your biggest navigation problem may be in the evening when you dingy from shore, back to your boat. They all look the same moored out in a dark bay. We pack some of those flashing bicycle lights, so we can distinguish our boat from the rest in the dark. During the day we will fly a large burgee. DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY MON

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Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2010 : 09:20:42

@Michael - I ordered the Imray chart, thanks! Whenever i travel (sailing or otherwise) I prefer studying the maps ahead of time so I really know where everything is. I've got a long list of waypoints I'm adding to my Garmin. I'll be there 15-25 April.

Hard to imagine that its all line of sight, but then again, the entire area BVI island group (except Anegada) is the roughly the size of the lake I sail on (Utah Lake, which is 24 x 14 miles lxw)

Michael - who do you get the $150 internet through down there- is it a wireless card? I run a bunch of internet stuff too, and have been a little worried about the likelihood that something will come up while I'm down there. I sail to escape, but if something comes up it would be better to just turn on my laptop to solve the problem rather than trying to find a harbor with wifi...

@glen - great idea on the lights. I'll bring a flag and some kind of distinguishable marker light.

Thanks everyone, great advice and info!

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2010 : 12:18:54

It's called LIME accesss. I get it through the charter company. Moorings and Footloose have it, I know. I think Horizon has it too. TMM now provides it free on all their charters.
http://sailtmm.com/Tortola/wififaq.cfm
Have fun, and don't forget extra cash to help out those poor girls at Willie T's. Some of those poor girls can only afford half a swimsuit.
:)

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2010 : 18:59:48

Congrats on your trip to the BVI

, you will have an awesome time. When we were down there I bought the Charts from www.landfallnav.com we got the IMRAY-IOLAIRE charts, so we could chart our course and so everybody (all four of us) could get a visual picture. We also brought our handheld GPS. From Landfall navigation we also purchased the book VIRGIN Anchorages- this has aerial photos and descriptions of harbors and islands. We also purchased THE YACHTSMANS GUIDE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS which has LOTS of information including stargazing,diving,what to do ashore etc. We did NOT regret buying them and used the constantly. when you factor in what you are spending for the trip,

this is a small price addition for Full Enjoyment. A quotation from the last book regarding sailing directions to Road Harbour: "Entering from the west,look for the silver gas tanks in Fish Bay on the eastern side of the Harbour entrance. Take the green sea buoy (fl. gr.ev 3 sec) off Burt point to the port".
Running aground down there is also VERY EXPENSIVE!. no we did not run aground But heard of some who did and it was outrageous to get you off. Have Fun...we are envious

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triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2010 : 20:34:52

Depending on your chartering company, you should have GPS, and the charts provided will be great. All the sailing is line of sight. The first time I went down (Loran C days) there I wondered about fog, etc., (I sail Maine as well as the Great Lakes), but then realized that we would 1) not have fog, 2 be sailing in daylight.
No problems ever since. Don't cut corners. We pulled a Cat off a reef in Marina Cay, so be careful to pay attention to the charts. Watch out for the fishnets and buoys but they will tell you about them. Don't cut corners, and, if you are sailing to Anegada keep an eye out for reefs. Best to sail there in convoy firswt time at least. Your chartering company may not let you go by yourself. Oh--don't cut corners by trying a short cut into North Virgin Gorda. Follow the charts. Also-- definitely do some piloting. Some people forget that they are sailing and misinterpret the landmarks on the coasts. Be careful of that.

Oh yeah, Get to anchorages early so you can choose your spot. Gives you more time to enjoy the evening.

AND, be careful not to overexert yourself at the Baths on Virgin Gorda or at the Indians off Norman Island or at the Rhone off Salt Island. We found a man at Norman Island who had died from apparent overexertion, or a deep dive. Couldn't save him and VISAR ( Virgin Island Search and Rescue) when they came had no defibrilator, despite our 15 minutes of massive CPR.

You will have a great time. Be a Pirate, but be careful. Remember, too, that HMS Hermione suffered a mutiny in Drake's Channel. So, don't be a Captain Bligh, either. (The skipper of the Hermione was Captain Hugh Piggot so,) don't be a Piggot.

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