In a message dated 2/3/05 12:02:59 AM, Rob writes:

<< SO IF FREE NOAA ENC ARE NOT YET "READY FOR PRIME TIME" IS THERE ANY OTHER
SOURCE OF FREE NAVIGATION CHARTS...OR ONLY PAY PER VIEW???

Rob,

It depends what you want to use them for. If for serious navigation, only
NOAA charts or certified copies will get you off the liability hook. If you read
all the disclaimers on electronic navigation software, most deny that they are
of any use whatsoever and are not liable for consequential damages.

However for trip planning, light reading, or fantasy cruising free charts are
everywhere. Local business associations publish charts of their area bordered
by advertisements for supporting businesses. Oil companies (Mobil, Texaco)
publish large area planning charts with each fuel vendor location prominently
featured. I have a collection of laminated placemats copied from real charts of
Cape Cod, the Jersey Shore, and the Virgin Islands. The Erie Canal
1-800-4CANAL4) will send you canal charts for free. Most boating discounters will sell
older copies of Maptech Chartbooks and Richardson Chartbooks for drastically
reduced prices. Our local library has a chart section with charts of various eras
ranging from historical to modern. You can Xerox areas of interest. I even
handed out free CDs with a cruise guide and Hudson River charts at the Newport
Trawlerfest.

My favorite personal source of northeast cruise planning is a copy of
Dodson's Coast and Harbor Charts containing a B&W copy of EVERY chart from Calais to
Sandy Hook. When I say every chart, I really mean every chart. Sailing charts,
large scale charts, small scale charts, harbor charts, river charts, etc.
This 256 page coffee table sized book cost me $2 at a used book store.

Bear in mind that most of these charts are outdated. No notices for mariners
are incorporated. Buoy numbers and navigational aids may have changed. But the
coastlines and depth contours are pretty much the same. If you are reasonably
adept as position finding and pick your way with a depthfinder when close to
shore you could use them for most leisurely cruises. Remember Joshua Slocom
circumnavigated with an alarm clock and an atlas.

Larry Z

The latest shoe laces that I bought had a liability limiting statement.

Although many products for everything provide disclaimers to limit
liability, it simply isn't true that most electronic navigation software
says that they can't be used "whatsoever."  I hear statements like this all
the time but it just isn't the case.

Directly from Maptech's license:

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRODUCT SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF
INFORMATION FOR NAVIGATION.

That clearly implies that the product can be used for navigation but you
shouldn't use it as the sole source.  The use of capital letters was copied
directly.  The rest of the license isn't all capitalized like that.

Directly from the license of my product:

THE PRODUCT IS INTENDED SOLELY AS AN AID TO NAVIGATION.  THE PRODUCT SHOULD
NEVER BE USED AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR NAVIGATION.

Again, capitalized because it is a direct copy.  Can that first sentence be
any clearer?

================
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine