[Public-list] free chart-plotter software

[BRIAN HOFLER]

I was unable to download the charts. The PDF instructions with SEACLEAR referred to MapCal (I think it is a utility program) but I was unable to find it. As well, I did not see any charts for Canadian waters....What am I missing?

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Kirk <isobar at bcpl.net>
Date: Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:47 am
Subject: Re: [Public-list] free chart-plotter software

> At 07:51 PM 1/23/2007, George Dinwiddie wrote:
> >I haven't tried this, but I heard about it on another list, and 
> thought>it might be of interest to some.  Especially at the price. 
> ;-)
> >[...]
> >If you try it, let us know what you think.
> 
> George... I've tried it extensively and it works like a champ. It 
> runs on 
> just about any Windows laptop as well as desktops. Sit at home on 
> a cold 
> wintry (as opposed to cold summery?) day at your desktop and plot 
> all the 
> Fall Cruise routes in advance. Download the charts, waypoints, & 
> routes to 
> the laptop and you're all set to sail. Your little boat icon moves 
> along 
> (with gps input) the moving chart getting you from hither to yon. 
> See the 
> quote below from an email I posted last Fall on the public list 
> responding 
> to a question from J Berquist.
> 
> Notes:
> 
> 1. The program is free and you also can use the best, latest 
> updated NOAA 
> charts for free. (See link below.) No more entering corrections 
> from the 
> Notice to Mariners to  a paper chart.
> 
> 2. You need a reasonably good sized hard disk - the charts are 
> about 4MB 
> each - or only store a few charts for the Chesapeake.
> 
> 3. Another free program lets you upload old tracks and edit 
> tracks, but 
> it's not necessary.
> 
> 4. It doesn't support USB yet, so you need a laptop with a serial 
> port or 
> get a serial-USB dongle if you only have newer USB ports. That 
> works for me.
> 
> 5. It does support just about any old GPS unit that outputs serial 
> NMEA; 
> any version. That's practically all of them.
> 
> 6. It's sometimes hard to read the computer screen in bright 
> sunlight. But 
> that's probably true of all chartplotters; best used below decks 
> anyway to 
> avoid spray.
> 
> 7. Zooming is very good and the screen display is excellent.
> 
> 8. The controls are simple but not very intuitive. Read the manual 
> first.
> 9. Use any smallish inverter to power the laptop.
> 
> Summary: I like it, though I still use bearing compass & paper 
> charts to 
> pass the time when I singlehand.
> 
> Bob Kirk
> Isobar #181
> 
> >J... Going in that direction, a marvelous, FREE, chartplotting 
> program is
> >called SEACLEAR ( http://www.sping.com/seaclear/ ). Now that the 
> NOAA BSB's
> >are freely downloadable ( 
> http://chartmaker.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/download.htm>)you can use your 
> laptop as an expensive chartplotter with the same
> >features. You can also use your Garmin GPS II+ to drive it with a 
> serial>cable. Get the Garmin power-data cable available much 
> cheaper from third
> >parties than the Garmin version.
> 
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