DISCUSSION

Introduction
Maptech offers two low-cost options for boaters to get started in electronic charting. The U.S. Boating Charts DVDs feature charts for all US waters, including many inland waterways. There are some differences between these two editions, outlined below.


U.S. Boating Charts DVD
Maptech Part No: DVDRUS
MSRP: $49.95
Availability: Direct sale from Maptech.com
Chart Format: BSB 3.0 (Unencrypted) - No registration required
Included Software: Offshore Navigator Lite
Frequency of Updated DVDs: Monthly (Weekly updates available at www.FreeBoatingCharts.com)
Number of DVD discs: 1
NOAA Charts Included: Aprox. 2200 (covering all US Waters)
Army Corps of Engineers Charts Included: 576
Rivers covered by Army Corps charts:
- Cumberland River
- Illinois Waterway
- Upper Mississippi, including Minnesota River and St. Croix River
- Lower Mississippi, St. Louis - Baton Rouge (South of Baton Rouge, NOAA charts are used.)
- Ohio River
- Tennessee River


U.S. Boating Charts with Tides and Currents DVD
Maptech Part No: DVDRUSTC
MSRP: $99.95
Availability: Direct sale from Maptech.com and other retailers.
Chart Format: BSB 4.0 (Encrypted) - Registration is required for use
Product ID Prefix: BSE-R98-2EJ
Included Software: Offshore Navigator Lite
Tide/Current Predictions: Based on NOAA tables through end of 2008
Frequency of Updated DVDs: Quarterly (Weekly updates available at www.FreeBoatingCharts.com)
Number of DVD discs: 2
NOAA Charts Included: Aprox. 2200 (covering all US Waters)
Army Corps of Engineers Charts Included: 786
Rivers covered by Army Corps charts:
- Cumberland River
- Illinois Waterway
- Lower Black Warrior - Tombigbee Waterway
- Upper Mississippi, including Minnesota River and St. Croix River
- Lower Mississippi, including Army Corps charts south of Baton Rouge
- Ohio River
- Tennessee River
- Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway