Was wondering how many of you have a computer (laptop) on board. If so - what about power requirements? If you have one do you use it for a chart plotter?
thanx
garyg
thanx
garyg
Computer on board
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My sailing grounds don't require any navigational equipment except the MK I Eyeball. We never even use the compass. The depth gauge is the most useful navigational aid, especially at night.
Since I work in the IT industry, I really don't want a computer with me when I'm sailing either.
Short answer, no.
Since I work in the IT industry, I really don't want a computer with me when I'm sailing either.
Short answer, no.
I carry one mostly for marina entertainment. Watching movies, catching up on e-mail, etc .. I also use it for planning and looking at surroundings. I rarely use it underway since I have a small chartplotter at the helm. The computer is power hungry (17" screen, dual processors..) .. when I am not at a dock, it runs off a small inverter.I have been on several trips where The Captain (software) was running constantly and it is kind of nice since it does log entries and at the end of a trip, you cna have a nice plot of where you went.. I am thinking that a small power efficient "netbook" with an add on GPS puck would be a good thing to have ..
Yes
I use my laptop aboard for navigation and AIS display. I also have a chartplotter, but prefer the laptop. I only have waypoint info, speed, position info repeated on the radar at the helm, but that's really all I want or need. As for power, under power, I have it on all the time. When sailing, I let it sleep and only power up to check AIS info and position when needed or periodically. However, that does sometimes crash the system requiring a reboot. I am considering a dedicated boat system in the future. However, the reason I don't do it now is that my laptop is my back up for our desktop and it goes where we go (California being as calamity-prone as it is). Anyhow, the bottom line is that I am out of the market for expensive dedicated chartplotters and find the laptop is a good alternative, assuming some kind of back up.
I use my laptop aboard for navigation and AIS display. I also have a chartplotter, but prefer the laptop. I only have waypoint info, speed, position info repeated on the radar at the helm, but that's really all I want or need. As for power, under power, I have it on all the time. When sailing, I let it sleep and only power up to check AIS info and position when needed or periodically. However, that does sometimes crash the system requiring a reboot. I am considering a dedicated boat system in the future. However, the reason I don't do it now is that my laptop is my back up for our desktop and it goes where we go (California being as calamity-prone as it is). Anyhow, the bottom line is that I am out of the market for expensive dedicated chartplotters and find the laptop is a good alternative, assuming some kind of back up.
Have a laptop, but don't use it for navigation, as I like having my chartploter at the helm. This location was probably more important when we used to have the boat in the Pacific NW, where it was very useful to navigate some very narrow channels. We also use a small inverter for the laptop when not plugged in.
I also use my Blackberry to access the marine forecasts on the web. Much quicker than waiting for the weather channel on my VHF to go through its overly long recorded cycle.
I also use my Blackberry to access the marine forecasts on the web. Much quicker than waiting for the weather channel on my VHF to go through its overly long recorded cycle.
There seem to be several parallel threads on this question of the various available technologies that are now competing with chart plotters. I just looked at one that suggests the Ipad in combination with a gps.
I wonder if anyone knows of a good comprehensive article that compares many or most of the possible systems or combinations of current technologies that might be used as an on-board navigational system. Being relatively new to sailing, and familiar only with normal pc operations, I am somewhat overwhelmed.
I wonder if anyone knows of a good comprehensive article that compares many or most of the possible systems or combinations of current technologies that might be used as an on-board navigational system. Being relatively new to sailing, and familiar only with normal pc operations, I am somewhat overwhelmed.
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