Not sure about the legality of running with just computer charts, but
as someone who supported a bunch of people using windows computers, I
sure would hate to have to depend on it to work - especially when its
needed. If I'm not mistaken the Windows license says something like
you agree that its not fit for any purpose or words to that effect.
My guess is that Bill Gates would not have his billions if all the
people who got screwed by a windows crash could go after him for
damages. That doesn't even start to talk about something that might
involve your life. All that is to say that I have the Fugawi set up
and love it - Even hooked to my old lowrance GPS its lovely when it
works. There were times when it didn't. Fortunately that was only
when I was fiddling about with it. Not sure about the ATL software but
the NDI software that I have is loaded with "protection". That adds an
extra dimension to the "are your going to have it when you need it" -
question. A recovery from a Windows crash can still have you locked
out of the navigation software. You might be trying to phone them from
somewhere - off the coast in the middle of the night? - trying to get a
"key" to the software. When I tried I could only get through to them
Monday to Friday 9 to 5. What's your bet about when you're going to
need them? From what I gather there is now an ongoing dispute between
them and the Government of Canada so there is no assurance that even
that level of support would be in place for their software.

All this is to say I think you have to have physical charts regardless
of the computer setup.

As a side note I think the American government goes about it the right
way. They release their software "free". Fugawi "ENC" gives you
access to the American charts. Course since there is no bucks
involved there seems to be few other software providers making use of
that system - Everybody wants to sell you their copy of their
proprietary charts - by the chart - despite the fact that the
government does the expensive work - gathering the chart data.

I'd be interested if there are other views out there.

Hans

Howard Peer wrote:
I am considerning buing some navigation/mapping software and would
like
some recommendations.

I have a Magellan marine GPS and I have used it to map to a Palm
(scanned in map of Belize), but that was an old plam and the graphics

were just terrible. There appear to be NO digital charts or topo
maps
for Belize.

I use the Magellan when driving, the graphics are OK but my eyes are
terrible.

I just bought a sailboat that has a chart plotter with C-map. I
intend
to sail on the coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

I was considering buying the following complement of toys:

1. Fugawi Marine 3 GPS Mapping Software $99
2. Fugawi ATL 3 charts $279
3. Iqu3 3600 ~$600 with accessories.

I belive that this will allow me to:
1. Run the Fugawi ATL 3 charts on my Win 98 laptop hooked to my
Magellan
GPS.
2. Scan in paper topos of Belize that I can view on my laptop.
3. Navigat in Nova Scotia with the laptop + Magellan + ATL3
4. Upload the same paper scans of Belize to the IQue 3600
5. Use the ATL3 charts on the Ique 3600.
6. Use the Ique 3600 native road atlas for navitation within the US
(better graphics than the Magellan.)

My very rough understanding is that the Fugawi ATL 3 charts are
raster
charts and may obviate the need for me to purchase all those paper
charts.

Any feedback on the sanity or holes in this plan would be greatly
appreciated. This is a pretty expensive plan, did I miss anything?

Howard