Is there a print version of the book?
Yes, there is a print version of the third edition. You can order a copy here. GPX files for anchorages, marinas, public pontoons, public moorings, passages and other points of interest are supplied as a downloadable archive matching the names used in the book so that you can import these into your Navionics app, C-Map or chart plotter.
What chandleries and bookstores in Australia are selling the print book?
Hobart
Peter Johnston Ship Chandlers
Melbourne
C. H. Smith Marine
Whitworths
Sydney
Boat Books
Whitworths
Gold Coast
Bosun’s Locker, Southport Yacht Club
Australian Boating Supplies, Gold Coast City Marina
Marine Trade Supplies, The Boat Works
Whitworths
Brisbane
Muir Marine, Manly
Whitworths
Scarborough
Boat Harbour Marine
Mooloolaba
Ashby Boat Builders
Sunshine Sailing
Whitworths
Tin Can Bay
The Chandlery Bait & Tackle
Bundaberg
Captains Chandlery
Midtown Chandlery
Gladstone
Compleat Angler
Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island Chandlery
Airlie Beach
Marlin Marine
Townsville
Rosshaven Marine
The Navigation Centre
Cairns
Cairns Charts & Maps
Whitworths
Adelaide
Whitworths
Perth
The Chart & Map Shop
Whitworths
Do I need to be online on the Internet to use the eBook?
As an eBook, it is downloaded to your device. No Internet connection is needed to read the book. You can use the book without an Internet connection. We do have some features in the book that require an Internet connection. These are the weblinks and the Navionics links. We suggest you load up anchorages and passages for a coast when you are in range. Then you can use them without needing an Internet connection. In the book, we show the Telstra mobile reception signal strength for each anchorage and marina so you will know ahead of time whether you will have Internet at your destination.
I have multiple devices. Can I read the eBook on each?
Yes. The way Apple Books, Google Play Books and Amazon Kindle work is that you have reader apps installed on your tablets, phones and/or laptops. With the app, you log in to the bookstore. Any books you own are then downloadable to that device.
What apps can I use the ⎈ markers with?
We use industry GPX files. They work on Navionics, C-Map, recent chart plotters and Open CPN.
How do I use the eBook on a Mac Laptop?
Apple Books, Google Play Books and Amazon Kindle Reader are all available for Apple Macs. Once you have purchased the book, simply ensure your book reader application is logged in and the book will be downloaded to your Mac. When using a laptop, Navionics links are opened on a website.
How do I use the eBook on a Windows Laptop?
There is a Kindle app for Windows. It is the only book platform that supports Windows. There is a Google Play Books Chrome Browser plug-in that works on Windows, however, it only allows you to read the book when online, which is pretty useless. I suppose Google and Apple expect you to read books on iPads and Android Tablets.
Can I get a Sample in my eBook Reader?
Apple Books, Google Play Books and Amazon Kindle provide free samples.
I bought one edition and now I see there is a new edition. How do I get that?
The book platforms do not have an annual subscription service for books (they do for apps and magazines), so you simply buy the new edition.
How do I get errata updates?
Errata updates may be published for Apple Books and Google Play Books. Amazon Kindle does not generally support updates. See the How to use the Book chapter in the book for instructions for each platform on how to check for and get updates.
For the print version, see Errata Third Edition.
Do you recommend the Amazon Kindle version?
Not if you can avoid it. Links in the Amazon Kindle version do not work in IOS devices such as iPads and iPhones as a matter of policy from Amazon. It also does not work on Kindle hardware - the Kindle app is required. While book updates flow automatically to Apple Books and Google Play Books users, Amazon Kindle requires a manual author request and will only update books for critical errors. For these reasons, I do not recommend using the book on Kindle. The limitations and compatibility requirements are listed on the Kindle book entry. If you bought the book on Kindle and are having these issues, please get in touch with me at book AT gregluck.com so I can move you to a different version.
