Scott, the referenced NOAA S-57 charts are not charts at all, but the data contained in the S-57 charts is the most accurate available from the U.S. Government. I say they are not charts because a S-57 files does not contain any specific graphics. Therefore, the graphical representation of the S-57 data is totally up to the application developer. In the case of Coastal Explorer, they recently changed the standard color pallate of their S-57 derived charts to look more like traditional paper charts. This is just one example of the control the developer has over the "look" of charts derived from S-57 data. I've personally used Coastal Explorer from the West coast of Florida to Washington DC and found the charts to be very easy to use, with one exception. That exception being that the data for center channel magenta line for the ICW does not exist. I don't necessarily use that line for navigation, but find it very helpful identifing the ICW through a busy port that has many adjoining channels. There were some earlier versions of S-57 chart data that was not intented to be used for navigation and where so marked. I don't believe they will be marking any more of these. In places where there wasn't S-57 derived charts I used the "free" charts that now come with Maptech Chartkits. These are raster representations of the exact paper charts and are therefore, almost as accurate as the paper charts themselves. Even where S-57 chart data existed, I'd often display side by side windows, one with S-57 derived charts and the other with the Maptech charts. This was most helpful in some back waters looking for an anchorage and for two perspectives on the adjacent landmarks. I'm told that Coastal Explorer will soon include complete mapping of the U.S. waters. If true, this implies that NOAA's S-57 data will have to be supplemented with some other data. If you're going to use a PC for navigation, and I've not completely finished that glass of kool-aid, and you don't need radar integration with the PC, which is a flavor of kool-aid I don't believe I'll try, then Coastal Explorer and the combination of S-57 chart data and the "free" Maptech charts seems to be a winning combination in my opinion. BTW, for comparision I have used The Capn and Nobeltec's VNS and the purpose built systems from Raymarine. Gil