P.C. based Charting Systems

[BrendanChandler]

<font color="blue">As an old fashiones navigator with pencil and paper charts, I am looking to buy software and charts for use on a P.C.

I want a raster system if I can afford it.

I would be grateful for any information on systems, charts to use, suppliers and costs please.

Thanks

Brendan</font>

 

[Birdseye]

If you want a Raster system, then the UKHO do them. They do the simple RYA / UKHO plotter at about £40 for a bundle of charts but renewable yearly. Typical area, South Wales right out to parts of Paddyland. They also do a rather more expensive version called ARCS Skipper. See your local chart agent.

Having just struggled to take my class of dazed kippers through the electronic charting bit for the first time, I found it really hard work to make any case for electronic charting outside fast power boats and single handed sailing. And I like gadgets. I endlessly mess about with PCs and GPS etc. But I much prefer using paper charts and despite having available both raster and vector pc plotters, I never use them in practise.

 

[jackho]

I have been using Euronav Seapro Lite for almost 3 seasons and find it the simplest of any I have seen. The software is approx£140 inc. dongle.and Serial cable. Presently all U.K. charts approx 350+ cost £100.
They had an all in boat show offer of £100 but that has now expired. However I suggest you call or e-mail for a demo disk to evaluate the system (it is very impressive. www.euronav.com )
The system uses all format of charts as I understand but I use the Vector layered charts (Livecharts) same as on offer.
Hope this helps to get you started ........... Jackho

 

[stevebirch2002]

I must agree that Seapro is an excellent program. I have tried many and found this the best, IMHO. It does just about everything and the professional version has just about every bell and whistle.

 

[fireball]

I'll shuv in a bit for Offshore Navigator - excellent little proggy - the lite version comes "Free" with every chart purchase (pointless to just purchase the charts really!!) - worth comparing to Seapro - which we also considered...

 

[jonjo]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want a Raster system, then the UKHO do them.

[/ QUOTE ]
One problem with the product is that licensing restrictions prevent the UKHO covering non UK waters under this annual chart rental scheme.

 

[Oldhand]

Please see my answer to your same question on Scuttlebut