Charts for Lake Powell

M

Mike_J

New member
My 4 year old Lowrance HDS8 does not have charting for Lake Powell (I think only Canada...) and I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for charting that can be installed in the chartplotter. I have found a couple of apps for iOS, Android and Windows 10, but am wondering what I can easily get on my HDS8.
 
Mike,

I am faced with a similar situation (our old Humminbird plotter/sounder just isn't up to the task of current charting). It has become the secondary nav unit (used mostly as a 'sounder). We now rely on the iPad3 and a variety of really good 'apps.

Several years ago (aboard CD Naknek) I spent about $1500 for "current charting" for Naknek's Raymarine system. It was a joy to find the same charting available for the iPad at about 10% of the earlier costs!

The march of technology continues to amaze me.

Best,
Casey
 
Raymarine' Western Lakes chip has Powell for about $200, but take Casey's advice. Get Navionics for you iPad and download Powell or whatever. Also you should have the Stan Jones Lake Powell Map, really all you need, and then follow the channel markers!
 
Thanks Pat and Casey, I think the Navionics app on my phone and tablet will do the trick. I will use the Lowrance for depth sounding and other info.
 
I've been using Navionics on my tablet now for 3 seasons for LP. It is accurate and has more than enough goodies for reliable and safe navigation. I'm now using my old small purpose built chart plotter as a compass and speedometer. I don't have the heart to get rid of it. I also have Navionics installed on my cellphone for backup to the tablet. My tablet is an 8 inch and is big enough to see what I need to see.
 
Our Ipad3 with navionics has become our primary navigational aid for not just lake Powell, but SE Alaska & most everywhere else. The two older Garmns & older IPad are used for back up & to give varying chart views in closeup & overall detail. The IPad with Navionics is fast & extremely easy to use the menu.

Jay
 
Pat is right about Lake Powell. Get the map with the channel markers on it. And stay in the middle of the channel. Do not short cut even if it "looks deep". A good map and a good depth finder are essential for Powell. The bottom is different every day as the lake level changes daily. We have been there with a one foot change over night. A couple of years ago I ran up on a rock spire on the inside of a corner in a side channel, in a 17 foot bass boat at trolling speed. The stern was in 60 feet of water, the bow was gently beached on a rock shelf. I reversed slowly and we were off and good to go. Stay in the center of the channel. Watch for color changes in the water. Go slow if in question. It is a beautiful if not magical place. Charts are a good supplement to a map and a depth finder, but don't rely on charts like we do in the PNW! There are rocks that are high and dry sometimes and one foot below the water line as the level changes. Have a great trip to Powell! It is beautiful. I have spent some time exploring there and never had a problem. Slow is good unless in the main channel and following the markers, then you can make good time with some certainty. The center of most side channels is fine. The edges can yield surprises. As you look at those rock spires think of what they might look like if just under the water surface! Enjoy Powell, it is a treasure.
 
Pat is right about Lake Powell. Get the map with the channel markers on it. And stay in the middle of the channel. Do not short cut even if it "looks deep". A good map and a good depth finder are essential for Powell. The bottom is different every day as the lake level changes daily. We have been there with a one foot change over night. A couple of years ago I ran up on a rock spire on the inside of a corner in a side channel, in a 17 foot bass boat at trolling speed. The stern was in 60 feet of water, the bow was gently beached on a rock shelf. I reversed slowly and we were off and good to go. Stay in the center of the channel. Watch for color changes in the water. Go slow if in question. It is a beautiful if not magical place. Charts are a good supplement to a map and a depth finder, but don't rely on charts like we do in the PNW! There are rocks that are high and dry sometimes and one foot below the water line as the level changes. Have a great trip to Powell! It is beautiful. I have spent some time exploring there and never had a problem. Slow is good unless in the main channel and following the markers, then you can make good time with some certainty. The center of most side channels is fine. The edges can yield surprises. As you look at those rock spires think of what they might look like if just under the water surface! Enjoy Powell, it is a treasure.
 
Enjoy, Mike! This is one of the most magical places on Earth! We have been there four times, and will almost certainly go back again. You cannot see it all in a lifetime!
 
Do you know if anyone has developed a nav app where you can key-in the lake level and thus depict a more accurate view of the lake?

Best,
C&M
 
Too late for Mike J, but we found a National Geographic map to be a nice addition.

https://www.amazon.com/Glen-Canyon-Nati ... ake+powell

It is printed on some type of plastic paper that really holds up well, even when it gets sit on, wet, folded wrong, etc. We used a fine tipped permanent marker to keep track of our travels, anchorages, hikes, and notes. A nice quick reference souvenir and it looks like it will last several trips.

For "charts," I used only those on my HDS 5. That, reasonable speeds, and keeping both eyes open worked just fine.

Mark
 
Yes, it was the Glen Canyon map. For a marker, I use a waterproof sketching pen from an art supply store. Available in really fine tips and can be used in my log book (which sometimes gets damp). Also good for sketching, of course.

Mark
 
We made it back and had a wonderful 8 days on the lake.
We used the nat geo map, the fishnmap charts, stan jones' map and a "satellite map" that we got at the gas stattion. Those plus the navionics app on my samsung tablet did the trick. The navionics app was basically the chart plottter and was running all the time we were running along with the sounder.
I will post a write up soon I hope!
Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Mike, good to hear you are back safe and had a good time. Curious which Samsung tablet you are running and if you had good GPS reception on it all the time?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I will have to check the exact model, but it is an older 7 inch galaxy tab. It seemed to get pretty good GPS- unlike the ipad i tried which did not have real GPS. The GPS on the tablet was pretty much as good as that on the HDS8...
 
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