What Is Garmin’s BlueChart g2 Vision Technology

June 13th, 2007 | Chartplotters, Garmin

For those of you not familiar with Garmin GPS and other marine electronics equipment, let’s start at the beginning:

Click to enlarge image
Garmin sells GPS chartplotters for boaters, which are devices that not only tell you where you are in the world, but can provide detailed marine maps of the entire U.S. coasts — including Alaska and Hawaii — and many inland waterways as well. (Some Garmin chartplotters come with the maps preloaded, and others require that you purchase the maps separately by region.)

This mapping or cartography allows the boat’s skipper to view nautical charts on the GPS unit just like they would be looking at an “old school” paper nautical chart.

Click to enlarge image
The Garmin Bluechart technology allows not only viewing of chart images, but also a 3-dimensional rendering of “captain’s view” of unfamiliar waters. The view can be topside or underwater, which comes in very handy when trying to navigate around shoals, reefs or other underwater obstacles.

Click to enlarge image

An option available with the Garmin Bluechart g2 devices include “real photo” reference. That is, high-resolution satellite imagery can be overlaid on the chart and provide images of ports, marinas, and other navigational landmarks. So in addition to viewing a chart filled with lines and numbers, the GPS system will display an image that should match what the navigator would see right outside in the “real world” (although at an elevated angle). Bluechart g2 shows this information with super detail and clarity.

In addition to outstanding imagery, the Garmin Bluechart systems provide a large amount of useful information. Data provided includes tides & currents, wrecks, restricted areas, shoals, spoilage, coastal roads, and even points of interest up to 5 miles inland with addresses and phone numbers.

Whew!

You can visit the Garmin web site for more detailed information on the Bluechart g2 technology, and Boatersworld.com for a large selection of Garmin Bluechart chartplotters and GPS devices.

Leave a Reply