As someone who enjoys both sailing and computers I was pleased when the chance arose to review a set of digital charts and plotting software. Even better that the folio of charts covered my own home waters.
Pack BACD03 from Maptech Marine, covering England - East Coast South (Ramsgate to Great Yarmouth) contains over 20 full colour charts. The charts from Maptech are produced to world standards in conjunction with many National Hydrographic Offices. Their appearance on the screen is no different to paper charts. Everything is familiar and therefore comfortable. Updates are provided by Maptech so keeping your digital charts current is very easy. The coverage is excellent with detailed charts for the ports and harbours found around the East coast as well as larger scale charts covering the rivers and coastline. All in all, it's a very comprehensive set.
Included in the package is the highly functional Offshore Navigator Lite Software, which features real-time GPS plotting (standard NMEA 0183 interface), route planning, easy GPS programming, tidal heights and streams and the ability to print it all out for reference in the cockpit.
Installing the software was very straightforward, although the registration and activation process did take a little while. The automatic process, which is triggered when you first use the software failed, which meant I had to register through their website. An email containing the activation code arrived promptly after. Other than that there were no problems.
As a relative newcomer to the world of digital charts and plotting software I found using Offshore Navigator Lite quite intuitive (although a look at the manual always helps). A great deal of information is presented in a clear manner and it's all pretty much configurable to suit individual taste. It didn't take too long before I had marked our mooring and set up a route. Being able to upload an entire route into my ancient GPS via the interface will save me a great deal of time, not to say frustration, in not having to enter each waypoint using the GPS's multi function pad. You can also run through routes in a 'simulator' mode. You can adjust parameters for the boat, weather and tide to see how your progress is affected by different conditions.
Offshore Navigator Lite software should certainly meet the needs of most leisure users, if you want something that will interface with your autopilot, plus a few other useful features such as track logging, take a look at the full version 'Offshore Navigator'. To find out more about the Offshore Navigator Lite software, visit www.maptech.com.
