Problems with Garmin Bluechart Americas 9.0

Just wondering if anybody has had the same problem with Garmin's
Bluecarts:

When traveling by boat in Lake Huron from Map CA2203 (G) to CA373053,
say at N45 29.418 W80 27.478, maps do not correctly match. The track
goes onto land even though I am still traveling on water.

Can anybody reporduce the error?

Any clue what's wrong?

Bernie.

Bernie BAK wrote:

Someone asked me about that on V8 too. They apparently have not fixed
the issue there. One of the maps is blank or something like that so
when you zoom in there is no detail. I don't remember all the details
but you can work around the problem by turning off the offending map.

Someone needs to report that to Garmin. If I had paid for an unlock fee
for area, I would do it. If I needed that area, I'd ask Garmin for a
refund on the purchase. It may get their attention if they have to give
you the money back.

Jack

Thanks for your concerned message, Jack, you're always a good poster.

Turing it off does help not driving your boat onto an island, but does
not help navigating in that area.

I did now report it to Garmin on their error report sheet on their
website. Curious to know if I get any response.

I also called tech service and they acknowledged the error, said that
"their mapping supply company is working on it" and will correct with
the next version. I'm not so sure when that will be since 9.0 just
came out in Jan. '07.

Bernie.

Bernie BAK wrote:

I just looked at that lat/long you mentioned in your first post and that
is a similar error to the other one I was talking about but it is not
the same location. So it looks like there is more than one problem area
in their charting up there in that general area.

That Garmin BlueChart data is licensed from Navionics, it would be
interesting to look at a Navionics data card on another system to see if
the error is there too. Maybe you can find another boat owner up there
with the same electronic charts for the same area.

If you have the time and interest and can call it toll free, it might be
worth discussing with Garmin tech support at 1 800 800 1020. I've had
several rewarding and reassuring conversations with the folks there
although not on this specific problem.

Maybe a call to Garmin and mention of the safety and liability issues
involved here will prompt some action. I really feel they owe you
resolution on the issue or a refund. It sounds like they are handling
it like a routine matter or minor data error and I think it should be
getting more attention than that.

I do some seasonal boat deliveries in the Northeast U.S., from Maine
down to the Cape Cod area, and have not experienced a similar problem
with either BlueChart V8 or V9 in any of the areas I've traveled. Of
course, I've not seen it all.

But I have spent quite a bit of time using MapSource to build and edit
routes and get through zoom levels and see a lot of it at the highest
zoom levels so I'm fairly sure the data for this area is good.

Jack

Interesting new thoughts, Jack:



I'll try to e-mail navionics as well. I also have a Garmin 172c with a
Bluechart Americas Data Card at the Cottage, which I purchased last
year. I'll try to see this weekend if that gives me the same error.


As I said, already called them.



Great point. In fact, I should get some money back, given the high
cost of the charts.



Good point: Interestingly enough, the charts match up fine at high
(50000+) zoom levels. It is only when you get down lower (50000-) that
they diverge. Led me first to believe that it had someting to do with
zooming between different scales (which those two maps are at), but
techie at Garmin said that the GPS is supposed to adjust automatically
for that.

We'll get there,

Bernie.