Google Maps + NOAA info... Cool site

[AdriftAtSea]

There's a cool site that overlays NOAA charts onto the Google Maps engine.  Try it out... very cool.

[Zen]

very cool! ;D

[Delezynski]

VERY Nice. To bad it does not work outside of the USA!

Greg

[Needle]

 You can superimpose images on Google earth.... these can even be charts, raster variety.
There is a tab at the top of the screen that says "Add Image overlay".
So all you have to do is pick a raster file of your favorite spot and scale it, using the contours of the islands or roads...
You can even adjust  the transpearancy....
Supperimpose away....

[polecat]

Adrift - Are you talking about http://demo.geogarage.com/noaa/   ?  Or have you found something else?
jim

It is, sorry,  for some reason couldn't get the link to work for a while - looks like a good tool for planning all right - not to bad for just daydreaming either.
jim

[Needle]

Polecat,

The link worked for me, but this might help, also.....http://xpda.com/nauticalcharts/
This is a link to a collection of NOAA charts in PNG format. (raster charts)

Here is what you do: Go to the site, pick out your chart, download it...
Start Google Earth and look for a button that says "add image...."
I like doing it myself because I can pick chart scaling and such...

Good luck!

[Needle]

 Here is a good use of google earth....

Check out this screen shot of Stonington Harbor in CT. I superimposed a chart over the Google Earth view... Note the sand bar in the center...
Scaling looks decent, outlines of the mainland match pretty well.
The mark is were my friend run aground, hard.... with disastrous consequences...

So check before you go!

[s/v Faith]

I have no doubt that the utility mentioned in this thread is cool.

  I just read a post on the Salty Southeast Cruisers net that cited a problem like what needle pointed out above.

  I personally see google earth as having more value for entertainment then for any practical use in navigation.  I did play with it for a couple weeks when it first came out.... and it can be interesting... I don't see it as a practical aid to small boat navigation any time soon.