Rose Point Launches Coastal Explorer 2009

[Yeah, I wrote about this yesterday, but I figured my readers might appreciate reading the official press release. —Tim] 

Redmond, WA – February 2, 2009: Rose Point Navigation Systems today announced the launch and immediate availability of the latest version of its award-winning navigation software Coastal Explorer and its companion Internet service, the Coastal Explorer Network, which provides users with US chart updates, weather forecasts, and more.

The new Coastal Explorer 2009 provides an even more refined and streamlined user experience both when planning a voyage and during navigation. Mark Nelson of Navsoftware.com (a leading online retailer of PC based navigation software), reviewed the software stating, “Coastal Explorer already had the easiest to use interface. With version 2.0 Rose Point has distanced themselves from others by orders of magnitude creating a whole new level (for others to aspire to)”.

[Read on for a summary of new features. —Tim]

Coastal Explorer’s unique Guide Book, which has always included information from the US Coast Pilot and NGA Sailing Directions, now includes photos from Google’s Panoramio web service as well as information from the Coastal Explorer Network’s community guide book. The Guide Book also makes it easy for anyone to contribute information to the community guide book about the places they know best.

The new Ship’s Log feature not only enables users to keep private logs for maintenance, fueling, and other notes, but it also makes it very easy to maintain a “blog” of their voyages that can be shared with friends and family, or even the general public via the Coastal Explorer Network. Ship’s Log entries are automatically time-stamped and geo-referenced and users can easily attach photos, web links, and other files to each entry.

Coastal Explorer has always made it easy to download, install, and use the freely available NOAA and USACE charts. Coastal Explorer 2009 takes a giant leap forward by including all of these charts on a DVD-ROM and then providing an automatic update service that lets users select regions of charts they want to update and then, with a single click, download and install all of the charts that have been updated since the last check.

Unlike previous versions, Coastal Explorer 2009 has access to vector charts for the entire world. Rose Point has added support for the S-63 data protection scheme used by hydrographic agencies around the world to add “copy protection” to their digital charts. Not only does this mean that Coastal Explorer 2009 users can now purchase “official” government charts for much of the world, but they can also get Navionics S-57/S-63 charts for nearly the entire planet!

Coastal Explorer’s “Cruise Mode,” which provides simplified access to navigation functions via oversized buttons that are easier to use while underway, has been significantly redesigned to provide direct access to much more functionality with fewer buttons and to provide a basis for future additions to Coastal Explorer which will make it more of a Multi-Function Display rather than just a chartplotter. The new Cruise Mode also enables much more customization of both the Virtual Instrument Panels and the overall screen layout.

Coastal Explorer 2009 has a suggested retail price of $399 which includes the software, a getting started guide, all available US charts from NOAA and the USACE, and a one year subscription to the Coastal Explorer Network. Existing Coastal Explorer customers are eligible for a free upgrade.