Laptop/Chartplotter

[LakeEscape]

Look for a device called Juice70, made by iGo. It is a universal power supply for laptops and other DC devices. It will accept either AC or DC and it comes with a selection of tips to fit different devices, including the Macs. Available at Radio Shacks. DC connection uses a cigarette lighter connection. I use them in the US, overseas and on airplanes.

LakeEscape

[midlifesailor]

The laptop will be at the nav station. I have a couple of GPS's that could be pressed into service at the helm, one with XM weather and capable of using Garmin BlueChart, but I hate to use it on a boat as its and integral part of my airplanes navigation suite.

I probably will add GPS at the helm, but want to wait while I consider the pros and cons of a multifunction unit combining chartplotter and radar vs something like the 440/540.

In the meantime, the laptop just provides a whole lot more screen real estate than the portable units and as I won't be single handing and the boat moves at 7Kts max, I feel like checking postion at the nav station should not be too big a deal for the short term. If it proves to be too big a PITA ii will make the rationalization to buy yet another GPS an easier sell.

I think I'll just try to iGo route. If it works it will run the chartplotter software while I decide if it works for me and we can watch DVD's at anchor either way.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by halekai36

Why not a dedicated chart plotter that can be mounted at the helm? They are far more reliable, I find substantially easier to use, plus they draw MUCH less current than a plugged in laptop. My MacBook Pro can draw up to 7 amps through the inverter. There are no 12v adapters for the Mac. My PC based laptop draws about 5.4 amps through a manufacturer supplied 12v charger..

I used a PC based plotting system and canned it very quickly in favor of a dedicated chart plotter. Having it at your finger tips/helm is priceless and many of the Garmin's now come PRE-LOADED with all the US charts..

I still run chart plotting software on my PC (not my Mac) but I never actually use it for navigation just planning..

I do the same as you.

[Valiente]

I would posit an exception to this: I have a pilothouse cutter. Consequently, it is no big deal to have a laptop mounted near the helm (away from the Ritchie compass, though).

I have a late-'90s Raymarine monochrome plotter that is great for SOG/lat and long, but which takes $200, not-particularly-good cartridges. Frankly, a good set of paper charts, Notice to Mariners, and laptop plotting (full colour, loads of screen space) makes sense.

Another way to beat the chartplotter bind is to get a touch-screen or with IR capabilities for the helm that is "weatherized", like the sort of tablet PCs technicians use in the field. Or you could have an IR screen on an armature that swings out into the companionway linked to a mini- or pico-ITX fanless PC stowed away in the cabinetry. These units draw far less than a chartplotter, but have all the flexibility of a full PC. They just aren't cutting-edge processors, but in my experience, a five-year-old laptop is powerful enough for every nav, e-mail and SSB task aboard.

Finally, one could get one of the new mini-laptops like the Asus PC EEE and run a USB feed to a bigger screen as needed.

The convenience of having a sealable bag and removing the PC for use ashore (and away from thieves) is considerable, and I consider the power draw argument specious because you aren't going to run the PC plot continuously like a video game...or you don't need to. You need it just for approaching anticipated obstacles like shoals or harbours at night, etc., because a track through "blue squares" doesn't require plotting. A paper chart or a chart book suffices for that....it's basic pilotage. Besides, you frequently make amps from the motor when you approach a harbour, because you've taken the sail down. Very few people these days sail into an anchorage at night, with no engine.

Just my .02, as I think 10" chart plotters are a bit of a rip-off. If I was running a 15 foot RIB for fun at night, I would have a different view. I know an 87 year old at our club who still dives, and he uses his RIB to dive on wrecks, etc. and he fitted a large NorthStar display to his center console in his Avon RIB. For him, that makes perfect sense...he takes it on in all weathers.

[Hartley18]

A word of caution: If you're going to buy a cigarette-lighter plug-in inverter, make sure it has a big enough power rating.

I got burnt recently buying a 150W one to charge our HP laptop (using the "90 Watt" AC power supply) on our recent trip to the Lakes only to find it couldn't handle it.

Reading the fine print on the power supply later (with no laptop I had plenty of time!) it said 110-240V @ 2.5A.. in-rush current.

Don't buy anything less than 300W for a new wide-screen laptop or you'll fall for the same mistake.

[sailingdog]

One thing about inverters and generators: The wattage rating is designed for resistive loads, not inductive loads. For an inductive load, like a laptop power supply, generally need to have a higher wattage rating.

