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Tracks, Routes and Boundaries on a Garmin® Marine Chartplotter
Tracks
Garmin® Chartplotters have a feature known as Tracks. An electronic breadcrumb trail records while the path is traveled (a point is at a fixed interval). While navigating, the track recorded is called an "active" track, an Active Track is also any past track not saved. The Active Track will be listed in the Save Active Track and Follow Active Track. When a track records, it is typically assigned the time of the track if there are multiple tracks on the same day. If there is only one track for the day, the title is the date recorded and saved track data storage under Saved Tracks. The track has options to follow Forward or Backward. Saved Track data is editable (name, color) and saved as a route or boundary. Tracks can be shown or hidden on each chart, including 3D chart views. The user controls the recording method of tracks.
The path for Tracks Info Button > User Data > Tracks below are the options found in the Tracks Menu.
To locate Tracks: from the Info Button > User Data > Tracks, below are the options in the Tracks Menu.
ACTIVE Track Options - Turn ON/OFF and Set-Up
Info > User Data > Tracks > Active Tracks Options > Three options will be listed
Track Color – Allows the user to select the color to display.
Record Mode: It has three options for recording tracks.
Off – Turns off the recording of tracks.
Fill – The unit will record tracklogs and stop recording when it reaches capacity. The user chooses which tracks to delete.
Wrap – Continuously records tracklogs and will replace the oldest track data with the newest logs when filled.
Interval: The tracklog has a designated amount of memory when selecting the method of the recording to be aware that the closer points, the faster the tracklog memory will fill. Interval allows the user to decide how and when the “breadcrumb” trail (points) records. Most units have a maximum storage of 50,000 points and 50 saved tracks. The closer the breadcrumbs are to each other, the quicker the storage space will fill. If planning a more extended trip, the recording interval may need to be adjusted to keep from filling the storage space too quickly.
Distance – Sets the breadcrumb to distance to drop a point.
Time – Sets the amount of time to drop a point.
Resolution – Used to track a variance from the course, use Change to enter the maximum error allowed from the true course before recording a track point. Resolution is the recommended recording method; it is the most efficient use of memory. When following back a track, it will closely follow the original track.
Change – Once the interval is selected, use the Change button to format the selection.
Save Active Track
To save an Active Track, select the Info button > User Data > Tracks > Save Active Track; choose either the time/date of the track or the Entire log and press the Save button.
NOTE: If the saved track log is already full (at 50 tracks) the option to Save Tracks will be missing from the Menu options.
The image shows a couple of days of Active Tracks. Any tracks recorded and not saved will display in the tracklog until cleared or the track saved.
Clear Active Track
Clearing the Active Track memory does not stop the unit from recording Active Tracks. Removing the active tracks frees up storage space from tracks that may not be necessary. Always review the Save Active Track data before clearing Active Tracks, and save any needed tracks. At the bottom of the Tracks, the menu page is a percentage bar that displays the amount of free space in the Active Track Memory - Active Track is any track not saved. Every Garmin device with the tracks feature has an allotted amount of storage space for tracks and routes. Unit-specific information is in the Owner’s Manual under Specifications.
Most GPSMAP® chartplotters and ECHOMAP™ chartplotters allot storage space to accommodate:
50,000 points,
50 Saved Tracks
100 Routes
Back up User Data to an SD card before clearing the Active Tracks to save for future use or editing. Tracks and Boundaries do not sync to the ActiveCaptain® App and are not backed up or transferable to another device via the ActiveCaptain® App.
From the Info Button > User Data > Tracks > Clear Active Track, a message will display asking, “Delete all points in the active tracklog?” Cancel will keep all active tracks in the log. OK will delete all unsaved active tracks.
Follow Active Tracks
Press the Info Button > User Data > Tracks > Follow Active Track - unsaved tracks displayed under the Follow Active Track display by time or date. If there are multiple tracks in one day, the time stamp will display each track. If there is only one track for the date, it will be posted by date rather than by time. The user can select any active tracks displayed to follow that track. Select a track from Follow Active Track, which will display on the Navigation Chart. If the vessel has a Garmin Autopilot connected, a message will display asking whether to engage the autopilot.
Tip: if the wrong Active Track is selected and it is now displaying on the navigation chart it can be stopped by pressing the Menu Button > Navigation Options > Stop Navigation
Routes and Boundaries
Editing or Following a Saved Track
A saved Active track can now be Edited or created into a route or Saved as a Boundary. Info > User Data > Tracks > Saved Tracks.
Select – Allows the user to Edit, Delete, or Follow Track (Forward/Backward)
Select > Edit > Allows the user to Name the Saved Track, Change the track's color, Save as Route, or Save as Boundary.
Follow Track – Select a Save track from the list and click Follow > Choose Forward or Backward.
Daily Colors – When turned on, allow the user to set colors for each day of the week for saved tracks.
Select > (a Saved Track) > Edit Track > the name and color of the track, save as a route, or save as a boundary. A track saved as a route or boundary remains under the Saved Tracks. Delete the saved track after it's saved as either a route or boundary. The Saved Tracks have a limited amount of storage space. Doing this will free up room in Saved Tracks.
