Question about downloading and printing charts

[Auday1]

I want to download NOAA navigational charts for free and then find a decent chart viewer software program to view and print the charts. In the past, I have used Maptech free software to do this; however, since my computer hard drive recently crashed and needed to be replaced, I'm wondering what you would recommend that I consider using in the future.

I'm cheap and I don't need software that allows me to download to and from a GPS since my GPS does not have that capability.

What would you recommend?

Bryan

[EEL]

I want to download NOAA navigational charts for free and then find a decent chart viewer software program to view and print the charts.

Not sure it will do what you want regarding printing of charts, but for chart viewing and trip planning you might look at the trial version of Coastal Explorer by Rose Point. Very nice software. The trial version is unlimited in time. It prints charts, but have never used that feature so cannot comment on that aspect.

Ed Lawson

[billvoss]

I want to download NOAA navigational charts for free and then find a decent chart viewer software program to view and print the charts. [snip]

There may certainly be a better alternative, but I follow the instructions at:

http://www.nessmuking.com/articles/tutoria...wn-noaa-charts/

Then use Google's Picasa to look at the png files.

However, I'm just an absolute beginner at this, and would love to learn of better alternatives.

[jason]

There may certainly be a better alternative, but I follow the instructions at:

http://www.nessmuking.com/articles/tutoria...wn-noaa-charts/

Then use Google's Picasa to look at the png files.

However, I'm just an absolute beginner at this, and would love to learn of better alternatives.

BTW Geogarage has gotten better:

http://marine.geogarage.com/routes

[NPSheehan]

You can use NOAA's Online Chart Viewer and zoom to the location you want to print a chart from.

Find the Chart from the link below

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/Catalogs/atlantic_chartside.shtml

Got to the Chart Viewer once you know the Chart number

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/At...ewerTable.shtml

For Example here is a Chart for Gerrish Island area in Kittery Maine

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13283.shtml

Move or Zoom the to the Location you want then Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and press the Print Screen key. Now open Paint or another similar program and then select Paste to paste the screen shot you just captured with the Alt Print Screen technique into your paint/image software. Voila! Now you can cut and trim out what you don't want and then save the file as a .jpg or just print it out form your paint/image software.

This is a simple procedure and you don't need to buy anything.

NOAA NOTE: Use the official, full scale NOAA nautical chart for real navigation whenever possible. These are available from authorized NOAA nautical chart sales agents.

Hope this Helps

Neil