adding a personal computer

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quintash

quintash

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Jun 14, 2010
4
hunter 25 montague
i was thinking of adding a desktop computer to my 25 foot hunter .. i think i have the room for it someplace and was more worried about heat and humidity heat isnt to bad i have a nice fan on the prosesser but the humidity im not sure about was thinking about just wrapping it in a towel or something when i shut it down at nights .. but i was wondering if anyone had any ideas or better plans then that one :D if anyone can sujest something that would be helpfull
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
All depends on what you want the computer to do while onboard. List?

In a small boat I'd say the best all-rounder is an inexpensive laptop or a decent netbook. A padded nylon laptop bag with a zipper would be best for protection; you can always put the thing in a baggie, then put that in the case, if you want more humidity/water protection.
 
JonnyQuest

JonnyQuest

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May 18, 2010
543
Oday 27 Gulfport, MS
I thought about that too, mainly for navigation. The more I hear from others it seems that a laptop is an expensive proposition, considering its not built for the marine environment. Could significantly shorten your laptops lifespan even if it doesn't get dowsed, thumped, or crunched. Also the issue of battery life. Appears that dedicated nav instruments are better suited-- have lower power consumption and are made for marine environments. $600 for a chartplotter may cost $600 and up depending on your budget, but laptops range about the same or more if they are a Toughbook.

Many people use laptops, so you will find proponents. Just food for thought if you are considering a purchase or if you are considering a laptop you aren't prepared to possibly kill.

Let us know what you go with and good luck!
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I keep an Acer netbook on board. You can get one for under 3 bills. Two problems with navigation: The laptop battery only lasts a couple of hours and the screen is hard to see in the sun. I wonder if there are transformers to run it off the battery bank.

I have had it for a couple of years now. I do have a padded case for it, but often I just put it in the nav station .
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
I would suggest a laptop. Most have a cigarette attachment or an aftermarket can be bought at a place like The Battery Source, making it easy to use from your batteries. Get a clear plastic all around cover that seals, you can modify or make one. That will eliminate moisture or humidity when not in use.

edit to add link for charger adapter.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Computers, heat, humidity and batteries

I run my dell off ships power. The AC-2-DC transformer says 19 volts but when you check the info on the battery it is only 12 volts. so check your battery not the transformer. Ran the thing (reported 70% charge) for a whole week with no problems.
Heat is a big problem when the ambient temp gets above 90 F. The processor designers assume that you are going to be using the thing at a table in a house so they assume you don't have hot air as a cooling device. Mine will get very warm to the touch in the heat of the day, more so if the sun is shining on it. So keep it out of the sun and plan on having it off-asleep during the heat of the day. Humidity is a risk; don't have a solution to it except keep it in a plastic bag when not in use. Course if it gets hot it will tend to stay dry, FWIW.

The problem with chart plotters is maps (read $$$$$) and you have to have paper anyway so you are paying twice. Computers can use the free NOAA map sets for the US. Chart plotters also don't let you take notes, record records, list ships data...... a bunch of stuff that I find helpful when I'm trying to order parts and the manuals are at the boat or I think of another "to do" for the list or I'm at a marina and just want to either find some internet information or email my mom with our latest antics. Generally more useful.
 
B

BruceC

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Oct 6, 2008
37
Oday 26 So. Orleans
What type of notebook computer were you thinkng of adding? I also am considering utilizing computer aboard, but have been discouraged by at least one marine technician who maintains unless computer was similar to the Panasonic Toughbook it is unlikely to survive too long on a boat with as light a displacement as the O'Day; a Cape Dory ok, but not an O'Day. However, a liveaboard boatowner does not think it would be a problem. Have you discussed with anyone who has had the experience?
 
J

Jimmy P

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Oct 6, 2008
35
Hunter 33 St. Augustine
I understand the need for a PC when sailing. Although I always use my installed Raymarine navigation equipment I am more often using a carry-on laptop on my longer distance cruising trips. I use it for e-mail (wireless), bill paying, money transfers and a back-up GPS chartplotter. Personally, I use a MacBook Pro which will hold a charge pretty well. I doubt I would use a permanent desktop aboard unless I had sufficient power and a larger vessel. I have found that cruising Florida and the Bahamas for several weeks at a time no problem for a laptop. Longer trips could be an issue depending on how often you are in a port. Good luck.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
i have used dell, hewlett packard, compaq and this acer netbook on my boat--what seems to be the problem with using a lappy on a boat?? folks have been doing that since the invention of the laptop...yes i live aboard--there is np -problem with bringing a laptop on aboat. there is no more probability of damage to it on a boat than in a home except if you leave it out in the fog or use it outdoors in the rain.....i cover mine every nite and i have no problem with it. been doing this for years...
 
