Is there an inexpensive way to download or view nautical charts on line? I did some searching and found most of the sites were selling programs, or giving away the program but charging about $90 for charts from one region. Years ago the only way to get USGS topographical charts was to purchase a program that was expensive. Now the program is inexpensive...and you can view topos for anywhere in the USA on line. I happen to be intrested in charts for the Pacific Northwest, but I think the question should be of general interest to sailors everywhere..... and thanks in advance.
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Check out The Capn.
Jim: Check out The Capn www.thecapn.com They have some new charts for the PC. I think that each chart is more like $8-10. The entire area is about $200 (depends on the area). You will probably need a viewer of some sort too. I think that their low end unit is inexpensive.
Jim: Check out The Capn www.thecapn.com They have some new charts for the PC. I think that each chart is more like $8-10. The entire area is about $200 (depends on the area). You will probably need a viewer of some sort too. I think that their low end unit is inexpensive.
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Bob Cassel
Charts on line for viewing
Check out this website, it's not user friendly, but is has lots of charts and maps. You can't really "download" but you can view, print sections, etc. http://mfengine.nos.noaa.gov/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=MapServer&cmd=Start
Check out this website, it's not user friendly, but is has lots of charts and maps. You can't really "download" but you can view, print sections, etc. http://mfengine.nos.noaa.gov/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=MapServer&cmd=Start
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Brent Headberg
Online Charts
The best place on the web that I've found for charting is at: www.marineplanner.com You can also chart routes and save waypoints when you create a user name. I've used the charts there extensively to plan our up-coming Spring Cruise from West Palm Beach to Abaco. Take a look at some of the charts I've clipped and posted on my web page at: http://www.elenalua.homestead.com
The best place on the web that I've found for charting is at: www.marineplanner.com You can also chart routes and save waypoints when you create a user name. I've used the charts there extensively to plan our up-coming Spring Cruise from West Palm Beach to Abaco. Take a look at some of the charts I've clipped and posted on my web page at: http://www.elenalua.homestead.com
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Terry Arnold
Inexpensive Charts and software
Link is to an ebay sale of the NOAA charts and software for the Pacific NW. I use the software and charts for the Florida area and have found them to be absolutely everything that I could want. The quality of the raster charts is fine, and the software though it takes a time to learn is very capable. I had spent several years laboriously compiling waypoints extracted from the NOAA paper charts and it was a great to see the same waypoints when downloaded from the GPS into the software overlay the raster locations exactly in every case. NOAA has an ongoing program for producing its charts in vector format and when completely available, will almost certainly replace the raster charts from whatever source and are free. The NOAA site has links to free viewers. (Do a google search on NOAA charts)
Link is to an ebay sale of the NOAA charts and software for the Pacific NW. I use the software and charts for the Florida area and have found them to be absolutely everything that I could want. The quality of the raster charts is fine, and the software though it takes a time to learn is very capable. I had spent several years laboriously compiling waypoints extracted from the NOAA paper charts and it was a great to see the same waypoints when downloaded from the GPS into the software overlay the raster locations exactly in every case. NOAA has an ongoing program for producing its charts in vector format and when completely available, will almost certainly replace the raster charts from whatever source and are free. The NOAA site has links to free viewers. (Do a google search on NOAA charts)
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R.W.Landau
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Tom
Memory Map and Marineplanner.com
Hi, I use Memory Map on my PC and Hand held and to interface both those to my Garmin GPS for transfering Waypoints, routes, etc. Find them at: http://www.memory-map.co.uk/ They have a free trial period so you can try it out. The software is not free, but is very reasonable and they have provided me excellent support. In addition, and most importatnly, they offer lots of flexibility on sources for charts. I use Marineplanner.com where you can download charts for small regions for a reasonable price. They have a 10 pack for about $45 that allows you 10 downloads over the course of a year. 5 or 6 charts cover my area, so I didn't waste a ton of $$ on charts I'll never need. Also, you can download low res NOAA charts for free, but you have to calibrate them yourself which can be quite tedious (its worth the $45 from Marineplanner for high res, calibrated charts that are ready to use). Fair winds, Tom
Hi, I use Memory Map on my PC and Hand held and to interface both those to my Garmin GPS for transfering Waypoints, routes, etc. Find them at: http://www.memory-map.co.uk/ They have a free trial period so you can try it out. The software is not free, but is very reasonable and they have provided me excellent support. In addition, and most importatnly, they offer lots of flexibility on sources for charts. I use Marineplanner.com where you can download charts for small regions for a reasonable price. They have a 10 pack for about $45 that allows you 10 downloads over the course of a year. 5 or 6 charts cover my area, so I didn't waste a ton of $$ on charts I'll never need. Also, you can download low res NOAA charts for free, but you have to calibrate them yourself which can be quite tedious (its worth the $45 from Marineplanner for high res, calibrated charts that are ready to use). Fair winds, Tom
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RonD
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