The first of our product lines, the popular ChartKit® brand of chartbooks was created in 1974 by Frank Nappa who was in the printing business and also a boater. The Embassy Cruising Guides® were started in 1989 by Mark C. Borton, who named the books from an onomatopoeia, using an anagram of his initials (“MBC”).

Maptech Inc. was launched the same year as a digital marine navigation and chart company by John Gavlik and Gary Comer, who was CEO of Lands' End. In 1995, Maptech Inc. purchased the Embassy Cruising Guides® and, later, ChartKit®. Maptech then branched out into other product lines, including waterproof charts and chartbooks, and - following the passing of Gary Comer in 2006 - was purchased by the owner of Richardsons' Chartbooks, who was previously an employee at ChartKit®.

Owner/President Lee Estes is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has served as a bridge officer in the U.S. Merchant Marines. He is a lifelong boater and has been president of the company for more than 15 years.

Maptech paper chart products provide a crucial planning resource as well as a supplement to digital navigation systems. The Embassy Cruising Guides® are the perfect companion to our charts and provide the most comprehensive information about ports along the way.

Maptech continues to innovate, and our new harbor drone videos are another useful tool for boaters to experience real views of popular harbors and inlets. Our MoreMaptech website provides easy access to marine facilities details (including drone videos - where available) as well as map views.

The Maptech team is dedicated to producing the highest-quality product backed by the very best customer service. Many of our employees have been with the company for more than 20 years - a testament to their shared mission.

Maptech products are available at over several hundred retail locations across the country or through the Maptech website.