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EnglishWhat Does Maptech Offer, and Which Charts or Cruising Guides Should You Buy?
Updated
Maptech sells paper nautical charts, ChartKits and Richardsons' Chartbooks, Embassy Cruising Guides, navigation software and electronic charts, navigation publications, and decorative charts. Match the product to the job: paper charts and chartbooks for cockpit navigation, Embassy guides for trip planning and marina/facility details, software and electronic charts for on-screen navigation, and decorative charts for display. Confirm current availability and pricing on maptech.com before ordering, since the site's product pages are the authoritative source.
The Main Product Lines
| Product | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nautical charts (paper) | Detailed navigation information in printed form | Primary cockpit navigation, backup to electronics |
| ChartKits and Richardsons' Chartbooks | Bound collections of charts (named on the site as Maptech® ChartKits® and Richardsons' Chartbooks) | Covering a whole cruising area in one book |
| Embassy Cruising Guides | Comprehensive guides with facility information and local knowledge | Planning, finding marinas, restaurants, and provisions |
| Navigation software and electronic charts | Software that guides you on the waterways | Route planning and on-screen navigation |
| Navigation publications | Great Book of Anchorages (approach data and chartlets) and Rules and Regulations Handbook | Anchoring decisions and regulation compliance |
| Decorative nautical charts | Peel-and-stick chart art, no frame needed | Home or office display |
| Destinations Magazine | 50th-anniversary magazine of 50 East Coast destinations, with Bahamas and Caribbean mentions; free with any online purchase while supplies last | Inspiration and trip ideas |
Match the Product to Your Use
If you navigate from the helm
Paper charts give you reliable detail without power or screen glare, and they work as a backup when electronics fail. A ChartKit or Richardsons' Chartbook is the practical choice when your route crosses many charts, because you carry one bound volume instead of loose sheets. If you prefer screen-based navigation, the navigation software and electronic charts cover planning and underway use.
If you are planning a cruise
Embassy Cruising Guides are the planning tool: the site describes them as packed with facility information and local knowledge. Add the Great Book of Anchorages if anchoring is part of your plan, since it includes approach data and chartlets. The Rules and Regulations Handbook covers what you need for safe navigation and regulatory compliance.
If you want chart art
Decorative charts are a separate purchase from navigation products. They are peel-and-stick, applied directly to a wall, door, or window with no frame required.
Choose the Right Cruising Guide Region
Maptech's web guides sample the Embassy Guides for four regions. Pick the one that covers your route:
- New England Coast
- Long Island Sound to Cape May, New Jersey
- Chesapeake Bay to Florida & the ICW
- Florida to Mobile Bay
The free online destination guides give an overview of each port, things to do, restaurants and provisions, and featured marinas, so you can preview a region before buying the full guide. If your route crosses a regional boundary, you will likely need more than one guide.
Find and Compare Products
- Locate your charts. Use the NOAA Interactive Chart Selector: click your area on the map to find the matching NOAA charts.
- Compare the full line. The 2026 Product Catalog lists everything Maptech offers and lets you compare products to find the right fit.
- Preview destinations. Read the free web guides for your region to confirm the guide covers the ports you plan to visit.
- Check the product page before ordering. Confirm current availability and price on maptech.com; the site does not publish pricing in its general product listings.
Common Pitfalls
- Buying a guide for the wrong region. The four Embassy regions are specific; a Chesapeake Bay guide will not cover New England.
- Assuming a chartbook replaces paper charts entirely. ChartKits and Chartbooks are chart collections, but for areas outside their coverage you still need individual charts.
- Missing the free magazine. Destinations Magazine is free with any online purchase while supplies last, so it will not appear as a separate line item you can order alone.
- Expecting decorative charts to be navigational. They are display products, not charts for use on the water.