For cruisers, commercial mariners, and weekend sailors alike, electronic navigation has become the backbone of modern piloting. Among the myriad of chart formats available, one name has persisted as a legend in the community—CM93 v2 (also known as C-Map CM-93/3). Despite being technically "outdated" by official hydrographic standards, the CM93 v2 chart set remains the most widely used global offline chart library in the world, primarily due to its integration with OpenCPN (Open Chart Plotter Navigator).
Current Status: These charts are largely considered obsolete and are no longer officially sold to the general public, though legacy versions (often dated around 2011–2012) are frequently shared within the sailing community. How to Install CM93 v2 Charts cm93 v2 charts download install
Acquiring the Files: The dataset typically comes as a folder named CM93_2012 or similar, containing many subfolders (e.g., 00300000, 00400000) and an CM93Dictionary.xml file. A legitimate source might be an old CD-ROM or a second-hand chart plotter's SD card. The Complete Guide to CM93 v2 Charts: Downloading,
This guide shows how to obtain and install CM93 v2 vector charts for OpenCPN (or other compatible navigation software) on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Extract the archive to a temporary location
Resolution: Detail levels are categorized by letters from B (large scale, roughly 1:200,000) to G (high detail, roughly 1:3,500).
Rebuild Database: Click Apply or OK. OpenCPN will scan the folders and build a database.
It is critical to understand that CM93 v2 charts are not recommended for primary navigation. Installing Charts - OpenCPN