Well I started with 'The Capn's First Mate' 4 years ago. A trimmed
down version of The Capn. It does everything I need to the point that
I don't see myself changing. I downloaded and tried dozens of
software. I always go back to First Mate.
Most of the time, I don't even turn on the computer anyway. Last thing
I want to do when I cruise is being stuck in front of the computer. I
find that plotting my GPS position on the paper chart every 30 minutes
or so is all I ever need.
If I could go back 4 years, I would probably just get the free
software "Seaclear".
For charts I use the Mini Regions. I looked at the Vector charts but I
can't seem to enjoy them.

Jeannette B32

On 18 Jun 2004 09:33:31 -0700, (anchorlt)
wrote:

Believe me when I say I have been using a computer with nav software
and charts since 1991 in cruising all of the U.S. east coast,
Chesepeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico and bayous of Lousiana, almost all of
Bahamas, northern coast of Cuba and around Providencialis in Turks and
Caicos, yet the more I search for the kind of nav software and charts
I want and need, the more frustrated and puzzled I become. Every
company claims it has the best and the newest.

The problem, for me, are the complexity of the software and the
quality of the charts. Most software can do far more than I need or
want -- too many function buttons to go through and symbols, I find,
are often misleading. In any system's charts, in one area may be good,
but in another they are poor.

I pity the novice or near novice navigator -- and even the
"experienced" navigator. What's one to do? I would welcome any and all
reasonable, sane and simple counseling.

Jeannette
aa6jh
Bristol 32, San Francisco
http://www.eblw.com/contepartiro/contepartiro.html