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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 SeaClear PC Chart Plotter		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Dan Greer
1st Mate

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USA
36 Posts
Initially Posted - 07/01/2006 :  00:04:52  Show Profile
Has anyone had any experience with the SeaClear chart plotter that's available for free download on the www?
Dan Greer
1989 C-25 SR WK
Phoenix, AZ
Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 07/01/2006 :  07:26:50  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
I played with Sea Clear about eight years ago and used it to plan a summer cruise before switching to Oziexplorer. Ozi I think is currently around $75 and I liked it much better than Sea Clear.

Sea Clear may have upgrades since I played with it and for someone who doesn't want to spend any money until they play with chart plotting and discover what it can do for them, it serves a purpose and could be all the program someone needs.

More powerful programs like Oziexplorer have much better interfaces for bringing charts into calibration. Ozi for example has auto calibration for some chart producers. The online chart service I use for example, offers charts at less than five bucks that will auto calibrate.

The most significant power I needed and hence why going Ozi was I wanted the power to print charts or sections of them to 8.5 x 11 after setting waypoints and routes. These are placed into notebook pocket protectors to produce a cockpit friendly chartbook for a cruise that is thin enough to live under the cockpit cushions.

This allows buying online charts without needing to back them up with expensive paper charts because I do that from the online chart for the areas I'm going to cruise. Plus, the backup charts serve to manage the gps with what might be 150 waypoints and a dozen routes... they can instantly tell me what waypoint number to select.

While it is no big deal to manage a dozen or more waypoints given names in friendly waters, managing 150 even if given names for an unfamiliar area would be impossible, so I let them simply increment numbers and refer to the chartbook to see where the numbers are at.

More than you asked for... but may help to understand why I went beyond Sea Clear.
Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 07/01/2006 07:50:11
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.