T&T: Dummy needs enlightening....Navigation software

[Peter Bennett]

Thursday, March 8, 2007, 5:57:29 PM, Bob wrote:

BC> Would someone please give me a simple explanation of what I need in order to
BC> view charts on my laptop...with the boats position on the laptop?  I know
BC> this is elementary to most of you, but I am having a hard time trying to
BC> figure out what I need.  There are so many choices out there. I want to
BC> keep it simple,  and I don't need unlimited waypoints to follow ICW mile
BC> markers.  Do I really need a $1000 software program?

BC> I have an old Garmin 215 chartplotter with the g-charts and it works well
BC> but I would like to have a larger display (laptop?) and newer charts.

BC> I am strictly a day cruiser, coastal and protected waters with a close eye
BC> on weather, so complicated offshore equipment interfacing with radar and
BC> depth finders is not what I need.  I could even navigate with my Garmin
BC> e-trek and paper charts, but I would like to do more.

BC> What would be a basic setup?

BC> Bob Clinkenbeard
BC> 24' custom trailer trawler

I use an inexpensive charting program called "Ozi Explorer" - it is
not aimed specifically at marine use (the author originally wrote it
for use in driving around the Autralian Outback) but it does display
the BSB-format nautical charts that most of the commercial marine
programs use.

There is a free program called "SeaClear", (link on my website) that
also uses BSB-format charts.

Either of those programs, a supply of charts (may be free in the US?)
and a serial NMEA-0183 connection from your GPS to the PC will get you
going.


-- 
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI    Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Lien Hwa 28 (AKA Polaris 30) "Sea Spray"
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter 
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca