T&T: Jeppesen acquires C-Map - what does it mean for Nobeltec users?

[Milt Baker]

You have probably seen that the sale of C-Map to Jeppesen was effective today 
and that it seems clear that C-Map cartography will soon be available for use on 
Nobeltec software. (Surprise, surprise!)  

>From my perspective as a longtime Nobeltec user, this seems a good time to dig 
in and watch to see what happens.  Rather than upgrading my Nobeltec Admiral 
for the latest and greatest edition, I'm going to stay put.  Likewise, rather than 
upgrade my Passport World Charts for the latest editions (at a cost of a couple 
of boat units) for the Mediterranean where we are headed this summer, I'll go with 
what I have and plan to upgrade for summer 2008 rather than this year.  By 
summer 2008, things will likely have shaken out and we should all have a much 
better idea what track this particular train is headed down, the stations where it's 
stopping, and what the tickets will cost.  

Meanwhile, unless I see a convincing reason to do otherwise, it seems a time 
for veteran Nobeltec users like me to lay low and keep a weather eye on what 
really happens rather that what might happen. 

For the record, my perspective is that if you had to pick a single provider of 
electronic cartography for cruising the world, C-Map would easily be the best choice.  
Marrying C-Map cartography and Nobletec's very slick software seems to have lots 
of synergy--no doubt one reason (but certainly not the main one) why Jeppessen 
bought C-Map.  I, for one, look forward to the marriage.  But we have to get past 
the honeymoon first, and having been a beta tester I suspect we'll see some 
friction on the honeymoon.

If you have not seen the details (sparse though they are) on this, let me recommend 
that you visit Ben Ellison's EXCELLENT electronics website: http://www.panbo.com  
Ben is always there with the latest news for those of us who thrive on this stuff!

--Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Fort Lauderdale