“HomePort is the planning and data backup solution our marine customers have been waiting for,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “This desktop application is the complete trip planning package with capabilities specific to the mariner. And best of all, HomePort utilizes the charts mariners have already purchased for and use with their chartplotter.”
Whether you’re planning a journey or coming off the water, HomePort enables the use of existing BlueChart® data from a preloaded Garmin chartplotter, or preprogrammed data card to help plan ahead on your PC – no additional charts are needed. Once the chart data is uploaded to HomePort, the user can begin to manage and catalog waypoints, routes and tracks, and use the application to help predict fuel usage, tides and depth profiles. With HomePort, mariners can also plan a route to avoid hidden underwater hazards, and can plot a course that keeps their vessel away from shallow or rocky shorelines. HomePort also allows the user to measure distance and bearing between waypoints, and will even help calculate speed and determine an estimated time of arrival.
For even more convenience, the HomePort application lets users create trip files so that they may save and profile trips for future use on their PC. Once you’re finished working in HomePort, you need only to transfer the planned route back to the chartplotter via the micro SD™/SD™ card, and enjoy the journey.
Planning on HomePort can be made on either traditional navigation charts, or on fishing charts and is compatible with BlueChart g2 Vision®, BlueChart g2 and BlueChart data. HomePort is expected to be available in November 2009 for a retail price of $29.99. This new planning application will be available for retail purchase, or as a download from www.garmin.com/homeport. To learn more about HomePort and Garmin’s compatible BlueChart offerings, go to www.garmin.com.