Thank you! That compliment means a lot! I really do love OpenCPN. But it definitely takes a bit more configuring/exploring to understand how to use it and get the most from it. Glad I can help people with that process!

Happy to provide a helpful push!

We're focusing on providing maintenance schedules for the "big ticket" items on the boat. But we've created the ability for you to create custom schedules and alerts for any type of task that you'd like! This style may look a bit familiar 😆, but I've started filming some video tutorials if you're interested to see how things work: maintenanceros.com/tutorials

EDIT: I'm editing this reply because thanks to the additional comments, I discovered there IS a way to get Vesper data while connected to the internet through a different router! support.vespermarine.com/hc/en-us/articles/210478166-Tricks-in-adding-XB-8000-or-Watchmate-Vision-to-local-network Thank you, that is a good point! Yes, if we connect to our Vesper wifi, we lose regular internet connectivity. This hasn't been an issue for us in the past (hence why I didn't think to mention it) since we didn't have Starlink regular internet to miss. But as I understand it some of the wifi gateway devices can actually be configured to work _through_ your normal internet router. So you could end up with the best of both worlds!

Yes you can by configuring correctly. Just like you can access multiple web resources like a browser and an email service at the same time , it is all about management of the ip addresses and ports. Usually automatic for internet. It’s the same as accessing a local printer scanner via WiFi while still connecting to the internet . I have done that!

Another way to make this work (discovered thanks to your video). I've connected my MacMini to my router and have the Vesper connected to that same router. OpenCPN was able to find the Vesper data and all is perfect. At the same time I have blazing fast internet through the router and StarLink.... Thanks again both David and Jack. I am over the moon!

There is! The way I've done it in the past is to export the waypoints from OpenCPN GPX files onto a microSD card. You can do this through the Route and Mark Manager found in the tools menu. Then on the chart plotter, put the the extra microSD in then there should be an import function somewhere.

Search for Duncan Town, Bahamas. Then the Hog Cay we were at is just north of Ragged Island!

Linux is better than a mac. But as to OpenCPN, it depends how new your chart plotter is. If you've some 10-20 year old plotter, OpenCPN is going to be much better. But if you've just bought a new fancy chart plotter you should keep it and maybe use OpenCPN as backup.

Not sure I'd claim they're "way better" (unless you have a significantly old plotter like Yarpen Zigrin mentioned). But as I mentioned in the video, I really am a big believer in having backup systems on the boat. And believe me, when we've had issues with our Raymarine plotter in the past, OpenCPN came out right away! I'd also say that there are different functions that something like OpenCPN can provide. I'm going to continue this OpenCPN series all the way to creating your own charts. It's pretty amazing to have chart plotter like capability and satellite imagery!

@@OutChasingStars Did you ever do a "from the beginning" video for oppencpn and qtvlm? I'd like to start there.

You can start here! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hbCWbMh9mJO2m3U.html

The reasoning behind projects like OpenCPN (and the hugely successful Linux OS) is not about being way better, even though it maybe in some cases. Fair winds and following seas my friend.