C-Map has some interesting things going on as their transition to Jeppesen takes them into some natural collaborations.

First, Nobeltec is working on incorporating C-Map Max Pro into the venerable Visual Navigation Suite. Max Pro is the current charting interface for the Northstar 8000 series, but Nobeltec will really get Pro into the public eye.

JeppesenC-Map Max Pro

Look for some version of Max Pro to also grace Navnet 3 when it's introduced in October. That's a little curious since MaxSea is involved but they have always been compatible with each other, so it appears the user interface will be some MaxSea/C-Map Max Pro/Furuno all-in-one application. Look for the end of chart cards as we know them, as the unit will be loaded and updated through an internet connection. The question then arises: where does Navionics stand in all this?

C-Map has also put together a bulletin to get the most out of your NavNet vx2 unit if it's the C-Map Max (not Pro) version. It's a simple line-by-line list to go through that take's advantage of Max's more unique features.

Some highlights include anti-grounding alarms and safe route checking. Also, flashing colored navaids and buoy names don't work unless you know where to turn them on. After all the years vx2 has been available, I didn't even know it had a few of these features. Download the Dealer Bulletin and give them a try.

Here are PDF verions: the Furuno Dealer Bulletin, the Furuno vx2 Profile, Furuno vx2 Tuneup Guide and the C-Map Max bulletin.

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Jeff McLaren is the National Sales Manager for Seawide Marine Distribution, a wholesaler distributor based in Southern California that works with all major electronics manufacturers. He has produced a series of instructional DVDs on how to use Raymarine navigation gear.