How to update your Electronic Charts
Updating electronic charts is often left to the last minute. Now we all have more time to prepare for our trips here are a few pointers on how to get your Navionics, C-Map & Garmin Charts up to date.
HOW OFTEN DO NAVIONICS UPDATE THEIR CHARTS?
Daily - Navionics constantly enhance their charts with new and amended content from official hydrographic sources, public and private surveys, and millions of contributions from boaters.
How do I update my Navionics chart?
A one-year subscription is included when you purchase a new Navionics® Card (excluding Bundled Navionics Silver format). It offers daily chart updates and advanced features. All you have to do is activate your subscription through the Navionics Chart Installer program. Now you can update your chart every day for a year.
Once the subscription has expired you can update (renew the subscription) as follows:
For Navionics Silver, Gold and Navionics+
1. Purchase an Updates Card and update at home. Navionics+ Updates is a new card that can be activated with an older card. Available in both SD/uSD and Compact flash formats – This is an encrypted card that allows you update your charts at home on your pc or mac. It doesn’t matter if you have a local or large chart area, the updates card gives you a large area chart (XL9 size). It even reads other manufacturers (SD/uSD) format cards e.g C-map, Garmin Bluechart, Magellan, etc.
2. If you don’t have a PC at home or are a little uncomfortable with updating yourself, then we can get the card updated for you. We will need your old card to update. The turnaround takes about a week. Call us for on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
For Navionics Platinum & Platinum +
These charts cannot be updated at home; we can get the card updated for you. Platinum is no longer available but can be updated by a Plus or Platinum + chart. We will need your old card to update. The turnaround takes about a week. Call us for on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
How much do the updates cost?
The cost of an update is 50% of a new chart
SEE NAVIONICS CHARTS HERE
How often do C-Map update their charts?
C-MAP releases a major update for their charts twice a year in the Spring and Autumn.
How do I update my C-Map chart?
The update procedure varies according to which format is being used:
NT+: No longer supported as of the end of March 2020. Some units that ran the NT+ cards may be able to run the MAX format e.g Standard Horizon CP180 & CP300
MAX: These cards must be sent in to us for update. The turnaround time is around 3 days – please call us on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
MAX-N/ MAX-N+: Free online updates from the GoFree Webstore are available for 1 year from the purchase date. After this period has expired send the card to us for an update. The turnaround time is around 3 days – please call us on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
4D: Free online updates from the C-MAP website are available for 1 year from the purchase date. After this period has expired send the card to us for an update. The turnaround time is around 3 days – please call us on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
How much do the updates cost?
The cost of an update is 50% of a new chart.
How often do Garmin update their charts?
Garmin update their charts twice a year, in the spring and Autumn. Preloaded plotter charts are updated once a year in the spring.
How do I update my Garmin chart?
New Garmin charts (including preloaded plotters) are covered by Garmin’s New Chart Guarantee – any new charts purchased within the last 12 months are eligible for one free map update. This can be performed via the Active Captain App or Garmin Express.
Charts outside the 12-month free update period
Preloaded plotters – Purchase a preloaded Plotter Update Card to view the updated charts this card must remain in the device.
G3 & G3 Vision - send the card to us for an update. The turnaround time is around 3 days – please call us on 0345 1300 710 to arrange the update or drop it into your nearest Force 4 store.
How much do the updates cost?
The cost of an update is 50% of a new chart for any like for like update (excluding preloaded plotter updates)
SEE GARMIN CHARTS HERE
SEE ALL ELECTRONICS CHARTS HERE