Seaclear Charts

[corkscrew]

I just started playing with seasclear, like it. I don't really know how to hook it up to a GPS system, but I mainly just use it to refer to charts. Does anyone have any sea clear compatible chart files for Bahamas / Turks and Cacois that they could send me? Just want to check them out and dream....bsb/kap or any other sea clar compatible. Heck even any BVI charts....Thanks

scfunk2002 (the rest of the address edited by moderator - posting open email addresses is not permitted on the forum)

[c130king]

Could somebody post the "Dummies Guide to downloading, installing, and using charts in Seaclear"? I couldn't get it to open a chart. I followed the guidance on the other thread. I need to print out and read the instructions.

Jim

[corkscrew]

Here's how to open a chart....file -> chart -> not listed - then browse to the bdb or kap file you want

[Love MACs]

I am in c130King's postion. I see from the last post how to open a file but waiting someones instruction on how to download, install maps. The program looks very interesting and from what some say, is also very usable. I have read their instructions until I am green in the face but can't get it to work. Waiting for someone here to post basic "Seaclear for Dumbies"


Allan

[corkscrew]

You simply download the maps you want from the website, unzip the files, and drop them into the sea clear directory. You then choose unlisted file and browse to the one you want.

[paj637]

I bought a disk off Ebay that had all the charts and program for $20.00. Easily installed with support. $20 a year to update with revised charts and updated program, how can you beat that!

[corkscrew]

What format were the maps in? Did it have all the caribbean and bahamas maps? Do you remember the seller? Do they work with sea clear?

[paj637]

Look on Ebay for "GPS software". You will see several vendors that have SeaClear CDs for sale. Most have US coastal charts and territorries only.

[opie]

I will try to lend a hand in the next week when I have time and signal. Right now we are traveling on the Mac from NC to Charleston, using SeaClear and loving it. I set the 16" laptop on the table inside and can see it clearly from the cockpit. At that distance it is the same width visually as my 4 inch Garmin on the helm. Very nice since the added bonus was that the admiral got to looking, and looking, and sat down and started giving ooohhs and ahhhhs and then gave me updates as to where we were. That was using Seaclear with my EXCELLENT BU-353 USB GPS ($35 and plug and play). The we played with the Goops Google GPS tracker and that showed the rivers and creeks along the way.. Excellent. This is the most the admiral has been involved in our boating navigation in the 2 years since we got the boat...
1 point to make is: If you are only finding charts by going to "Unlisted" choices, then you are doing something wrong. I suggest using Gary's comment about Mapcal program that goes along with Seaclear and doing an UPDATE with Mapcal after you place the kap/raster NOAA files. All the files should display on the master choice list and move seamlessly from one chart to the other as you either get to the edge of a chart and hit ctrl-G or use mouse controls. When my GPS is plugged in, it goes from NOAA chart to NOAA chart automatically as my boat ICON goes to the edge of the chart being used.
It does take a while to learn but the payoff is big, in my opinion.
Right now we are anchored in Georgetown SC harbor, a very friendly boating town.

[c130king]

I guess I am having the same difficulties as many seem to be having. I downloaded all the .kap charts for my area and put them in the "charts" folder. I can open an individual chart using the "unlisted" function. But I have to do that again to open the next chart.

The manual says you don't have to do mapcal for .kap charts...only .png or .jpg charts...or at least that was how I understood it. And it also seemed to read that when you got to the edge of your chart...even when just viewing at home...that the cursor would change shape and then you could double-click and the new, appropriate chart would open. But I can't get that functionality to work.

But I will keep playing with it. I can see some utility to this program if I can get it working. Now I need to find one of the GPS pucks. New ones run about $70 bucks or more. Haven't tried ebay yet.

Jim

[corkscrew]

Ok...try putting all the kap files in the charts directory. use mapcal to scan for new files. it will then show up in seaclear after that by chartname.

[J.Teixeira]

Does Seaclear reads or import Ozi explorer charts ?

[Hamin' X]

Use the mapcal to scan for new charts, When I did this, it found two charts that were uncalibrated and it refused to add them. After mapcaling them, everything thing works fine. Open the list of charts in SeaClear and select the one you want to start with. On any border of the the chart chart being viewed, double click and the next chart will appear where you left off, but only if it is available.

Here is my recommendation for an easy way to get all the charts into the Seaclear\CHARTS folder and the way that I did it.

Downloading Charts

Make a sub folder in the SeaClear\charts folder and call it whatever you want. I named mine "Downloaded".
Go to Noaa's Raster Navigational Charts and after agreeing to the terms, select the charts that you want to download. I prefer to use the graphical mode.
To select the charts that you want, zoom in to the area that you want by using the pan tool (grab and drag) and clicking on the zoom in, or zoom out tool. Do not use the + - Zoom bar, it will mess you up, at least it does me.
There are two ways to select charts for adding to your cart. I prefer the outline method. Using the selection mode tool, left click and drag an outline around the charts that you want. Don't worry if other charts that you don't want are highlighted.
The charts that you selected are outlined in dark blue. If you know for sure that you already have one of them, you can deselect the one that you don't want by hovering near the border, until it turns green. Now hold down the Ctrl key and click on the chart that you don't want.
When you have the charts that you want (The more you download at once, the less work involved) selected, add them to your cart on the left side of your screen.
Now place your order.
When a list of your charts appears, click on Order Selections. depending on the number of charts you are ordering and how busy their server is, this can take several minutes.
Now click download, then save it to your downloads folder. (Remember, this is a government site, so don't expect it to be fast, or work every time.

Putting Charts Into SeaClear

Now the neat part. I am using Windows XP, so your procedure may differ, depending upon the OS that you are using.
After the download is finished and saved, open the folder and unzip (extract) the file where it is.
Open Downloaded folder and click on search, then search all files and folders. Search the downloaded folder and all of it's sub folders for "*.kap" without the quotes. This will produce a list of all of your raster charts in this folder.
Now highlight all of the files and right-click and copy.
Click on Folders in the top bar.
In the left-hand panel, navigate to your charts folder (C:\Program Files\Seaclear\charts.
Now right-click in the charts folder, then click Paste. If it asks you to overwrite a file, click yes, as you will be getting the latest updated file.

Using MapCal

Mapcal is located in the Seaclear folder and you may not have a shortcut to it. The name of the file is MapCal_2.exe.
Open MapCal and click on Tools => Autoload List => Scan for New Charts.
It will give you the number of new charts that it finds and notify you of problem charts, if any.
Your done.

Just run SeaClear II and chose the chart that you want to start with.

~Rich

[Hamin' X]

Does Seaclear reads or import Ozi explorer charts ?

What format are they in. SeaClear can use several different formats, including:

• BSB/KAP
  GEO/NOS
  WCI

~Rich

[c130king]

Rich,

Once again you prove you are a GENIUS! It was the MAPCAL I couldn't figure out. Your instructions worked like a Champ. Now I will learn how to plot a route.

Thanks,
Jim