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Author
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Topic: OpenCPN vs. qtVlm
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Chris F
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posted January 10, 2026 02:23 PM
Hello,
I am finding Garmin and Navionics charts lacking when it comes to depth data. We have been sailing in the Sea of Cortez for about 8 months and submitted several changes to Garmin for charts of many popular bays showing very inaccurate bottom contours. Some dangerously so. To their credit, Garmin responded quickly and pushed our chart corrections in just a few weeks.
We are heading to the South Pacific in a couple of months and are exploring OpenCPN as a backup or main navigation tool.
Unfortunately, I am finding the set up and software in general difficult to navigate (Pun intended).
If anyone here is using it, what's the best way to train on this program? I am computer literate, but not a programmer or someone who is versed in the more specialized lingo.
Thank you!
From: S/V Kehaulani, MX
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David Burch
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posted January 10, 2026 04:56 PM
Navionics is notorious for chart errors and tidal current errors, and limited functionality. It is more of a boating app, than a navigation app. It includes a EULA that every user must, on every instance, agree to that states you should use real charts!
We would recommend qtVlm, which is also free for mac and pc, and essentially state of the art. It uses real NOAA ENC and can load international ENC and RNC as well, or even google earth images.
We have extensive support pages and videos on its use. We use it in our weather course, our inland and coastal nav course, and in our electronic chart nav courses (www.starpath.com/courses).
See www.starpath.com/ENC/getting_started.htm
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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Chris F
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posted January 13, 2026 06:35 PM
Thank you, David. I am looking into it. So much to do, so little time.
From: S/V Kehaulani, MX
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Chris F
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posted January 13, 2026 07:17 PM
Okay, I downloaded it and downloaded the charts. Looks great!
Downloaded the manual: 274 pages. Not great.
This is where I get tripped up with this stuff. I know I will get bored with the manual by page 5, and then I'll kick the whole thing to the curb and start fumbling with something else.
Navionics is not very good, but they are successful because they don't have a 274-page manual. That's just the way it works.
Is this software pretty intuitive?
I graduated from college with high honors many years ago. But now it boils down to me (and most people) not having 40 hours to waste on something that is not going to work out.
Sorry, end of rant. Is this thing any good? I love your Celestial Nav Course. I lived in Seattle for 35 years before sailing into the sunset. I like you guys!
Please tell me this is not a waste of time . . .
From: S/V Kehaulani, MX
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David Burch
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posted January 14, 2026 07:10 AM
Very sorry about that. It is an advanced program with a lot of detail to cover all its features.
The official manual is probably not the best place to start.
We have the Cheat Sheet at http://www.starpath.com/qtVlm which is supposed to be mission oriented to specific tasks... ie, how do I do X?
And we have many videos on individual functions. The video playlist index is listed in the Cheat Sheet.
The other very important point to note here is this, if you have specific questions about this or any other topic in the course, please do not spend what you would consider extra time on the question, just stop before that, and post the question here and some one will help you.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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David Burch
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posted January 14, 2026 07:14 AM
Thanks for pointing something out.
Our getting_started page lists the Manual at the top of the resources.
That is misleading, and i will change that right now.
Thanks again.
Here is the new list online:
quote:
Resources for Mac and PC
Interactive Cheat Sheet Interactive "How to" instructions for specific tasks
Playlist of tutorial videos. (Several on getting started)
Training Mode Overview: What it does and what it contains (22 min video) or Blog Post text version
Demos of all plotting exercises we do in the coastal nav course.
The official Manual This is an extensvie, illustrated document that covers some details not in the above sources.
If questions arise, please post them in the Student Discussion Forums.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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Chris F
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posted January 14, 2026 10:38 AM
Thank you, David. This is very helpful.
Our decision to look elsewhere for electronic charts was our purchase of Garmin's South Pacific charts ($260 a year!), and finding them lacking in details. They also don't seem to include information published on other charts. I had erroneusly assumed that Garmin's charts were based on "best available information."
I see that the charts for French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, for example, are more affordable and not on a subscription model. From your experience, do you feel there will more detail than what Garmin offers?
From: S/V Kehaulani, MX
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David Burch
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posted January 14, 2026 12:19 PM
This is not so easy to answer without direct on the water experience. When I was last there, there were no electronic charts!
We have a list of chart resources at starpath.com/getcharts.
Item 2.6 is a good way to see what official charts are available. You could zoom into a place you specifically care about, and learn what the best official chart is, and then buy one to compare with the Navionics.
Or better still, you can get the full south pacific official charts from qtVlm Meltemus charts for 99 euro and compare with them. This is a huge savings over what these charts cost from primary sources, and they are up to date, and updated semi-automatically for a year. After that you keep the charts, but no more updates.
Check out what they have at https://www.meltemus.com/index.php/en/meltemus-charts
You can write to Philippe Lelong (developer of qtVlm) directly from their site to ask if they have what you want. [email protected]
You can also load the charts onto 3 devices, which is not possible with the government purchases.
From: Starpath, Seattle, WA
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