Mulf

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
Laptop onboard for 8 years and counting

Bought a Gateway laptop when we launched Dreamboat in April of 2003. Have it attached to the nav-desk with plastic clamp mounts found at West Marine. Have puck type GPS and it runs as a stand alone nav system, connect through my phone to wireless broadband, etc. A year ago the battery stopped holding a charge and with Gateway out of business no replacement is available, so it now just runs off the 12 volt adapter to the boat's 12v system. No problems with that at all.
 
cb32863

cb32863

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Jun 29, 2010
1,287
Beneteau First 235 Lake Minnetonka, MN
Personally, I prefer Toshiba for laptops. Just my preference and I have never had a problem with the two that I have owned. I think they are very competitive for pricing and features as well. never would think of bringing a desktop onboard, just too dang big and not very usefull for nav as you can't move them easily... my professional geek 2 cents.
 
wonkodsane

wonkodsane

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Jul 25, 2009
270
Catalina 1989 C30 Mk II Herrington Harbour South, MD
quintash, without us knowing better what you want it to do, it is difficult to make a recommendation, but absent any specifics, I'm with Kenn and higgs. Get an Acer or Asus netbook for cheap ($200-300) and have at it.

Some others on the board have noted that you need a relatively expensive (~$90) DC/DC adapter for some of the netbooks to run them off of your vessel's 12V system. Of course, if your battery banks can handle it and you aren't worried about the conversion loss, you can spend the same amount to buy an inverter that will keep your netbook running indefinitely as well as giving you the ability to charge cell phones and other 110V devices.

A word about toughbooks and high-end "hardened" laptops... don't do it. The lowest priced toughbooks are ten to fifteen times more expensive than an equivalent hardware spec laptop. Do you think you'd destroy ten laptops before a toughbook would have worn out or needed replacement? Toughbooks are intended for mission critical applications and if you need that kind of guarantee, then just buy two or three netbooks and keep them stowed safely until needed.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
JonnyQuest said:
The more I hear from others it seems that a laptop is an expensive proposition, considering its not built for the marine environment.
Click to expand
Laptops are supposed to be durable enough to be portable. Will they last in a marine environment? Well... who keeps a computer more than 2 or 3 years anyway? Also, the market is thick with entry-level laptops around $400, and surprisingly powerful netbooks at $280. Off-lease business-class laptops are available at $150 and up.

I have an ASUS eee netbook I purchased in the winter of 2008. It's survived 3 weeks in a backpack traveling around Europe, and occasional boat duty. I just love the small size. Regular laptops are too large to be genuinely portable, IMHO...

JonnyQuest said:
Also the issue of battery life. Appears that dedicated nav instruments are better suited-- have lower power consumption and are made for marine environments.
Click to expand
Of course marine instruments are better, and everyone should have them for critical navigation functions, with the laptop only as a back-up. No question there.

Re battery life - the obvious solution is to be able to efficiently run from boat 12v. My aforementioned eee takes 10v for external power, so it's very easy to interface to boat power, but there are efficient DC-DC converters available to feed any laptop.

Tip - Stick an efficient Linux version on an older laptop or a netbook and it will run like a racehorse again. Just about all the free/open-source navigation apps have a Linux version or equivalent.
 
RichBone

RichBone

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Sep 25, 2008
992
Oday 25 Gibraltar
quintash said:
i was thinking of adding a desktop computer to my 25 foot hunter .. i think i have the room for it someplace and was more worried about heat and humidity heat isnt to bad i have a nice fan on the prosesser but the humidity im not sure about was thinking about just wrapping it in a towel or something when i shut it down at nights .. but i was wondering if anyone had any ideas or better plans then that one :D if anyone can sujest something that would be helpfull
Click to expand
Since you're thinking of using a desktop PC I assume you weren't planning on using it while you were sailing. I don't see much of a problem as long as it's fairly dry in the boat and the PC is securely "battened down". If it's too hot in the boat for the PC then it's probably too hot for you to comfortably use it.

Rich
 
JonnyQuest

JonnyQuest

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May 18, 2010
543
Oday 27 Gulfport, MS
Nav software suggestions?

I was assuming you were interested in using the laptop for navigation, but I may have assumed wrong. But it got me thinking...

It appears that some people prefer using chart plotters, while others seem happy to use a laptop instead as the primary. (I haven't solved this issue myself, by the way--thinking it through before I plunk down $$$)

I'm happy to hear that laptops are not actually doomed in the marine environment; I may reconsider using my laptop once I get my boat's battery system up to snuff!

What nav software are ya'll currently using and prefer if you use a laptop for nav, and what do you like/not like about it?
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
I use SeaClear II on my laptop with NOAA charts. The accuracy of the system is dependent on the GPS. I believe my system to be accurate enough to navigate me in and out of my harbor. Although I would never do it by the PC alone, I would feel comfortable entering the harbor in fog with this system.

Both SeaClear II and the NOAA charts are free. And EvilBay has thousands of laptops for exceptionally low prices. Can't go wrong with this combination.

Good luck
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,323
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I thought he was asking about a PC desktop.... not a laptop, notebook or netbook.
 
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