Nope - I agree. The only way to go is with BSB Raster Charts (an exact copy of the NOAA chart) or with PassPort Charts (very high end vector versions the BSB charts.) Only available on CD so for that you need to use a computer nav system, which is worth it's weight in gold IMO. In our CGAux patrols, late into the night, I love my computer navigation. I go places I would never dream of attempting with paper charts. Caution - I sell these things so I have a vested interest. Joe Engel -----Original Message----- From: Jim Alexander [mailto:jalexander127@home.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 1:55 PM To: Trawler World Subject: TWL: First purchase mistake with new boat! As we all do, or at least almost all of us, when I bought the new boat up in Wilmington, I added my first piece of new electronics. I purchased a Raytheon 600 Radar Chart Plotter that was compatable with the 41X Radar on the boat. Then I purchased all the C-Map NT electronic charts that I would need to cover the trip home. As it was I got a pretty good deal on the Chart plotter as since this particular model is no longer manufactured I was able to locate a Factory Refurbished one at about 1/3 the original new cost or about $600.00 However the C-Map NT charts ran me almost $1500.00. So together plus installation of the plotter I spent about $2300.00 on the unit. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!!! My $300.00 handheld Garmin GPSMAP 76 provides more detail than this chart plotter and the C-MAP charts. They were absolutely useless! Previously I had thought that C-MAP NT Charts were "state of the art". IMHO they are not worth the powder it would take to blow them to hell, if you get my point. Anyone else have a different opinion of them? Jim Alexander M/V Emily Rose 43 Vista

At 02:13 PM 11/14/2001 -0800, Joe Engel wrote: >The only way to go is with BSB Raster Charts (an exact copy of the NOAA >chart) or with PassPort Charts (very high end vector versions the BSB >charts.) COMMENT Speaking of which, last night I had an opportunity to play with the new iPaq handheld with a GPS and displaying raster charts. My first reaction was that such as device would be little more than a toy. The screen is too small for clarity. etc. etc. Well I was suprised! The display resolution is amazing. The clarity of detail is very good. And even the printing is readable at several levels of zoom. Despite lacking a keyboard, the iPaq makes it easy to set up routes with waypoints. The screen refresh is very fast, much faster than I'm used to on my DELL. Latitude laptop computer. While I do not think it would be a good idea to rely on it as the sole navigation tool; I do think these devices will change how we use electronic charts for navigation. I had checked out the Maptech website as a result of a posting on this list last week end but the website did not prepare me for the reality of the product. Cheers Arild ( no financial interest - just curious about the technology)