T&T: Computer Nav software

[Steve Sipe]

John Owen wrote:
> Having just come out of cruising under sail for 25+ years, most of which was
> done with sun sights, keeping a good DR, and even for a while a lead line, I
> became addicted to the ease of a Chart-plotter when we bought a small Garmin
> 172 a couple of years ago- worked great. Unfortunately it went with the
> OI-41 and now I am dealing with 15-year-old electronics, which are no longer
> supported, in our new INTERLUDE- the CHB 41. I still am very confident of
> navigating from A to B using the tried and true traditional techniques, but
> the gadgets sure are fun, and add a degree of accuracy we never enjoyed in
> the old days. We have a decent GPS (seems to be working fine)- so am now
> trying to decide about how to go.
>
> 1.	Buy a new dedicated Chart-plotter with all the new chips, e.g. Garmin,
> C-map, etc. or,
> 2.	Buy software and charts (CDs) for the laptop..
>
> Would really appreciate thoughts, recommendations, advice, both pro & con.
> Certainly cost is a factor and value (bang-for-the-buck) is important.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JohnO
> INTERLUDE, CHB41
> Jacksonville, FL
>   
John,
I can enthusiastically recommend Coastal Explorer, it's a reasonable 
cost (<$375), and the charts can be downloaded for free. It will use 
virtually any GPS source, and in my case, it's communicating with my 
existing Raymarine equipment nicely, including talking to the autopilot 
and reading all the data that the Raymarine system is outputting.

I previously used ChartView, the precursor to Nobeltec, and I find 
Coastal Explorer easier to use, by far. I haven't found any shortcomings 
other than the capability to overlay radar which the Raymarine hardware 
will do, and is a great feature, although one can live without it.

Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 "Maerin"
Chesapeake Bay