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A good place to start if you are deciding whether or how to use electronic charts on your boat. Covers chart choices, software choices, and keeping safe.
[Cruising World, March 2002]
Computer or Plotter? A look at how far we′ve come in map technology and what the new PC′s, plotters and electronic charts can do. Daylight-viewable screens, more reliable hardware, recent price reductions on maps. Details of recent improvements from Navionics, C-Map, and Garmin.
[Bluewater Books & Charts, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA]
An argument that resisting modern technical devices - automated navigation, electric winches, TV and satellite receivers as examples - enhances your privacy, literacy, opportunity for conversation, and enjoyment of the sea. 2 pages.
[Practical Sailor, 1 April 2002]
Short primer on the types and uses of electronic charts.
[BoatUS]
Short primer on chart plotters and how to evaluate them.
[BoatUS]
An excellent description of the various NMEA, SeaTalk, HSB, Xanbus, Garmin, and TackTick networks for communication among navigational and other electronics on board. 8 pages with diagrams.
[Jack Rabbit Marine, Inc., Stamford, CT, USA]
The wow factor of seeing your boat′s track moving across an aerial photo is high. But are there advantages or dangers to using these electronic photo maps instead of electronic charts? The author gives some answers, compares two products, and describes how the images are produced.
[Ocean Navigator, September/Octover 2000]
Unmoderated forum on marine electrical and electronic equipment. Good advice and resources here, but you have to dig and you have to be selective.
[Usenet, USA]
Grab bag of facts and commentary on navigation software, plotting systems, and electronic charts,. Contains excerpts from hard-to-find bulletin board and newsgroup postings, as well as links to useful sites and vendor pages.
[Bill Dietrich, USA]Note: For additional How-To resources regarding plotting systems, see the separate topic Navigation Skills.
Most voyaging sailors agree that electronics are the most fail-prone system on board.
Tom Zydler
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