Boatnerd Discussion Forum

If you go to the links page there is a link to home print charts.

Thank You JohnM and John H for your links. I am looking at the NOAA charts on my home Xp computer today.

The NOAA links just didn't download on my AOL browser. They downloaded just fine after switching to Internet Explorer. I can't say which program I will purchase because there seems to be a bit of "learning curve" with the programs. It's a good time to look at all of them as the boats go to the wall.

My interest is for the charts a little north and little east of my home port of Toledo. Those are two areas which I do "stray into/get lost in" and off my NOAA hardcover chart. I just need a little info from the download NOAA charts for a decision to buy the hardcover charts.

Another good free program that reads KAP is SeaClear available at:

http://www.sping.com/seaclear/

You can connect a GPS to your laptop and plot your position on the chart.

NOAA provides links to several viewing programs at:
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/ ... m#software
Although most are trial/demo versions of commercial programs that eventually have to be paid for to provide full/long term functionality, OpenCPN is a free open source program, available at:
http://www.opencpn.org/
They say the Windows version is compatible with XP, but I can only confirm it works with 32 and 64 bit Win 7.

I've been browsing today since the weather is so bad. From Links, I found the marine chart downloads at NOAA. My download and unzipping went well. But, I don't have a program on my xP that will open the NOAA files with the KAP extension. I did a Google for a KAP viewer, printer, program. What came back was a lot of garbage. So, I am asking for some help before I send any money to some website for software. Can you suggest xP software for NOAA charts that is working well for you? TIA.