NavPlanner2 is now shipping!

Designed for boaters, whether offshore cruisers, day sailors, salt-water anglers, green water anglers, kayakers or canoeists, NavPlanner2 is an atlas of all US coastal waters, navigable waterways and over 12,000 inland lakes for the home computer. In addition, the software includes the entire Navionics 2010 database of exclusive High-Definition freshwater lakes, surveyed up to one-foot contour intervals.
NavPlanner2 software includes the equivalent of Navionics Gold US marine charts and HotMaps� Premium US lake maps. Boaters can plan an entire trip with detailed navigation and fishing maps including bottom contours, structures, drop-offs, marinas, boat ramps and fishery information, to name a few. The software allows users to locate ports with Go-to-Port; measure distance and bearing; overlay GRIB file weather forecasts; print paper copies; view coastal water charts in stunning 3D; display tides and currents; and even integrate with the optional and free Fugawi Google� Earth Plug-in for split screen views of Navionics charts and Google Earth satellite imagery. Offering the ultimate functionality, NavPlanner2 comes with a Navionics Multi Card Reader that can be used to view any optional Navionics chart supplied on plug-and-play CF or SD/MicroSD card, including the award-winning Navionics Gold, Platinum+ and HotMaps Platinum charts. The card reader can also be used to program a blank CF or SD card with waypoints to transfer to and from a variety of leading chartplotters including Raymarine�, Lowrance�, Simrad�, Garmin�, Humminbird� and Geonav�.

�We are excited to get this feature-packed planning tool into the hands of boaters,� said Jeff Brodeur, sales manager, Navionics. �Navionics NavPlanner2 perfectly combines the award-winning, richly detailed charts produced by Navionics with Fugawi�s leading chart presentation and user data management technology. We believe this software will be a winner with boaters interested in planning their boating or fishing trip in advance for maximum enjoyment and safety while on the water.�

To see the complete press release along with screens shots - http://www.navionics.com/NavionicsNews.asp?ID=324&ArticleYear=2010

Mary-Ellen

Are they going to offer a lower priced upgrade for NavPlanner owners? I already have that with the card reader, plus a premium card, plus Hot Maps Explorer. Navplanner2 would be nice to have to get the HD lakes that aren't on my card plus not having to retrieve the card from my unit everytime I want to check something on the PC.

Hopefully, they won't leave us out to dry?

Here is the Navionics response:

"Navionics NavPlanner2 powered by Fugawi is a new product offering, not an update to the NavPlanner and is not eligible for upgrade/trade-in."

Not really what I was hoping for. Sounds like if it were a "new product" it would have been called something other than NAVPLANNER2! So now if you have Navplanner and want to get Navplanner2 you will have to pay for "another" card reader. They should at least offer a lower cost version without the card reader. Looks like no more Navionics products for me!