FYI:Free Maptech Electronic Charts and Software

[Papillon]

Maptech has come out with free charts and with the use of their free software you can now have GPS (real time) on board as a backup to your paper charts or visa versa...

Download their Chart Navigator Version 5.07d to your laptop. Available http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=123&CFID=2063880&CFTOKEN=94482546 File Name:CHTNAV_ENGLISH.EXE..at bottom of page.

Then go to http://www.freeboatingcharts.com/index.cfm Click on Getting Started Now. They want you to register with them.

I downloaded the entire west coast of Florida in order to be able to plan ahead for the Gulf Coast Geathering and I am finding it so very easy to use as a planning tool.

[thataway]

There is also a DVD available which has the Offshore Navigator, along with all of the US NOAA charts, including Great Lakes, and ENC corp of engineer charts of the river systems for $39. I tried the down loads and finally got the DVD and put it all on the computer hard drive--the time to down load all of the charts was too much for me....

The only problem is that quilting is a little slow and you sometimes have to zoom back out and then move the curser to go to a new chart.
Agree that this is a great planning tool--and look foreward to meeting
Whalergofar the the Gulf Coast gathering!

[JimM08863]

Hello all-

I had a computer crash and lost my copy of the free Maptech Chart Navigator Viewer. I tried to get it from the Maptech website, but it's no longer available there or anywhere else. Does anyone have a copy of the software CHTNAV_ENGLISH.exe that they could share?

Thanks,
Jim

[BrentB]

I checked
http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=123&CFID=2063880&CFTOKEN=94482546

and files are still posted

[JimM08863]

Brent-

The web page is there, but all the download links are inoperative.

[thataway]

What OS system do you need this for. I tossed one out recently when I tossed my complete Caribbean set of DVD's--The West Florida and Keys will have the program for the other charts, if you have them. -you are welcome to the DVD if it will be of help. However, this will be a few years old--maybe windows XP. Send me a PM if you are interested, and I'll see if I can find it.

[JimM08863]

Brent-

Thanks very much for your help. I just found a way to get to the CHTNAV_ENGLISH install file. You need to go to the Maptech ftp URL using the following address:

ftp://ftp.maptechnavigation.com/

There is a lot of interesting downloadable stuff here, including the Chart Navigator Viewer in multiple languages. Note though, the english version filename is: CHTNAV_NGLISH.exe.

I don't know what the other stuff is, but it looks like it's worth investigating.

[BrentB]

Thanks Jim

I will ftp them tonight

[ssobol]

I was able to download the Chart Navigator program from the link provided and run it under Win 7. I didn't try making routes or anything but I was able to download NOAA charts and install and view them.