Owner's Manual. Go to www.garmin.com for current updates and supplemental information concerning the use of. Files from BaseCamp or HomePort™.

Barefoot Gal came with a Garmin 541S chartplotter, installed by a previous owner. On one hand, it was a major step up from our previous boat, where we had only a simple handheld GPS with no maps — we simply entered a list of waypoints gleaned from charts and cruising guides. But frankly, I found trying to plan and set up a route on the Garmin to be a horrible experience. On the chartplotter, I had to use a rocker switch with either the chart view or waypoint list. Even simple routes took hours and it was difficult to see potential hazards. Once underway, it was great. After a few months and combing the internet for ways to make it easier, I stumbled on Garmin HomePort — an app that Garmin does not publicize at all well.

(This is not the same as their Blue Chart/Active Captain app — both are good but in different situations. More on Blue Chart at the bottom of this article.) HomePort is a free app that works on Windows and Mac laptops and desktops, using your existing Garmin charts. It then lets you create a route using your mouse on the larger screen, zooming in and out to see the overall picture and also details of hazards. It also allows you to overlay Active Captain data on the chart. If your chartplotter is wifi enabled (and you have it set up on a network with the laptop), you can transfer the route to your chartplotter via wifi.

Ours isn’t wifi enabled, so I use an SD card to “sneaker net” the data transfer. You can also save the route (as a.gpx) to use with backup navigation programs that you might have on a tablet or phone. More on how to do all this below. I am certain that I have only scratched the surface of what HomePort can do! I am certain that I have only scratched the surface of what HomePort can do! However, this past winter I spoke to at least a dozen other cruisers in Boot Key Harbor who were also looking for easier route planning with their Garmin chartplotters and helped them get started. If you’re in the same boat (bad pun), here’s a quick rundown of how to install and use it.

NOTE: These instructions assume you do NOT have a wifi network connection between your computer and chartplotter. Download monata. If you do, and you want to transfer files via the network, you’ll have to check your owner’s manual to determine how to transfer data (ours is not wifi-enabled).

This is also how it works on my computer (Windows 10) and my chartplotter — other systems may be slightly different but this should point you in the right direction. INSTALLING AND SETTING UP HOMEPORT •. • Copy charts to use on your computer: • You will need a blank 16GB SD card (mine uses a full-size SD card; check yours) — the charts on ours take over 8GB, plus you need space to store the routes. If you don’t have one on hand, you can buy them at most big-box stores, computer stores, even some grocery stores and pharmacies (they’re the same data cards that most digital cameras use) or you can get one for less than $10 on Amazon:. I recommend having a card that you use just for HomePort, it makes life much simpler. • Put the SD card into the chartplotter and turn the chartplotter on.