Gordon--

We've been using Maptech "Marine Navigator" with good results. Got us to
Alaska and back. I suspect the differences between the packages are fairly
marginal. We went with Maptech because, at the time, the Coast Guard had
adopted it. Don't know if the Coasties are still navigating that way, but
we're committed. Whatever you do, I think you'll be happier with the
GIS/laptop display--FAR easier to see than the chart-plotters, and far
easier entering routes. And CHANGING routes--adding or deleting waypoints
on the fly, or dragging them around with a mouse--is awesome.

One word of caution, though. We found on our Alaska jaunt it is far too
easy to get fixated on the display, especially when you're squeaking through
a tight spot. You just watch that little icon of your boat as it moves
along the chart--and you feel very secure. But reality is OUTSIDE the
pilothouse. Keep your eye on the kelp patch, the water swirling around a
rock that's awash, etc. etc. We found far too many exhilarating instances
where the charts were NOT accurate enough to substitute for reality. Buoys
could be what looked like 4-5 meters away from their charted positions, etc.
(I'm thinking about Rocky Pass, south of Kake, Alaska) So this stuff is
great, even inspiring, but you have to remember some of the charts--at least
in our part of the planet--date back to George Vancouver.

Cheers,

Dick Behan
M/V "Annie"
LNVT
Lopez Island, Washington

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
Thinking of buying some nav software to use on a notebook PC onboard.
Will
tie into a gps antenna and AIS . Am looking at Coastal explorer.
Any comments?
Gordon

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