After evaluating the MapTech Chart Navigator Pro chart plotter on my own boat, I determined it is a remarkable tool for navigation planning and an excellent aid for real-time navigation. Supplied with a set of 13 DVDs that cover all U.S. coastal waters and major rivers, it provides an easy to use electronic navigation suite that can include numerous instrument displays that compliment the basic chart view functions.

Remember a few years ago when a chart was a paper map used for marine or air navigation and a plotter was a person who was making secret plans, especially concerning something illegal or subversive. Today the words are usually joined and chart plotter has an entirely different meaning, describing a device that continually portrays a vessel’s position on a navigation chart, thereby greatly simplifying navigation. Chart plotters range in size and capability from software programs running on hand-held devices (PDAs) to the large, super-bright video screens used in ship’s Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). While the most popular chart plotters are dedicated, more or less single purpose devices, many boat owners prefer to use software that runs on a general purpose computer. If you are in the latter camp and want to use a PC with Windows operating system, you’ll want to know about Maptech Chart Navigator Pro.

I always begin a product evaluation by trying to use it before reading the owner’s manual. I do this for the simple reason that for many of us, weeks may elapse between opportunities to go boating. It does not matter how capable a system may be, or how many clever things it can do, if we can’t easily recall how to make it perform its basic functions. Chart Navigator Pro passed this test with flying colors.

For example, the menu bar presents the familiar File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools and Help headings. The chart plotter specific menu on the line below is simple and easy to understand. The first command icons on the left, a pair of “back/ forward” arrows are very welcome and should be a part of all plotter programs. These controls are complemented by a pair of “undo/redo” icons immediately below. The presence of these four command icons reduces the possibility of getting lost in the program. The frequently used chart scale control is elegantly done with a pair of minus and plus buttons and an analog sliding scale control. Overall it should take only a few minutes to become familiar with the entire control set.

The Chart Selection window is used to select the type or the combination of charts that are displayed. Choices include a “no charts” mode that by suppressing all chart information makes it easy to see the on-screen blue lines used to denote the availability of a photo image. Click on a line and a small view of the image will appear in the chart picture properties window on the right side of the screen. Click on the small image to display a large image on the left, chart side of the screen. The usual Windows format image control icon can be used to expand the image so that it occupies the entire screen. Chart display choices include topographic maps, photo charts, raster charts, vector charts, vector + raster charts and all charts. In the all-charts mode the screen will display various combinations of information, depending on the chart scale in use.

The basic all-charts view at a scale of 1:50,000 or greater will be the familiar MapTech raster chart, complete with the green chart boundary lines and page numbers used in their Chart Kit books. Selecting vector charts provides access to the data base that accompanies each significant object on the chart, often more information than you want to deal with when navigating. With the all-charts option selected, the system will automatically overlay available topo maps and photo charts.

Chart Navigator Pro provides two distinct operating modes; planning and cruise or navigation. In the planning mode, the top right side of the screen displays a thumbprint view of the chart, showing an outline of the area displayed in the large left hand window. A “Properties” window can be used to show chart properties when viewing raster charts or chart plus object properties when vector or a combination of raster and vector charts are in use. The “Properties” window can also access information about the boat in use, route obstacles, search results, nearby places and settings for the relative transparency of superimposed photo images, topo charts and TerraServer-USA information data on urban areas.

In the navigation mode (easily entered or exited from by stroking the F-12 key) the majority of the screen is devoted to a display of the chart in use. The top of screen menu bar is deleted, replaced with a set of large, quick access on-screen “buttons” across the lowest part of the display (making it unnecessary to obscure the chart area when entering commands). It is clear that Maptech was determined to overcome the issues associated with trying to use small on-screen buttons on a moving vessel. The upper third of the right side of the screen displays information from fourteen sources and can be expanded to provide two data panels. The lower part of this screen segment operates as it does in the planning mode. The main screen segment can be split in two or three sectors, allowing chart information to be viewed at different scales, with photo views when desired.

A browser panel can be displayed across the lower half of the screen to display information about tides, currents, route information, navigation objects, graphical and text weather forecasts. (Weather information is downloaded via an internet connection.) Guide book data displayed in the browser provides a range of useful information typically found in the various cruising guides. Tide and current information can also be shown directly on the chart.

Chart Navigator Pro will interface with both an AIS receiver and an ARPA/MARPA equipped radar that provides information in the NMEA 0183 format. The AIS display can include the position and track of all vessels whose signals are being received, their MMSI, speed, course, heading, range bearing and other navigation and static data. (For more information on AIS, log onto www.boatdigest.com.) When used with a compatible radar, it will overlay the symbols for tracked targets on the chart.

As with any of today’s chart plotters, whether implemented using a dedicated software/hardware combination or as with Chart Navigator Pro, using software that can run on a general purpose computer, the challenge will be to select and use only those features needed to support the immediate navigation challenge. It is easy to become overly involved in the almost limitless capabilities of these systems. When considering any chart plotter, whether a dedicated unit or a software package such as Chart Navigator Pro, be sure the screen of the computer will be clearly visible in the most challenging lighting conditions you will encounter. If you plan to use the system at night be certain that the screen can be dimmed to the remarkably low light level that is required.

Maptech’s use of Rose Point Navigation Systems as the source of Chart Navigator Pro is an excellent decision. The software, combins the 13 DVD MapTech chart and image database for really usable features, utility and overall value. Maptech, (866) 896-7760; www.maptech.com.