NOAA has made all of their charts available for downloading through the internet at no cost to you.

 

Charts are available in two formats.

 

 NOAA’s Raster Navigational Charts (NOAA RNCs) are produced by scanning the original material used to produce their paper charts.  NOAA adds information describing the chart and it’s “geo-reference” to the file.  Geo-referencing enables a navigation system that is  connected to a GPS to locate and display the vessel’s exact position on the screen

 

NOAA ENCs are produced in the International Hydropgraphic Office s57 format and receive incremental updates which supply Notice to Mariners corrections and other critical changes.

 

RNCs can be used in just about any computer based navigational program since they are in Maptech Version 3 Format (BSB).  ENCs  require specific vector chart capabilities that only the latest versions of charting software have.

 

There are several ways to download   NOAA RNC charts .  The easiest way is to go  straight to www.freeboatingcharts.com and follow the directions.  Or you can get to the freeboatingcharts site through www.maptech.com.  You can also go directly to NOAA at www.nauticalcharts.noaa/. gov/mcd/raster/index.htm and follow their instructions.   

 

To obtain downloads of NOAA ENC charts you need to go to www.nauticalcharts.noaa .gov/mcd/enc/index.htm. 

 

The time required to obtain your download varies:
     .
     The freeboatingchart site sends you an e-mail within 24 hours with the download imbedded (you’ll need 
      your  ID number from your order).
      The NOAA web site provides a zip file that you can down load immediately
 
If you’re having trouble downloading ,all of the sites mentioned have good Help Sections.

 

Editor's note: I downloaded Maptec's program first then the Charts from freeboatingcharts and it worked very well.