Hi Chad,pensacoladiver wrote:There are many mixed feelings about whether the Navionics are worth the price and many, including me feel that Insight is plenty good enough. If you do decide to spring for the Navionics, let me know how they work.
How is Pensacola treating you?
I run both Navionics and Insight side-by-side on my two chartplotters (HDS-10 & HDS-7), so thought I would pass along my observations.
Navionics
Matches the look of paper charts (easier on old farts like me)
Much more depth detail.
Loads significantly faster.
Tides & Currents easier to use.
Marina Data, etc. sometimes valuable.
Insight Maps
Less detail than Navionics
False depth readings displayed at certain ranges (see note below)
Slower to load
Adjustable shading is very nice.
Notes:
Insight works very well for general navigation, and you generally can't beat the price. I usually run this on my 10" display.
I frequently see it display false depth data at moderate (0.2 mile) ranges. For example, last week while cruising up Colvos Passage, Insight was showing 48 foot depth readings mid-channel (actual depth was 348, so it was dropping the "3"). When you zoom in the display, the depths do begin to display correctly. At the same moderate ranges, I also notice that Insight will sometimes display little or no depth info other than shading.
I don't know that the Navionics charts are worth the extra $$, but for local boaters/divers, if you decide to upgrade to a Navionics Chart Card, I would advise you to purchase the British Columbia chart. I covers all of Puget Sound and Vancouver Island. If you buy the US West Coast card, it stops working as soon as you cross the border to Canada. I personally use the Navioncs display when searching for and diving wrecks and local dive sites. I find the additional depth readings (which match my charts and charting software) to be useful.
YMMV,
