The essentials in 30 seconds
- Mapping follows the chartplotter, not the other way around. Raymarine = LightHouse + Navionics+ (since the 2017 merger). B&G/Simrad/Lowrance = C-MAP as standard. Garmin = proprietary Garmin Navionics+. Choosing the mapping system means choosing the chartplotter ecosystem.
- Comparable coverage on European recreational boating zones (Atlantic, English Channel, Mediterranean). Minor differences in Scandinavian fjords and the Caribbean.
- 2026 updates: Navionics+ includes 1 year of updates, then an annual subscription. C-MAP Discover X includes 2 years. Garmin BlueChart g3 Vision: 1 year included.
- SonarChart Live: Navionics exclusive — your depth sounder data automatically updates the chart. For pure racing or exploration, this is a significant advantage.
- Workshop verdict: 80% of Skysat 2026 refits follow the existing ecosystem. For a complete refit with free choice, Navionics+ on Raymarine = recreational boating standard. C-MAP on B&G/Simrad = sailing racing standard.
Marine mapping is no longer a product, it's a service. An SD card loaded once and for all is gone: today, the standard is an annual subscription with bi-weekly updates, user-contributed sounder data, weather overlay layers, and community bathymetry. Three European providers dominate this market in 2026.
This article distinguishes the three charting ecosystems (Navionics, C-MAP, Garmin Navionics+) based on the chartplotter you own or plan to buy. For the choice of the chartplotter itself, see our GPS-depth sounder combo 9 vs 12 inches for sailboats.
The 2026 marine charting market
The acquisition of Navionics by Garmin in 2017 completely reshaped the market. Since then:
- Navionics+ is available in two versions: an "open" version for Raymarine, Lowrance (Navico group), Humminbird; and a "Garmin Navionics+" version exclusive to Garmin with a few layer differences.
- C-MAP has belonged to the Navico group since 2007 (Simrad, Lowrance, B&G). C-MAP Discover X is the flagship product for 2024+, with subscription and updates included.
- Garmin BlueChart g3 Vision is Garmin’s historical charting system, still available alongside Garmin Navionics+ for users of Garmin handheld GPS units.
Navionics+ — the Raymarine/Lowrance/Humminbird ecosystem
Navionics+ is the native charting system for Raymarine Axiom, Lighthouse, Lowrance, Humminbird. It is also the charting available on the Navionics Boating mobile app (free with zone purchase).
- Coverage: 99% of global recreational boating zones.
- SonarChart: high-resolution community bathymetry, user soundings integrated within hours.
- SonarChart Live: your depth sounder automatically feeds the chart while underway. Your tracks enrich the chart for all users.
- Weather overlay layers: GRIB integration via the Boating app + sync with the chartplotter.
- Compatible with Raymarine Axiom +, Lowrance HDS Live, Humminbird Helix/Solix/Apex.
C-MAP — the B&G/Simrad/Lowrance ecosystem
C-MAP is the historical charting system of the Navico group (B&G, Simrad, Lowrance — Lowrance dual-charting with Navionics+ and C-MAP). C-MAP Discover X is the flagship product for 2024.
- Coverage: excellent in Europe + Caribbean + Mediterranean.
- Genesis Live: C-MAP’s equivalent of SonarChart Live. Your soundings automatically enrich the bathymetry.
- Easy Routing: automatic route calculation taking draft and obstacles into account.
- Tides & Currents: included as standard, annual update.
- Compatible with B&G Vulcan/Zeus/Zeus³S, Simrad NSS/NSO, Lowrance HDS.
Garmin Navionics+ — Garmin’s native ecosystem
Exclusive Garmin cartography for GPSMAP, ECHOMAP, Striker models. Fusion of Navionics + Garmin BlueChart data since 2018.
- Coverage: 99% worldwide, particularly rich in US waters (BlueChart legacy).
- Auto Guidance+: proprietary Garmin automatic routing, considered one of the most accurate on the market.
- Quickdraw Contours: user bathymetry — create your own charts while underway.
- FishEye 3D: 3D bottom visualization for fishing (of limited use in cruising).
Technical comparison table
| Criteria | Navionics+ | C-MAP Discover X | Garmin Navionics+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included updates | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year |
| User bathymetry | SonarChart Live | Genesis Live | Quickdraw Contours |
| Automatic routing | Dock-to-Dock | Easy Routing | Auto Guidance+ |
| Tides & Currents | Included | Included | Included |
| Global coverage | 99% | 99% | 99% |
| Companion mobile app | Navionics Boating | C-MAP Embark | ActiveCaptain |
| Compatible with | Raymarine, Lowrance, Humminbird | B&G, Simrad, Lowrance | Garmin only |
Workshop verdict by chartplotter brand
If you have Raymarine Axiom (60% of our customers)
Navionics+ Europe = standard. No native alternative. If you want C-MAP, you must change the chartplotter (heavy).
