T&T: NOAA charts, easily accessable, or just buy them?

[patrick fitzsimmons]

Gentelman/Ladies:
   I have recently started a journey into digital
plotting/navigation.
   Loaded a laptop with maptech software, and remember
somewhere in the depths of my pre-alzheimers grey
matter.... that NOAA charts could be found and
downloaded for free...
   My first attempt was repelled by a JAVA download
warning...in attempting to do so, well lets say that I
really needed fenders..... I crashed....

   Is there an easier way?
   Should I just buy them? (Looking for NC ICW)

Any help would be appreciated.....
 Patrick Fitzsimmons
 Sweet Basil
 Blairstown/Forked River NJ