"The BlueChart CD will give offshore boaters more mapping options and additional convenience at the most affordable price on the market," said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s director of marketing. "We designed this CD primarily for our marine units that currently do not accept data cards, including our popular GPSMAP 76 handheld plotter and, soon, our high-end eTrex models."
BlueChart data is similar to detailed marine information found on paper NOAA charts, but is displayed in digital format on GARMIN chartplotters. The BlueChart CD is currently compatible with the GPSMAP 76, GPSMAP 162, and GPSMAP 168 Sounder. The eTrex Legend, eTrex Vista and GPS V will be compatible in December 2001. Mariners will find such things as depth contours, inter-tidal zones, spot soundings, wrecks, navaids, restricted areas, cable areas, anchorages and much more on the BlueChart CD. Consumers get a region of their choice at the time of purchase and can opt to buy additional regions.
The Americas CD includes the East and West coasts of the U.S., the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. BlueChart coverage for the Pacific includes Australia and New Zealand. The Atlantic CD includes the coastlines of Western Europe, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Black Sea and Baltic Sea.
The CDs are expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2001 with respective suggested retail prices of $151.65 (Americas), $199.99 (Pacific) and $246.14 (Atlantic).