Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

[Chris-R]

I apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong place but I'm not sure where it goes. I've been looking around for an on-line site whereby you can do some chartplotting, create trips on the water, etc. I don't care if I can't transfer the info to a chartplotter on the boat. I just want to fool around with something like this on my laptop. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

I am not sure for water navigation but, I use Maptech software for my GPS and they have some nice online resoucres.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

You can browse nautical charts on NOAA's site: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/OnLineViewer.html

 

[superbenk]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

I also just found this article which talks about several products that use NOAA's charts & offer either free or demo versions of their products that you can try: http://www.suite101.com/content/fre...are-packages-offer-different-features-a225490

 

[blifsey]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

I downloaded and have been playing around with a program called ChartNav from Maptech. You can download the NOAA charts free and ChartNav will read them in. I plotted some routes with it and them created KML file that I was able to load in Google Earth. There are free GPS utilities that will convert file formats to different types. I've used G7toWin and GPSBabel. Most GPS units will have a way to load a file of waypoint from these utilities.

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

Thanks for the info.

 

[blzrul]

Re: Free Computer Chartplotter/GPS Simulator

Try SeaClear II - it's free and it's pretty good.