PC on a sailboat

[ramminjammin]

I am thinking of running my garmin 76 through a personal computer so i can utilize a large screen. This is possible with the free garmin software , Enroute

I have an old PC that i can use , and a power inverter to install for AC power , another more costly route is to buy a lap top.

Anyone already doing this ? Will my PC hold up on the ocean ?

thanks

[tommays]

From my POV as a mostly racing sailor we and everbody else had issues keeping the inside of the boat remotly dry in the recent Around Long Island Race and we dropped out when it was only blowing 30 knots

[jarcher]

If you leave a PC on board it probably won't last too long, so make it a cheapie. You can find a laptop cheap enough if you poke around, then you can take it with you.

[j34035]

Originally Posted by ramminjammin

I am thinking of running my garmin 76 through a personal computer so i can utilize a large screen. This is possible with the free garmin software , Enroute

I have an old PC that i can use , and a power inverter to install for AC power , another more costly route is to buy a lap top.

Anyone already doing this ? Will my PC hold up on the ocean ?

thanks

Is this software available on the website? I cant seem to locate it.
DD

[superiorvoyager]

I use a laptop on my boat and have a 15" monitor in the cockpit. I run Offshore Navigator and have a wireless mouse so I can watch and control the screen from the cockpit. Works great.

[ChicagoNewport27]

Originally Posted by j34035

Is this software available on the website? I cant seem to locate it.
DD

It comes with the device you purchased, on the driver/software CD. at least, it did when I bought my Colorado recently.

[labatt]

I think you are probably talking about the Garmin nRoute software, which only allows you to use street mapping, not nautical charts, with a Garmin unit. In addition, it requires that you have a City Select unlock code.

[tap]

If you're planing to use Garmin software, another thing to keep in mind is that they've discontinued the BlueChart product on CD/DVD with the 2008 edition (and most of the charts on it are from circa 2004, even though most charts had newer revisions available from NOAA in 2008). They only sell nautical charts on data cards now, which can only be used on a Garmin GPS device and NOT on a computer.

[jaakennuste]

Interesting waterproof low-power PC for a boat. Best to couple with sunlight visible IP76 touch-screen and cordless ballpoint.

Waterproof passive computer on-board « Sailing Gadgets

Jaak

[ramminjammin]

I tried the set up last night at home , worked great !
I had already bought the garmin Bluechart and loaded onto my computer here at work and my handheld gps 76 cs in 2007
So I loaded the bluechart cd into my new (used) PC
It went to Garmin online automaticially and this allowed the Bluechart data to be set up on my second computer , for free , it automatically installs the Mapsource program that runs the bluechart data.
Then it took me about 1/2 hour to find the enroute software , as it is hidden on the Garmin site , that address is at home , so if you want it i will have to get it from there.

Pluged my handheld into the usb port on the computer , put it out the window , locked onto some satellites , and it worked perfect . I could see my gps position and a route i set up, the bluechart data, all on a 19 inch monitor.
SWEET
I will take my PC off the boat when not using it , only plan to use it if i am out for 50 km or more