Hi Kent,
For years now, one of the strong advocates of what you're saying below, ie., becoming your own expert (or at least self-sufficient) has been Lee Chesneau, NOAA Senior Marine Meteorologist (ret).

Lee is offering his excellent 3-part seminar through Seven Seas University, the on-line educational arm of the Seven Seas Cruising Association, starting November 17.
Here's the link: Modern Marine Weather with Lee Chesneau
http://www.sevenseasu.com/7seasu/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=60&Itemid=45

Or just go to ssca.org and click through the links to SSU and Lee's class.

He's also offering this in an intensive one-day seminar at the SSCA GAM in Melbourne, Fl. The "GAM" runs Friday thru Sunday, November 12-14 and Lee's seminar is all day Sunday for only $150. Again, check it all out at ssca.org

Btw, there's a member's discount for all courses - about time you joined!
SSCA is a great date at just $50 a year.

Cheers, Craig
Santorin #68 "Sangaris"
Disclosure - I'm Pres of SSCA.

On Oct 27, 2010, at 21:44, Kent Robertson <karkauai@...> wrote:

.... Still just learning all this weather info collection, and now have my SSB working, finally. Will probably ... get my own weather charts via the SSB and SatPhone email...will see what seems to work best for me and how close I can come on my own to what the experts are saying.