Chartplotters, Laptops ETC.

garryms82 · Apr 26, 2004

Have a look at Garmins "Blue Charts" system. For $169 (CAD) I got all of
the charts I need for my local area (Inside Passage Pacific N.W.) plus if I
want to venture further I can "unlock" additional charts sets @ $75 (USD)
per set.

Heres the "catch" - Garmin "Blue Charts" only work w/Garmin gear. I bought
their Palm Pilot Based "IQue 3600" and the Blue Charts. Bonus! Blue Charts
comes with an application called "Map Source" which has been upgraded to
free standing PC based charting software ( it's not the slickest I've seen
but it does the job). Connected to a PC via the SERIAL cable you can use
*ANY* GPS that you can capture NMEA data strings from. For the money I got
both - a nifty pocket sized "GPS - Chart display unit w/POOR (actually
crappy) "charting" abilities. PLUS the operating system that will run on a
laptop that you can use with one of your "3 GPS's". That's what I plan on
doing. Use my IQUE on deck and the PC below. The PC will be used for
plotting etc and then uploaded to the IQUE - IF that can be done - haven't
tried yet)

-)

Hope this is helpful. It's a lot less than the "grand plus $375 X 2 for
chart chips" Too bad one of your 3 GPS's isin't a Blue Chart capable
Garmin - or is it? - you NEED a Garmin Blue Chart capable GPS unit serial
number in order to "unlock" the Blue Charts CD.

If none of this makes sense contact me off - list and I will do my best to
confuse you further.

regards,

|Garry|
MS82

At 04:58 PM 4/26/04 -0400, you wrote:

mocap1 · Apr 27, 2004

I sailed (powered) the Intracoastal from Miami to Chesapeake Bay, and found two books invaluable. These were the "Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook" published by International Marine, Camden Maine, and the "Intracoastal Waterway Facilities Guide" which gives details of all the Marinas and fuel stops along the Waterway.

Note that the Waterway does not extend to New York. It ends at Norfolk, Virginia, but you can travel considerably further north on Chesapeake Bay. Coming from the north, I believe that you will have to go outside until you reach the canal at the north end of Chesapeake Bay, which I think is in Delaware. This will take you from the open ocean into the Bay.

I ended my trip at Annapolis, so I am not really sure of what is north of there, but I am certain that the waterway itself ends at Norfolk.

I never understood why anyone would want to use electronic charts in preference to paper on anything smaller than a destroyer, but I guess it's different strokes for different folks.

Mort

claudiomty · Apr 27, 2004

Well, that's an easy one. I need charts for the whole east coast, most of the gulf coast and the whole of central america on the carib side. Total those damages $$$. I prefer paper charts aswell and I can print paper charts from the PC at any given time for the area I am in. Best of both worlds. Also the autopilot interfaces and follows an exact course if I get busy doing other things, alerts me if I choose a shallow water course and gives me instant course, bearing and distances. Yes I can still use a sextant and do so for fun on a regular basis *slow grin*

Claude

garryms82 · Apr 28, 2004

Hey Claude!

Sextant? Well now, that would be a nice skill to have. I reckon you have a
bit more faith in things that use batteries or plug in than I do. I have
worn out 4 laptops and they never even made it onto a boat - which is a
nasty place for a laptop. As for paper charts, I never venture without them
either as my primary, AND it sure is nice to have that lil cursor plus an
additional GPS confirming that you figured out where you are and where you
want to go. I still buy paper charts for wherever I go. An on board PC and
colour printer would be nice, can't borrow Buddies forever.

Cost wise you are so right. To get all the charts included on the CD (i.e.
my "set") would be well over 100 (Canadian) charts @ $22.30 ea. *OUCH!*
Consider, for my $169.00 (CAD) i.e. plus the $669 (CAD) Palm Pilot Based
Garmin GPS/Chart Display (IQUE3600) + 256Mb Card ($100). I got a very
portable land and sea GPS/Chart Display - PLUS an additional operating
system for a PC!

|Garry|

At 09:04 PM 4/27/04 -0400, you wrote:

preludeballard · Apr 28, 2004

Claude,
In reference to electronic charts, I have a MAGELLAN marine gps and recently
purchased the charts. They have a little different system that may be to
your benefit. You buy one disc which has all the charts fro the US and can
view any of them on your computer. The catch is that you can only download
one to your gps system. But using the same system you can down load any
other chart at any time. The way this works is the system looks for some
sort of key to know this is the same system and deletes the old chart before
writing in the new one. I can't remember but I think you need to hook to
the internet to get the next chart, but at least you are only buying the one
disc at 150.00.

I have seen the components I purchased as a package deal including the gps,
charts and a couple of accessories for about 350 - 400.00. Good luck and
have fun...

Rich
S/V PreludeII

pfmarrack · Apr 28, 2004

Claude,
If you would like an inexpensive solution, look at
www.marineplanner.com. They have charts to download that will work
with most software. I use them with Seaclear (free download at
SeaClear GPS Navigation Software) on my old (and slow)laptop.

Paul

tlochhaas · Apr 28, 2004

I too use these electronic charts from marineplanner, along with others
I've bought on disks from Maptech over the years. For software I use
Memory Map because it runs both on my desktop (and laptop) with or
without GPS connection AND on my cheap older model Pocket PC (like a
Palm Pilot) that I picked up on eBay. Basically I ended up with a
portable chartplotter (by connecting the Pocket PC to my Garmin GPS)
that with a cheap 256 memory card allows me to load and carry some 20
charts at a time on the Pocket PC. I've bought more charts as I've
expanded my cruising area from Massachusetts to Canada/Nova Scotia. Very
easy to use software, has lots of basic features for routing and so on,
easy to upload/download waypoints from computer to/from GPS to/from
Pocket PC. Memory Map has a good web site where you can learn more.
Good luck.

pfmarrack wrote:

robertgainer · May 1, 2004

I have not yet used a gps or laptop on the boat. I have a sextant, taffrail
log and good time piece. On my first trans atlantic, after 59 days I was 1/2
mile north of Bishop Rock Light at Landsend England. I was trying to make
landfall 1/2 mile to the south of the light. One mile off is fine by me. In
a later trip to England on a Vega I used a Davis plastic sextant and at land
fall was only off by 3 miles. Itronix makes a waterproof laptop with a touch
screen running Windows 98 second edition. On e-bay I see them selling for
under 300 dollars. Have any of you used one, can you comment on it. I have
for the car a gps made by Delorme with a usb connection to a IBM A-31
laptop. I get a kick out of how close it is on the computer map that came
with it. You can see which side of the street you'r on. If the Itronix is
any good I thought I might get one for navigation with the Delorme gps unit.
All the best;
Robert Gainer

pfmarrack · May 1, 2004

Good to see there others that use Delorme. I use an Delorme Tripmate
with my laptop work fine.

Paul