The chart collection offered on ebay seems like a great deal. Supposed to be all of the charts with the SeaCLearI software. Only $16.00 including shipping. It just came up while I was looking for GPS stuff. Anyone have experience with this stuff??? I have a GPS reciever for my laptop it is the one from Earthlink and works pretty well for finding my way around on land. If the seaclear works it will be great. But all of the charts on a CD is probably worth $16 for planning purposes alone. I won't get my copy for several days as it shipped USPS .
Ebay NOAA RNC Chart Collection with SeaClearI
- Thread starter MoonSailer
- Start date
- Status
I have it
I didn't use the CD from e-bay. Rather, I downloaded the charts from NOAA and Seaclear from its site. But, just because it was for free doesn't mean the CD isn't a good buy. Some things I had to download twice, some I had a tough time with. For no-hassle installation, the CD is worth it IMHO. Seaclear and NOAA charts work just fine. I also have an AIS receiver inputting that data as well. Works good. Rick D.
I didn't use the CD from e-bay. Rather, I downloaded the charts from NOAA and Seaclear from its site. But, just because it was for free doesn't mean the CD isn't a good buy. Some things I had to download twice, some I had a tough time with. For no-hassle installation, the CD is worth it IMHO. Seaclear and NOAA charts work just fine. I also have an AIS receiver inputting that data as well. Works good. Rick D.
I'm wondering if...
The seller (didn't go there to look) is just trying to make money off of something that is free. Unless the seller is the owner of SeaClear. SeaClear I is out dated. In use is SeaClear II. The charts are also free from Maptech's free boating charts dot com. I don't know if the charts there are different than the ones they sale. Would that be ethical to modify the free charts? Hmmm...
The seller (didn't go there to look) is just trying to make money off of something that is free. Unless the seller is the owner of SeaClear. SeaClear I is out dated. In use is SeaClear II. The charts are also free from Maptech's free boating charts dot com. I don't know if the charts there are different than the ones they sale. Would that be ethical to modify the free charts? Hmmm...
I figured the stuff was free
I also figured that for $16 it was worth it just to avoid all of the downloads etc. Supposedly it is legitimate. I tried downloading seaclear and the charts once and nothing worked . Hopefully this CD will be a no brainer to use.
I also figured that for $16 it was worth it just to avoid all of the downloads etc. Supposedly it is legitimate. I tried downloading seaclear and the charts once and nothing worked . Hopefully this CD will be a no brainer to use.
I was looking at the same deal
16.00 to avoid the hassle is worth it, I feel. You have all the charts with you all the time. I have spent alot more than that and just woke up with a headache in the morning.
16.00 to avoid the hassle is worth it, I feel. You have all the charts with you all the time. I have spent alot more than that and just woke up with a headache in the morning.
Hell then...
Send me $16 and I'll send you the charts and as a bonus, SeaClear II. Plus be one of the first 50 callers and I'll throw in this Shammy Wammy towel at no extra charge except S/H which will be 49.99 per item, minimum 10 items. But wait. If you contact me in 10 minutes you will receive, not one, no, not two, but three additional Shammy Wammy towels for free, plus S/H for each towel. That's a $2,995,995.95 value all for $16. Do yourself a favor and if you are going to get the CD with charts, order it from a reputable source, not an EvilBay seller.
Send me $16 and I'll send you the charts and as a bonus, SeaClear II. Plus be one of the first 50 callers and I'll throw in this Shammy Wammy towel at no extra charge except S/H which will be 49.99 per item, minimum 10 items. But wait. If you contact me in 10 minutes you will receive, not one, no, not two, but three additional Shammy Wammy towels for free, plus S/H for each towel. That's a $2,995,995.95 value all for $16. Do yourself a favor and if you are going to get the CD with charts, order it from a reputable source, not an EvilBay seller.
Several on E-Bay right now.
See Related Link for support of this discussion. My question is how does this compare to all the stuff we spent hundreds of dollars on not so long ago? Like full Maptech or "The Cap'n" software plus the expense of the charts. Or the money that I spent on my Garmin chartplotter plus the proprietary charts, about $140. per region. I have Fugawi on this laptop and can download the freebie charts. In fact do consider this backup for my chartplotter. I use a Garmin eTrek for this laptop. But why would I NOT buy a $17. CD that includes everything??!!
See Related Link for support of this discussion. My question is how does this compare to all the stuff we spent hundreds of dollars on not so long ago? Like full Maptech or "The Cap'n" software plus the expense of the charts. Or the money that I spent on my Garmin chartplotter plus the proprietary charts, about $140. per region. I have Fugawi on this laptop and can download the freebie charts. In fact do consider this backup for my chartplotter. I use a Garmin eTrek for this laptop. But why would I NOT buy a $17. CD that includes everything??!!
