Because CM93 v2 is an older, discontinued format, they are no longer sold directly through commercial marine electronics vendors. Instead, they are widely distributed across the maritime community, sailing forums, and archive repositories. Best Practices for Downloading
Official CM93 v2 is obsolete. C-MAP has long since moved to subscription-based, updated vector charts (e.g., C-MAP MAX, C-MAP Reveal) with continuous updates, high-resolution bathymetry, and official hydrographic data. However, for many users, the barriers are significant:
Browse your computer to locate and highlight your root CM93 folder. Click or Select Folder . 3. Update the Database
: Typically lacks the extensive numeric subdirectories and does not include the 2. Download and Source Considerations
: A complete, worldwide CM93 v2 chart set typically contains a master folder with numerous subfolders numbered 03000000 through 15000000 . The total folder size should be roughly 1.1 GB to 1.4 GB .
That said, many cruisers use CM93 v2 for trip planning or backup in remote regions. If you choose that path, understand the risks (stale data, missing ports, zero legal liability).
Always run an antivirus scan on downloaded zip or RAR files before extracting them to your system. Step 2: Extracting and Organizing the Files
Set these values to match your vessel’s draft plus your preferred safety margin (e.g., if your draft is 1.5 meters, set your safety contour to 3.0 meters). Regions shallower than this limit will display in a distinct warning color.
If you want to fine-tune your marine navigation setup, tell me:
CM93 v2’s last update was . Since then:
At the top level of a CM93 directory, you will find an empty file with a .EXD extension, such as 20110803.EXD . The format of this filename is YYYYMMDD.EXD , and it indicates the version or edition date of the chart release. For example, a file named 20110803.EXD indicates a chart set released on August 3, 2011.
OpenCPN recognizes CM93 charts if placed in its chart directories and index updated.
: Ensure the download contains only data directories and .dic or .obj files. Never run an .exe file packaged with a chart download. Step 2: Preparing the Directory Structure