For those of you using the free download NOAA raster charts (available at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/index.htm) These charts are basically regular charts that have been scanned in and "calibrated" so the software can tell you your lat/long and allow connection to a gps for real-time position indicating and waypoint exchange. There is also free software to use them: http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/resources.htm These free programs tend to have either fewer features or in some cases limited time of use (e.g. 30 days). I have the Maptech "Chart Navigator" (http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=172 <http://www.maptech.com/support/doc.cfm?docid=172&CFID=14634764&CFTOKEN=1288 7735> &CFID=14634764&CFTOKEN=12887735) and also their "Offshore Navigator Lite", which comes as a companion to at least some of their waterproof chartbooks and another, not on the above list http://www.sping.com/seaclear/ OziExplorer also will allow viewing but has the big disadvantage of needing the user to first "calibrate" the chart, a very tedious process when you have over 6000 of them. 8^o A few nights ago I was "cruising" the coast of Alaska, the Chesapeake Bay, and the New England coast. The big shortcoming is that the downloads do not include Canadian charts. The Canadian government has elected to distribute electronic charts via a company in Newfoundland rather than make them available for free. You can buy the Canadian RNC charts if you so wish. Tod