Sea Clear
I bought this from ebay last summer. Easy download. Works great with my handheld GPS plugged into my laptop!
I bought this from ebay last summer. Easy download. Works great with my handheld GPS plugged into my laptop!
Ed...
The reason you shouldn't buy is simple; did the guy selling SeaClear write the software, or is he an agent who is authorized to act on behalf of the author of SeaClear? AND... Did the guy selling the charts make these charts via data he collected or is he an agent who is authorized to act on behalf of the agencies who have collected the data and made them available to the general public? I have issues with people who copy manuals and then sell the copies. Granted, these maybe moot issues to others, but say I write a program that does everything in the world, and I make it available for download for free. Then some clown comes along and downloads it but the sells it just to make it easier for other not to download it? Make sense? I really think if you want the charts, get them for a reputable source like MapTech and if you want SeaClear, get it from Sping or ask someone who has it on CD to send it to you. Don't feed these sharks on EvilBay. My 2¢, and thanks for listening even though you might not agree. [added] I went to the site and I will maintain my opinion. I don't think the guy is 100% legit.
The reason you shouldn't buy is simple; did the guy selling SeaClear write the software, or is he an agent who is authorized to act on behalf of the author of SeaClear? AND... Did the guy selling the charts make these charts via data he collected or is he an agent who is authorized to act on behalf of the agencies who have collected the data and made them available to the general public? I have issues with people who copy manuals and then sell the copies. Granted, these maybe moot issues to others, but say I write a program that does everything in the world, and I make it available for download for free. Then some clown comes along and downloads it but the sells it just to make it easier for other not to download it? Make sense? I really think if you want the charts, get them for a reputable source like MapTech and if you want SeaClear, get it from Sping or ask someone who has it on CD to send it to you. Don't feed these sharks on EvilBay. My 2¢, and thanks for listening even though you might not agree. [added] I went to the site and I will maintain my opinion. I don't think the guy is 100% legit.
Ed: Seaclear ll vs. $$$ Software
...Ed, I had a really excellent package before which had all the world charts and was a commercial grade charting program. I was REALLY ticked when I found Vista wouldn't support it even when I tried the backward install. So, I did Seaclear just to see what it was all about, and even though it isn't anywhere near as powerful as my prior program, it does everything I need for waypoints, routing and AIS. In short, there is nothing wrong with it. The NOAA charts are great too. Rick D.
...Ed, I had a really excellent package before which had all the world charts and was a commercial grade charting program. I was REALLY ticked when I found Vista wouldn't support it even when I tried the backward install. So, I did Seaclear just to see what it was all about, and even though it isn't anywhere near as powerful as my prior program, it does everything I need for waypoints, routing and AIS. In short, there is nothing wrong with it. The NOAA charts are great too. Rick D.
NOAA RNC charts.
As I write this I have Fugawi and ENC charts working on this laptop. I assume the free ENC downloads are the same charts that come with the Sea Clear CD package. The ENC charts are simply copies of the RNC charts which, of course, are raster copies of the paper charts. All free from NOAA. From playing with these and remembering long ago(last October) to sailing with my chartplotter I am answering at least part of my own question. The main differences are: a lot less detail and no seamless movement between charts. With Fugawi I have to load three charts, one at a time, to sail the Chesapeake for example. Not sure if the jump would be automatic with the GPS running things. But from the keyboard you click on an arrow when you get to the edge of chart. That loads the adjoining chart. For basic navigation everything is there: accurate coordinates, marks, and depths. Esactly the same as your paper charts. Missing are all the notes about restaurants, marinas, and especially, pubs. I also have MapSource and Maptech's Offshore Navigator on here so I can go compare those as well. I do not think either compare favorably with the graphics of the Garmin chartplotter. Or ease of use.
As I write this I have Fugawi and ENC charts working on this laptop. I assume the free ENC downloads are the same charts that come with the Sea Clear CD package. The ENC charts are simply copies of the RNC charts which, of course, are raster copies of the paper charts. All free from NOAA. From playing with these and remembering long ago(last October) to sailing with my chartplotter I am answering at least part of my own question. The main differences are: a lot less detail and no seamless movement between charts. With Fugawi I have to load three charts, one at a time, to sail the Chesapeake for example. Not sure if the jump would be automatic with the GPS running things. But from the keyboard you click on an arrow when you get to the edge of chart. That loads the adjoining chart. For basic navigation everything is there: accurate coordinates, marks, and depths. Esactly the same as your paper charts. Missing are all the notes about restaurants, marinas, and especially, pubs. I also have MapSource and Maptech's Offshore Navigator on here so I can go compare those as well. I do not think either compare favorably with the graphics of the Garmin chartplotter. Or ease of use.
- Status