The book is included in Amazon Kindle because Amazon Kindle is the world’s largest eBook store, and many people only have a Kindle. Also, it is the only offline option for Windows users.
What if I find an error or would like to contribute?
Please email book AT gregluck.com.
Why do I need a cruising guide? Why can’t I just use a Point of Interest app or features like Navionics Community, Active Captain, C-Map Community or Zulu Waterways?
Navigation apps such as Navionics and C-Map allow the community to add points of interest or comments to points of interest. You can usually show and hide these in your settings. Zulu Waterways is an app with maps and community-generated points of interest. I find these useful, particularly Navionics as I am already using it and look at them. The quality of the marker location and the description is wholly dependent on who added it and there is no quality control or correction of serious errors. I think there is a place for a curated guide, which takes you through each coast and the associated marinas and anchorages with detailed, quality-controlled information. You can also get additional information from community sources. I wrote the book because I didn’t find the Point of Interest information sufficient on its own.
How do I add markers and passages to my chart plotter?
Firstly, the passages are illustrative. There are many reasons why a passage from the book needs modification, e.g. a wreck or a sand bar in the way. Ensure you read the Illustrative Route Warning linked from each passage table in the book.
Click on the ⎈ for the anchorage or passage and save it to an SD card. Insert the card into your plotter and import the GPX file. See your chart plotter manual for the exact steps. GPX import from an SD card is supported on most chart plotters including Raymarine, Humminbird, Furuno, B&G and Simrad to name a few.
How do add markers and passages to my C-Map app?
Assuming you have the C-Map app on the same device as the Navionics app, you can simply select C-Map as the destination for the file. It will then open C-Map and import the marker. (Tested on iOS). Otherwise, save it as a file and then share the file to C-Map. This is covered in detail in the How to use this book chapter.
Why have Navionics links stopped working?
In July 2023, Navionics announced that Boating Links would expire after two years. It is now clear, as of mid 2024, that they are applying that retrospectively, meaning that the links I created have expired out. This is the second time I created the links. I had to recreate them in February 2023 after a change at Navionics broke compatibility with older Android devices. Unfortunately, the links are not fit for purpose as a permanent identifier. I did an update to the second edition to add GPX links, which are served off my own server. So the second edition has Navionics links that no longer work and GPX links that do. For the third edition, I only use GPX links and have removed all Navionics links. .Use the GPX ⎈ instead. GPX is industry-standard and works with Navionics, C-Map and late model chart plotters.
I opened my book in Google Play Books while it was updating. Why do the fonts look strange?
Google Play Books lets you use the book while it is still downloading/updating. However, sometimes the fonts are not loaded and the text will look strange. This persists even when the download/update is complete. Restart Google Play Books to fix the issue.
Why can opening links in Navionics on Android cause the Navionics app to stop?
This can happen if your version of Navionics on Android is old. Older versions of the Android Navionics app are not compatible with newer boating links. Find the Navionics app in the Google Play Store app and tap the Update button. Or you can set the Google Play Store app to update all your apps automatically.
I am in the Pacific and it says the book is not available on my island/territory.
The three online bookstores: Apple Books, Google Play Books and Amazon Kindle are only available in larger countries. They treat overseas territories of countries as different countries. For example, New Caledonia is not treated as being part of France for bookstore purposes. None of the Pacific countries is enabled for eBook purchases, making things tricky for cruisers across the Pacific. The stores actively detect your location and will not allow you to purchase.
To solve this problem, I added the book to Rakuten Kobo, which supports 244 countries and territories. It uses the same ePub 3.2 format and works pretty much the same as the Apple Books and Google Play Books readers.
My book app does not seem to be downloading the eBook
Some users have reported this issue when downloading the book from Apple Books. They disabled their VPN and then it downloaded. The book is around 80MB. If you are downloading the book over the mobile phone network you might also run into a limit. Enable large downloads for your book app in settings, or share a hotspot from another phone and download it that way.
