Thanks Jack for those very helpful comments!

Is there a tutorial of any kind? Can you comment on content quality of the
"help" screens?

I myself use Cap'n at home and in realtime underway. I'm trying to get a
none too PC-literate pal introduced to nav software which he may or may not
ever use in future. So the freeware aspect is great. On the other hand, I
would hope it's not so arcane as to be a turn off.

Len

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Eliminate "ns" for email address.
Len Krauss wrote:

SeaClear PC Chart plotter and GPS Navigation software.

Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experience with SeaClear, pro
and
con.


Great piece of freeware (Seaclear II that is). It is a trifle technical
as far as getting maps into the library and stuff but if you read the
included documentation, that will get you through it.

The keyboard commands for zooming are a little obscure to some that have
never used their keyboards much. If you have a system with a mouse with
a scroll wheel though it is one of the most convenient of all the nav
programs to use as as far as panning or zooming.

It uses g7towin for communications with your GPS and that is also a no
brainer if you read the docs.

Now that NOAA is providing free online downloads for DNC (same as
MapTech BSB raster charts) raster charts you can get every chart for
U.S. waters for free, something like a thousand or more charts.

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm

Seaclear does not use vector charts like the BSB4 and S-57 series.

I use it at home on a PC for placing waypoints and building routes for
uploading to my Meridian GPS. I've used it with a GPS attached but I've
not used it at sea on a boat. But it looks like it would work well. On
the Meridian, used for a nav backup during boat deliveries, I use the
MapSend BlueNav charts and have never had any problems with routes
working, waypoint locations, etc.

Seaclear II is a generous gesture to the public domain.

Jack

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Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)