keep it simple

[limmer]

There is alot of threads on this topic but what I'm looking for is some one to tell me (like I'm a 12 year old) what packages or program I can buy to put charts on a laptop (pc). I'm just looking for some thing as a back up to my paper charts or vise versa. I read alot on the threads but it just got to confusing in regards to adding gps with chart plotters and so on. any help limmer

[cdennyb]

SevenCs GmbH - Services - Download

install the windows program and then you can read any of the charts well enough to navigate a ship, according to the designers. Get charts from Google search for ENC charts or go here... ENC Downloads

click the agree to button at the bottom and then pick which charts you want to use.

that's about as simple as it gets, and it's all free.

[limmer]

your the man, thats exactly what I talking about, thanks for the info.
Just for the hell of it I will look into the set ups they have at west marine and such but I dont think I need or want to shell out the dough. limmer

[cdennyb]

i tried to keep it simple and it's pretty good but have you thought of using google earth as a laptop chartplotter?
Use a program called "earthbridge" (free also) and add it to your laptop so you can plug in your handheld GPS and watch it place your icon on your location. It's pretty cool. Almost as good as a chart, but not quite.
Good luck, have fun.

db

[dacust]

You can get more functionality in a free navigation package. Like OpenCPN and Seaclear II. OpenCPN will not only do the free ENC charts bot also the free and purchased raster charts.

-dan

[Hud3]

Coastal Explorer is pretty good, too. I tried the free trial version out on a passage from USVI to Tampa Bay and it worked great. It accepts NMEA input from a GPS and shows your boat location, a heading vector, heading (degrees), and SOG.