ELECTRONICS
version is in the works. Free electronic charting software
that uses ENCs and includes advanced features like AIS
and autopilot support is rare. As described by the folks
who have crafted it, OpenCPN is developing into a “nice
little open-source chart plotter/navigator”.
SeaClear II
SeaClear II is the product of years of effort on the part
of a programmer who has generously made it available to
all, free of charge. It has passed the test of time and has
found a home on many chart tables. SeaClear II uses
NOAA RNCs and several other raster chart formats. It
also includes utilities that allow you to create your own
charts from images. Earlier versions are available for
Windows 3 and 95, but several additional features are
available in the newer version, which is compatible with
Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, and Vista. Windows 2000
or later is recommended for the best performance. No
Linux version is available, but SeaClear II runs well under
Wine on the Linux operating system. (See winehq.org for
more information.)
Loaded with almost every conceivable feature, SeaClear
II deserves a position at the top of the list of free charting
software. AIS support with traffic tracked on the chart
image, autopilot interface, alarms, automatic logging, and
an NMEA interface for wind and depth instruments are
just a few of SeaClear II’s capabilities. Chart handling is
excellent, and a man-overboard function and user-created
marks and notations on the chart are other pluses. Right-click menus offer a choice of available charts at any
location. Automatic handling takes care of selecting the
next chart or finding the best chart for a vessel’s position.
Users move about the chart by dragging with the cursor,
and the zoom level can be controlled with the mouse
wheel. This is one of the best combinations devised so far.
SeaClear II is not quite as intuitive to run as some
programs, but it’s easy to use after a quick look in the
manual. Documentation provided with the program is
very good and is available in several languages. I found
SeaClear II’s performance to be rock solid in all areas.
SeaFarer
Two Linux-compatible versions of SeaFarer are
available from Barco Software. The free version is
discussed here, but for a price, more capabilities can
be had with the commercial version. The free Linux
version is available from the community area of Barco’s
website, and an Apple OS X version is being developed.
After satisfying one or two system dependencies
(software required by Linux) that were noted during
installation, I tested SeaFarer on an Ubuntu 8.04
Top: The Linux-compatible free version of SeaFarer tracking
a route on a RNC. Clicking on one of the two tidal reporting
point icons brings up the tidal data window shown in the
lower left corner. Above: Adding shoreside detail and other
information is very labor intensive. NOAA has opted to only
include navigationally significant information on ENCs.
distribution. SeaFarer uses NOAA RNCs, as well as
several other raster formats, and some documentation is
available on the website in the community area, which
requires free registration before you can access it.
The free edition of SeaFarer is fully functional,
with route, waypoint, and GPS tracking capability.
Tidal data can be accessed by clicking on reporting
points displayed on the chart image, and an NMEA
interface is included for tracking AIS targets directly
on the chart image. A nice touch is the dead reckoning
or “DR” function, which allows the vessel to be locked
to a DR course and speed instead of using the position
supplied by a GPS.
The only known Linux-compatible navigation
