cheapest electronic charts?

[Ric]

I want to buy a chartplotter - but the electronic charts are hugely
expensive, and also difficult to buy as not many chandlers etc stock them.

What is the best solution? Is it possible to buy a CD of the world and then
download the charts one needs into the chartplotter?

Surely the first manufacturer to offer a solution for easily and relatively
cheaply loading charts into the chartplotter would corner the market - so
what's stopping them? The charts themselves can't be too expensive as iirc
the US Hydrographic office publishes free charts for the whole world.

 

[Verizon]

Surely the first manufacturer to offer a solution for easily and
relatively

cheaply loading charts into the chartplotter would corner the market - so
what's stopping them? The charts themselves can't be too expensive as iirc
the US Hydrographic office publishes free charts for the whole world.

Maptech has Outdoor Navigator for Palm and Pocket PC. It comes with every
NOAA chart in the US for only $99. After the first year, it costs $29/year
to keep the charts current - or just keep what you have and don't pay
anything. It's probably the best deal going as compared to buying regions,
etc. Of course, a Palm or Pocket PC display must be acceptable for it to
work for you.

www.outdoornavigator.com (get the demo or click on "Information") and
www.maptech.com are links for more information.