OpenCPN is a simple, concise chart plotter/navigator. It is designed to be used continuously at the helm station of an underway ship or boat, allowing the operator to easily track their position on accurate chart images. Additionally, OpenCPN can display tide and current predictions, as well as information on other suitably equipped vessels in the area.
Is this just a demo product?
No. OpenCPN is a complete and fully functioning program. This and future upgrades will always be free to download without any gotchas.
Why should I use it instead of a commercial product?
a) It is Open Source software, meaning, among other things, that it is FREE TO DOWNLOAD and use. Escape the commercial paid upgrade treadmill!
b) It is "concise," meaning that the feature set is optimized for daily use, and excess features (aka "bloatware") are not present. The application is thus smaller and faster, running acceptably on as little as a 300 Mhz Pentium-II Windows-98 computer. Especially, it starts up and shuts down quickly.
Is it reliable for day to day use?
OpenCPN is currently in a Beta release stage. Traditionally, this means that there may be a few bugs. However, for most normal usage, it runs just fine.
On a personal note, OpenCPN has, for years, been the full-time everyday navigator aboard M/V Dyad, a trawler catamaran cruising from Newfoundland to the Bahamas.
I'm not techno savvy, is this easy to use?
Some familiarity with competitive products is assumed. There is precious little documentation available on OpenCPN yet. Usage is fairly intuitive.
How accurate is it?
OpenCPN's accuracy is dependent upon the accuracy of the positioning input device (e.g. GPS) and the underlying chart database. As for all such programs, OpenCPN does not remove from the operator the responsibility to LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.
With that said,
OpenCPN will plot the boat position to within about 100 ft of its true position most of the time.
OpenCPN will warn the user if the chart data accuracy does not allow for safe navigation.
Do I need GPS?
OpenCPN is optimized as an underway tool, so GPS data is necessary to allow boat position plotting. However, OpenCPN can be used without GPS for planning purposes, such as route and waypoint entry and time/distance calculations.
Where can I find the charts I need?
OpenCPN comes with a few sample charts. These are included to provide instant opportunity to experience the potential of the program. Find all the charts you need for your region through the links page.
How can I help?
If you'd like to develop enhancements to OpenCPN, check out the project on SourceForge.
Current items of interest are:
- a) Testing: Use it, cruise it, abuse it, take notes.
- b) Documentation: Writers invited.
- c) Icons, color palettes, etc: Graphic designers invited.