Albin Owners Group

I want to use a spare laptop as a backup GPS chart plotter and as a trip planner. Whose chart software should I buy? What GPS sensors are comaptible with the recommended software?

I would like the software to have most of the features of a high-end chart plotter - of course without the radar and sonar inputs.

We use 'Offshore Navigator' by Maptech (http://www.maptech.com) as our chart plotter on a laptop. It came with the boat we recently purchased and works fine with the GPS and auto-pilot. For back-up we use 'old school' charts & compass along with a Garmin Colorado 400c handheld GPS. Nice thing about a laptop is being able to take it home and plan a cruise. Another option is http://www.earthnc.com -- they have an app for iPhone & Android (along with free website for your laptop if you have wifi) -- they use Google Earth with navigational overlays -- very powerful (and free).

Rob,

I am going to do the Maptech. The Maptech U.S. Boating Charts is on closeout at West Marine for $30. It includes all US coastal and inland charts and a light version of Maptech Offshore Navigator. I will get the full Chart Navigator (the little brother to your Offshore Navigator) version in the spring for about $175.

To others who want to get familiar with using the PC, I strongly recommend the $30 package. It has a full set of charts. Plug in a $60 USB GPS and you have a plotter on your laptop. No sounder and no radar, but your laptop will become a nice big chart plotter for less than $100.