[Paddlewise] Internet Resource for Boaters - maybe kayakers too

This morning, during the commercials for the Tour de France (on the cable
channel "Versus"), I stumbled across an interesting boating resource. It's
been billed as a daily boating magazine for the Internet and there is a
yearly fee. However there is a 30-day free trial. For guys like Mike Euritt,
Dave Kruger and me - kayakers who also run boats - it looks like an
excellent source of information. But it's also got some useful tips for
kayakers. Especially navigation, chart reading, GPS and other electronics
tips (kayakers might not be all that interested in the sections on
autopilots).

For instance, we've had a few threads covering radar. I just read the best
primer on radar ever on this site. Mike... you should read it.

The site is www.madmariner.com. I signed up for the 30-day free trial and
will be looking at it more closely from both a kayaking and boating
standpoint.

While I'm at it, I noticed that an outfit called "Navionics" is offering
digital charts for iPhone users at what would be reasonable prices if they
are usable. The FAQ on their web page implies that the charts users can buy
from iTunes - which seem to be specifically aimed at the iPhone users of the
Navionics application - don't work with the navigation software that seems
to be targeted at iPhones. And the prices for charts on iTunes are much less
than the prices for charts on their preferred sites. I've sent a "what are
you thinking?" email to the sales people of Navionics to see if I can't
clarify this. But if you can use the chart that, for instance, coveres from
central OR up to SE Alaska that costs only $9.95 then this is an application
that anyone who is on the water and has an iPhone could benefit from using.
(Canadian charts are incredibly expensive in digital formats.)

So give www.madmariner.com a try and see if you get anything useful from it.
The price (at least for 30 days) us right. No credit card information is
required for the free trial either. Another plus.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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