Raymarine Axiom with Navionics or LightHouse Charts

[Peter & Judy]

I am now looking at upgrading my Raymarine C80 based system to a modern navigation system. I am leaning towards the Raymarine System. I have a question for Raymarine users. Do you prefer the Navionics charts or the LightHouse charts? I will be boating mostly in the PNW. I use Navionics Charts on my iPad.

 

[thataway]

I had both (Axiom) Navionics and lighthouse- Preferred the Navionics. Use the I pad for planning, and Aqua Map for Active Captain.

Not sure what the future of Navionics will be since they are now owned by Garmin.

 

[hardee]

Peter, I have been looing at upgrading my RM electronics to new also. Probably Axium 12 and was at Rodgers Marine in Portland yesterday. The chart question came up there too. Seems the local preference there is for Navionics. Their recommendation for me, since I have been using that system for 15 years is to stay with it, and there are some advantages. Yes, The Axium is nice, but in everything, change is not easy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Peter & Judy]

When navigating, I often like to refer to different layers of information and this is one reason that I am thinking about the LightHouse Charts on the Chart Plotter. I already use the iPad with Navionics and if it were side by side with the CP I could refer to two sets of charts plus the paper charts to help build the full picture. I need to find a physical Raymarine Plotter with the LightHouse charts in Demo mode to compare the two.

 

[Hunkydory]

Since 2010, we’ve been navigating with two Garmin chart plotters & Navionics on the IPad. At one time we we also had Garmin on the IPad too & after using both alternately for a couple years grew to prefer Navionics. Last year we replaced one of the Garmin Chart plotters with a Raymarine Axiom & chose the Navionics. I really like having Navionics on both. I set the depth color on both the same & for me it makes it much easier to use the IPad for looking about at different screen views, tide & currents, while using the axiom for auto pilot control, AIS, & main navigation. The old Garmin is now just a back up.

With the Raymarine Axiom, whether you chose Lighthouse or Navionics it’s a subscription that cost $100 to renew annually. You can get by with out renewal, but lose auto routing, some chart detail & updates. On the IPad, Navionics is actually better than on the Chart plotter & only cost $22 for the annual subscription.

Jay