Maptech insists there is no threat to The Capn's future. In fact, since Maptech picked up The Capn in April 2006 (at version 8.3.14), they've posted six moderate updates, known in the software industry as point releases. In this article we review the latest version, which is 8.3.20.

However, as Maptech clearly states, The Capn is tailored to and intended for use in the commercial market by professional captains. The product ships in a case labeled "Navigation Software for the Professional." Although its devoted recreational users point out that The Capn has some great features and functions, a new user entering the charting and navigation market would be better served by a package designed for recreational use on a more contemporary computer platform, such as Maptech's Chart Navigator Pro.

SETTING UP

The Capn is sold as a very professional package in a 12-by-9-inch zippered nylon portfolio containing 18 discs and a 64-page comb-bound User Manual. Seventeen DVDs contain complete Maptech cartography for the U.S., including coverage of the Great Lakes and inland waterways. The User Manual is an updated version, recently revised and rewritten by Maptech, who also makes it available through their support web page (see link).

The application easily installs from the DVD installer disc. Once the program is installed, you can load charts by region from the remaining DVDs. As with Maptech's Chart Navigator Pro, The Capn provides more charts and supplemental data than most boaters should load. If you don't need some charting regions or data, watch the installation prompts and only load desired regions.

Today's version of The Capn requires registration by calling a toll-free number or sending an email to a designated registration email address. When you provide Maptech with your serial number they issue an unlock code.

Although a phone registration process may seem outdated and inconvenient compared to an automated web registration, it makes sense for The Capn's users. Designed for captains who are out on a vessel, possibly in bad conditions after a system crash, it is assumed that an Internet connection may not be feasible. Maptech makes the process easy. Our registration was completed in less than two minutes with a representative.

LOOK AND FEEL

The Capn uses a traditional Windows interface that integrates large, plotter-style buttons for use in rough sea conditions. This is a nuts-and-bolts, no-frills user interface, but one that is relatively easy to learn and use.

Unfortunately, the pioneer in e-charting is starting to show its age. It has a definite Win95 look and feel, most noticeable in a cluttered screen display and ragged fonts. There are only 14 rather non-intuitive shortcuts, mostly based on function keys such as F4 for Next Chart Down.

In addition, The Capn occasionally exhibits display artifacts because its monitor refresh was designed for the slow computers of the 1990s. For example, portions of the previous feature sometime remain on the screen as a new window loads, creating an odd temporary patchwork on your PC display. Newer applications take advantage of graphic display speed and clear the screen instantaneously before re-displaying the new window.

The Capn also frequently violates Windows interface conventions and is inconsistent within its own interface, such as whether to use an ellipsis ("...") indicating additional submenu choices. The most troubling instance of a "close-but-not-quite" Windows convention is Capn's inability to resize certain data windows. Since windows of waypoints or routes can't be resized, the information is only legible by scrolling side-to-side or up-and-down with horizontal and vertical elevator bars. At a minimum, users should be able to make windows wider to show complete lines of data.

To its credit, The Capn loads faster than any program we've reviewed, starting up in less than five seconds. It's also one of the most customizable charting and navigation programs we've seen. It includes a proverbial "boat-load" of customization options, such as metrics, colors, ship information, data inputs, Nav Console settings and even time zones.