Is any consensus developing regarding Coastal Explorer, the new navigation software from http://www.rosepointnav.com/default.htm ?

    - ETA calculator.  Being able to provide bounding times/dates for a

    - Method to connect with and exchange data with a GPS.  I still

    - Right click on a chart to create a new waypoint, route, RBL, or

I've used it some and am very pleased with it - especially as a first release. The free chart aspect is a "killer-app". The interface/display is elegant. It has truly been developed to support boating, not boating to support software. A friend of mine who is senior level software/hardware guy with a well known software company wrote to them the following: Wish List: - Integration with currents & tides for display and TTG/ETA prediction. This is without doubt one of Nobeltec's best features and useful both for planning and while underway. - ETA calculator. Being able to provide bounding times/dates for a departure & route, then having the software recommend an optima departure based on estimated SOW and current/tide links is very handy. - Method to connect with and exchange data with a GPS. I still don't trust Windows to drive my boat, and so prefer to put routes and waypoints into the Garmin 235 so it can drive the Robertson autopilot. Having CE be able to do this directly would be more convenient than using an intermediate like Garmin Mapsource or some other tool. - Right click on a chart to create a new waypoint, route, RBL, or event while planning or in Nav mode. Favorite things: - Nav mode is just right. Data, layout, size, automation. - Data panels size, design, and options. - Boat, chart, obstacles, coast pilot panel - Right-click chart tips and Nearby Tides menu -- very handy - Straight-forward file handling model (VNS "chart table" has always been lame) - Free charts! So far, after about 25 hours in use, CE is hands-down better than Nobeltec. I think you might kick Nobeltec's fanny. Rose Point responded: "As far as your wish list goes, you'll be happy to hear that it's all in the plan. The GPS/Plotter transfer feature should be available in the next couple of months (and in an "open beta" before that). The tide/current integration will take longer and will be limited to US and Canada, but we are planning on adding it ASAP. This will include animated bars and arrows on the chart as well as integration with the ETA calculations. Adding Insert to the right-click menu is something that almost happened for the release and will end up in one of the early updates." One of the reasons that you may not have seen as much print as is warranted is due to money demands by the magazines. For the most part, magazines want some ad $$$ before saying anything. Hopefully Practical Sailor and Powerboat Reports will do a good review soon before those games need to be played. I have high hopes for this outfit. They understand boats and boating first. A couple of years ago I had occasion to be in the offices of Nobeltec sharing some feedback and advice on their product. I told them of the well known bug where the twilight night lighting functions basically exploded the screen components. I discussed that in the context of trying to read the screen and actually use a mouse to click on a button at night in weather while trying to keep track of traffic (a typical night on Puget Sound). I asked them if they had ever taken their product out on a boat in conditions anywhere near something like that. I was told that they had only used it themselves on the Willamette river - ON SAILBOATS! None of them we really boaters, or even got on boats very much. Hmmmm..... Time will tell if Coastal Navigator can penetrate the market, but they have started with a very good foundation. I, for one, like it very much. Randy Hamblin SAGA -----Original Message----- From: trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com [mailto:trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Steve Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 10:05 PM To: T&T E-mail Subject: T&T: Coastal Navigaor Is any consensus developing regarding Coastal Explorer, the new navigation software from http://www.rosepointnav.com/default.htm ? _______________________________________________ http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering To Unsubscribe send email to trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com Include the word Unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message. Trawlers and Trawlering, T and T, TrawlersandTrawlering, and TandT are trademarks of Water World International. Unauthorized use is prohibited.