Electronic Charts

[JeffreySiegel]

Originally Posted by l0keman

What's wrong with the laptop?

- Power requirements.

- Mounting issues and space.

- Water resistance issues.

- Visibility issues (sunlight).

- Usability issues (mouse vs hard keys).


An onboard PC for use while underway is most appropriate when you have real space to keep it secure (inside) and no problems burning 6-15 amps per hour.

[sailingdog]

I don't think you understand how much water sprays around, on, and into a small 22' sailboat. I have a 28' trimaran with an 18' beam, and it is one of the driest boats to sail I've ever been on. Last season, on a day with 20+ knots of wind and 4-6 foot seas, it took two hours before anyone in the cockpit felt any spray come aboard... and I would be hesistant to use a laptop that wasn't ruggedized in my companionway. That was the downwind leg. The upwind leg was a totally different story... and most were in full foul weather gear, since the cockpit was getting clobbered fairly regularly.

One other point I'd have to make is that the Garmin is going to use a lot less electricity underway, and the display on the Garmin is designed to be daylight readable. The unit also changes the color schema as the dusk arrives, to help preserve your night vision—this is something the laptop is not likely to be able to do.

[l0keman]

I can understand the power issue... I don't sail like that. My boat is never heeled far. I usaully am out with my 1 and 3 yo daughters. So I just keep it at a gentle cruise. I guess I'll just save up for now. I kinda want a nice one with a big screen, as it is permanantly fixed and I'm moving about the cockpit. Also I figure, when I sell the boat... I'll keep the system and put in my next boat.

[sailingdog]

BTW, I have the Garmin 192C, which is a few models older than the 440s, but is about the same size and shape. It is very readable and mounted on a swing arm, so I can use it at the nav console or in the cockpit.

[tenuki]

I use the Mark I eyeball and the Mark II chart.