If you have B&G Vulcan / Zeus / Zeus³S (25% of our customers, racing/performance)
C-MAP Discover X = standard. C-MAP is better for sailboat racing (more accurate wind/current overlay layers). Possible to add Navionics+ as a second chart source on some Zeus³S models (rare).
If you have Garmin GPSMAP / ECHOMAP (10% of our customers)
Garmin Navionics+ = only native choice. Auto Guidance+ is excellent for coastal navigation. Highest price on the market.
Full refit 2026 — free choice
Our recommendation: Raymarine Axiom + Navionics+ for versatile cruising. B&G Vulcan/Zeus + C-MAP for sailboat racing and performance. Garmin for big-game fishing and specific fish-finder needs.
Updates: frequency
Modern chartplotters update 4–12 times per year automatically via Wi-Fi:
- Navionics+: bi-monthly updates, mainly buoys and SonarChart layers.
- C-MAP Discover X: monthly updates, including European Notice to Mariners (NtM).
- Garmin Navionics+: bi-monthly updates, including ActiveCaptain (user reports on anchorages/marinas).
FAQ — Marine cartography in practice
Can paper charts be used as a supplement?
Yes, and it is even mandatory in some cases. Division 240 requires offshore (> 60 NM) navigation to carry paper charts of the area sailed. SHOM in France, NOAA in the USA. Electronic cartography does not replace paper charts; it complements them. In case of chartplotter failure, paper charts + magnetic compass + handheld GPS are your backup.
Can you share a chart between 2 chartplotters?
Navionics+: 1 license for 1 user, max 5 devices. C-MAP Discover X: 1 license per device (not multi-boat). Garmin Navionics+: 1 license per device. In practice, plan one license per boat.
SonarChart Live or Genesis Live — which is better?
Both operate on the same principle: your depth sounder automatically uploads your passage data to the community mapping system. SonarChart Live (Navionics) has more historical data for Europe. Genesis Live (C-MAP) integrates faster and performs better on lakes and estuaries. Offshore, they are 95% equivalent.
What SD card size should be used?
Full Europe coverage = 8–16 GB depending on supplier. A 32 GB or 64 GB Class 10 SD card is sufficient for 5–10 years of charts. No need for high-speed SDXC — charts are read intermittently, not streamed.
3 real-world workshop cases — charting choices
Case 1 — Sun Odyssey 410 cruising refit, Mediterranean
The boat was purchased second-hand in 2023, originally equipped with a Raymarine Axiom+ 12 chartplotter and expired Navionics Gold charts from 2019. Recommendation: Navionics+ subscription for Central/Western Europe with 1 year of updates included. Activation in 15 minutes via the Boating app. The client immediately noticed the addition of new markings in Spanish Mediterranean waters.
Case 2 — Mini 6.50 solo transatlantic racer
Preparation for the 2025 Mini-Transat. B&G Vulcan 7 chartplotter with C-MAP Discover X Atlantic charts. Choice justified by: H5000 integration + complete coverage of the Azores and Caribbean + Easy Routing accounting for the Mini’s draft. Skipper feedback: "C-MAP Genesis Live refined the bathymetry of Lanzarote Bay during my preparation sailing."
Case 3 — Lagoon 50 charter yacht, Caribbean charter
2 Garmin GPSMAP 1223xsv chartplotters on helm + flybridge. Garmin Navionics+ Caribbean + Bahamas mapping. Auto Guidance+ used successfully by non-professional tenants — automatic route calculation respecting 1.8 m draft. Bi-weekly updates via marina Wi-Fi.
Alternatives ruled out — solutions not retained
- OpenSeaMap (open source): commendable community project but irregular coverage, missing buoys, infrequent updates. To be considered as free backup on smartphone, not as primary source.
- SHOM paper charts only: legal requirement offshore but no replacement for chartplotter. Annual updates required for modified zones (Mont-Saint-Michel, northern Brittany).
- NV Charts ("all-in-one" paper + digital charts): useful for Scandinavian and Balkan coasts. Less detailed coverage than Navionics/C-MAP on most Mediterranean zones.
- Old "lifetime" charts (pre-2017 Navionics Gold): some users retain their original lifetime subscription. Legal and functional, but updates limited to original chartplotter model. Migration to Navionics+ recommended every 5–7 years.
3 advanced errors — chart usage
Errors beyond the basics
- Not activating SonarChart/Genesis Live. Your sounder feeds the community bathymetry = you benefit from others’ soundings in return. Disabled by default on some chartplotters. Enable in settings before each season.
- Updating charts while underway. Update can take 30–60 min and consume 1–2 GB on 4G. Always update at free port Wi-Fi, never while underway on 4G at sea (cost + risk of interruption).
- Over-reliance on Auto Routing in coastal areas. Dock-to-Dock and Auto Guidance+ do not account for all temporary obstacles (nets, pots, unmarked mooring buoys). Always visually verify the track on the final coastal mile.
Skysat is an authorized distributor for Raymarine, B&G, Garmin and Navico. This article compares 2026 chartplotter solutions based on distributor list prices excluding VAT. Price and coverage updates are regular — check product pages before ordering.
