[CA] SonarChart vs. SonarChart Live

[Chuck - Raymarine - Moderator]

Welcome to the Raymarine Forum Ken,

Q1. In other words: If I download the SonarCharts from Navionics, is it be possible to just use my own logged depths as SonarCharts?

A1. Partially. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing this subject. When the Sonar Logging feature has been enabled, sonar log files are stored on the chart card. However, these files are not accessed until the SonarChart Live feature has been enabled. As you can see from the screen snapshot within the referenced FAQ, the SonarChart Live charting layer is transparent and overlays the contours from the Navionics SonarCharts and/or Nautical Charts. The bathymetry displayed by the SonarChart Live feature will be bold to stand out from the underlying cartography. As indicated within the referenced FAQ, when seeking to maximize the accuracy and detail of the SonarChart Live bathymetry, it is recommended that a pattern search (see image below) be performed over the area of interest (reef, wreck, submerged creek bed, drop off, etc.). Doing so will permit sonar from multiple angles to pass over the area.

Q2. If I downloaded the SonarCharts onto my included Navionics+ card, is it possible to remove the downloaded SonarCharts completely from the card in order to just have my own logged depths together with the base charts displayed.
A2. While it is certainly possible to remove SonarCharts from the Navionics+ chart card, thereby reducing the bathymetric contours to those within the Navionics Nautical Charts, it is not necessary to do so. Should you simply configure the Chart application's settings to Show Contours feature to NONE and then configure the Chart application's Sonar Logging and SonarChart Live features to ON, then only contours from your sonar logs will be displayed.

Q3. Will I lose my already logged depths when I remove the downloaded SonarCharts?
A3. Negative. Again, it is not necessary to remove SonarCharts from the chart card to achieve the end which you are seeking ... see the response to Q2.