Unfortunately, many boaters ultimately buy an e-charting package based on a word-of-mouth recommendation. But before you go out and buy that software, consider the source of the recommendation. What if your trawler buddy – who never leaves the dock – recommends an e-charting application, but you're taking a sailboat to the Bahamas? Is it still a good choice for you? Or perhaps you read a magazine article by a reviewer who spends much of his free time fiddling with computers and e-charting, and he really likes the software. Is it appropriate for your level of comfort with computers?

We hope we reviewed each e-charting choice in sufficient detail – devoting several thousand words to each – so you can get an accurate picture. But ultimately, the best way to make a final decision is to download the trial software, install charts for your home port, and give it a real-world sea trial.

OUT OF BOX EXPERIENCE

Of course, you will want to narrow the field of products first by doing some research, so let's dig in. Although most of us look forward to a newly-purchased software package, many dread the nuts-and-bolts of getting started. After being wowed by a colorful box and the prospect of an exciting new nautical toy, often, nothing seems to work as it should. Software installation, chart loading, GPS and instrument connections, learning new features, transferring files – it can all be too frustrating to classify as recreation. So let's look at the specific components that combine to create a trouble-free or even pleasant out-of-box experience.

The good news is that none of the e-charting applications we reviewed were beyond the abilities of an average computer user, or inappropriate or over-featured for a recreational boater. In fact, despite features such as AIS tracking, bathymetric recording or polar optimization, they are all relatively easy to use. You don't need to be a computer scientist or marine engineer to use even the most advanced features on any of these applications.

But you should consider your own abilities.

If you are completely new to computing and don't even own a laptop, consider a Macintosh. Although Macs cost more and your software choices are more limited, the Mac operating system is significantly easier to set up and use compared to dealing with wizards and ports on a PC that is running Windows.

If you are uncomfortable on computers or are simply impatient learning new software, then a trouble-free getting-started experience is important. Software should have packaging that make its features easy to understand. It must have well-written documentation. Software, charts and supplemental data should install effortlessly. External devices should connect easily. And finally, if you do need help, there should be strong technical support.

Many boaters like to purchase a packaged set, including data discs, documentation, and sometimes even hardware extras such as multimedia card readers. Several companies provide very nice retail packages. Most notable is The Capn's professional-looking zippered portfolio. Nobeltec, Maptech, and MaxSea also provide upscale out-of-box experiences. Fugawi Marine ENC, Coastal Explorer, and NavSim do a fine job, and SeaClear II, Software-On-Board, MacENC and TIKI Navigator are available only via download.

Whether the software application is delivered on discs in a boxed case or via download on the Internet, what really matters is the ease of set-up. Throughout this series we have been hard on companies that have not provided thorough, accurate and easy-to-read user manuals. Although one can muddle through any of these applications without a manual, reading the documentation makes the learning process much smoother.

DOCUMENTATION

Traditional printed manuals are going the way of the abacus. Because of printing costs and frequent software updates, most e-charting packages do not include a printed manual. In fact, Nobeltec charges an additional $30 for its User's Guide. The truth is, although a glossy color manual is impressive at first, we found it is more important that the overall documentation be well-organized, accurate and current.

To avoid the constraints of printed documentation, most e-charting applications include some combination of integrated help menus and PDF files. For example, TIKI Navigator does not have a current English manual, instead relying on tutorials and integrated help. Coastal Explorer and Chart Navigator Pro also rely on hot-linked chapters through a help menu.

Although help files are useful for troubleshooting particular issues, we found they were a tough way to understand a package overall. Going through help menus screen-by-screen is a bit like reading an e-book. We often resorted to printing the help files, which is a slow and tedious way to put together a manual.

Our conclusion is that the most practical form of documentation is a PDF file included with the software. This format saves printing costs, is easy to keep up-to-date, saves weight aboard, can be printed section-by-section as needed and, most importantly, it is searchable.

Software-On-Board, Fugawi Marine ENC, and MaxSea have the best documentation in PDF format. MaxSea covered all the angles, combining three excellent documents, video tutorials and an advanced integrated help system.

PROBLEMS AND TECH SUPPORT

Getting started with an e-charting application requires overcoming three main hurdles: loading the charts, loading the supplemental data and connecting instruments.

The most pleasant installations included setup wizards that managed the chart installation and then scanned and assigned ports for the GPS and other devices. Our most difficult getting-started experience was NavSim BoatCruiser, followed by Fugawi Marine ENC and SeaClear II. Many of the other packages also had isolated problems, requiring guesswork to locate the GPS port, multiple attempts to load certain chart formats, or calls to tech support to locate missing drivers.

In contrast, Coastal Explorer, The Capn, Chart Navigator Pro and MaxSea easily loaded all our cartography. Coastal Explorer, The Capn, and Chart Navigator Pro also loaded an extensive collection of supplemental data without difficulty. And we found Coastal Explorer and Chart Navigator Pro, both based on the same basic software program, to have the best port detector, making it easy to connect a GPS.