[thekeip]

How's this sound....I have a recent model HP 15'' laptop. On it I run Fugawi ENC with the chart of San Francisco Bay. Also, I have my wife's old Garmin "GPS Map 12" plugged in too...need MY positional data...; pluged in the SR 162 AIS receiver ( plug the Garmin into the SR and it will take care of the baud and data merge for you), and...Presto!
I see just what Traffic Control sees, real time. Actual cost was < $800.
Howard Keiper
Berkeley

[xort]

My decision to switch to plotter over pc was based on radar. No easy/cheap solution to overlaying or displaying radar on the laptop. So given the cost was no longer an issue, why not have a plotter. I found a great source for Garmin stuff...Home - GetFeetWet Navigation BV5.

[garymcg]

Originally Posted by Valiente

I would posit an exception to this: I have a pilothouse cutter. Consequently, it is no big deal to have a laptop mounted near the helm (away from the Ritchie compass, though).

I have a late-'90s Raymarine monochrome plotter that is great for SOG/lat and long, but which takes $200, not-particularly-good cartridges. Frankly, a good set of paper charts, Notice to Mariners, and laptop plotting (full colour, loads of screen space) makes sense.

Another way to beat the chartplotter bind is to get a touch-screen or with IR capabilities for the helm that is "weatherized", like the sort of tablet PCs technicians use in the field. Or you could have an IR screen on an armature that swings out into the companionway linked to a mini- or pico-ITX fanless PC stowed away in the cabinetry. These units draw far less than a chartplotter, but have all the flexibility of a full PC. They just aren't cutting-edge processors, but in my experience, a five-year-old laptop is powerful enough for every nav, e-mail and SSB task aboard.

Finally, one could get one of the new mini-laptops like the Asus PC EEE and run a USB feed to a bigger screen as needed.

The convenience of having a sealable bag and removing the PC for use ashore (and away from thieves) is considerable, and I consider the power draw argument specious because you aren't going to run the PC plot continuously like a video game...or you don't need to. You need it just for approaching anticipated obstacles like shoals or harbours at night, etc., because a track through "blue squares" doesn't require plotting. A paper chart or a chart book suffices for that....it's basic pilotage. Besides, you frequently make amps from the motor when you approach a harbour, because you've taken the sail down. Very few people these days sail into an anchorage at night, with no engine.

Just my .02, as I think 10" chart plotters are a bit of a rip-off. If I was running a 15 foot RIB for fun at night, I would have a different view. I know an 87 year old at our club who still dives, and he uses his RIB to dive on wrecks, etc. and he fitted a large NorthStar display to his center console in his Avon RIB. For him, that makes perfect sense...he takes it on in all weathers.

The mini-itx box is my next project.

If you can find an LCD monitor that has an external power brick, the birck is typically a 120 AC to 12 DC converter. Cut the cord and wire the monitor directly into your DC panel. I have a 15" inch (less power draw then a 17") on a swing out arm that swings into the companionway. Laptop at nav station with charting software, using car adapter (dc to dc) and plugged into GPS. I use a bluetooth presenatation mouse:

Newegg.com - ione Libra-N1 Black 5 Buttons, 1 thumb joystick, and 1 laser trigger Buttons USB Bluetooth Wireless Laser Presenter Mouse - Mouse

which works surprinsingly well, and allows me to control the laptop from the cockpit. Add a glare filter for the LCD screen, and you're all set. With the 12 volt monitor setup and the laptop closed (display off) the entire setup draws 2.8 amps. Much better than ducking below to check the chart, and way cheaper than a chartplotter and chart cards.

The monitor of course is not waterproof. I'm thinking that if it's rough enough to send water down the companionway most likely the companionway will be closed and the monitor out of harms way. Worst case a replacement is $150.

[Valiente]

That's what I was getting at. My 33 footer has a tiller and a handheld GPS wired into ship's power via cigarette lighter plug and fuse, and bolted to a lamp gooseneck meant I could keep the display under the hatch and out of the worst of the weather AND I could read the depthfinder display (set to "big numerals") on the side of the nav station.

This was entirely adequate for my needs. Really, I don't need a full plotter display at the outside helm, just a bearing and the wit to consult the chart to make sure that bearing is in a "safe quadrant" or whatever to avoid rocks, shoals or breakwalls that jump out at you. I really do believe that helming is a waste of time that could be better spent keeping a watch, and that windvanes, autopilots, proper sail sets and bungee cords/tiller tamers should do most of the steering. You want to be watching your course ahead and other boats that may intersect you. I've had to alter course on otherwise empty seas when some dolt down below having a crap or making coffee failed to keep a watch and "APed" right across my course.

I have a very big horn for those skippers. I call it "Big Brown Note".

Just my personal view: I'm no Luddite (I work constantly with pricey computers), but I'm working on my seamanship. Chartplotters are a small part of seamanship, and in my view can give you too much information, some of which may be based on old data or false premises. Your eyes might confirm you are in a cross-current via taking a simple compass bearing with a known landmark a lot faster than you can consult a plotter.