ICW GUIDES

[Matty]

Any suggestions on which cruising guide to purchase. Mainly for traveling ICW GA and FL. I have all the updated maps for the 7612 chartplotter including autoguidance but wife would like hardcopy for planning and it would be used as backup.

 

[captstu]

AQUAMAP and other apps with Active Captain and waterway guide serve me better than paper guides.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[Bigsky]

Hey Matty, I've got this 2018 ICW cruising guide which was sent by mistake from a publisher. They did send the correct book I had ordered and told me to just keep the ICW guide. Janny and I don't plan on making it down there for a few years. It's a $45 book unused and it's yours if you'd like. Just cover the shipping and I'll throw it in the mail. Maybe we can just keep the guide in the family. I put a pic in my album.

Cheers, Bill

 

[knotflying]

Waterway guide is pretty good. However, what I have also found good is talking to people while at the dock. For anchorages and marinas I rely quite a bit on active captain. Since Garmin took it over it is not as user friendly, but the content is still good.

 

[Matty]

Thanks for the info. Like I said it is more for a supplement requested by the first mate. I will not win the discussion of not getting one so I thought I would ask about the quality from others who have used them. I watched a youtube video and even the seller of Waterway Guide cautions that it is for planning not navigating. So I ordered the southern version that has FL to Keys as that is where we will be exploring our first year.

I am learning more about the apps and active captain all the time. Still in my rookie year but here in FL that is probably two years of experience. Might just go out today as it it beautiful. wish we could have gone on the FL gathering and crossed Okeechobee with Stuart. Would have learned a great deal but had a conflict.

Thanks for the guide offer Bill but I did need all of FL. Perhaps someone else will jump on your nice offer.

 

[knotflying]

If you are talking paper charts I have used maptech chart book. I have one for each Florida coast. They are nice to have, but you will find your chart plotter and an iPad will be very useful for navigation. I have not opened the charts in years. The waterway guide, IMO, is more for touring info. Active Captain great for marinas and anchorage.

 

[Brian B]

I am now using Navionics Boating app on my Ipad. I bought the U.S and Canada charts for $23.99 yearly, U.S. only is around $15. It updates the charts daily and it is now the most up to date charts on the boat. It has a nice Dock-to- Dock Autorouting feature and includes Active Captain.