Between the GPS, charts, depth finder, and radar used for navigation the Loran is not being used. The am/fm cassette is being replaced with a satellite radio cd player, I'm considering removing the Loran. Any suggestions? Thoughts?
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remove it!
The loran really isn't needed, look at some new boats very few come equiped with loran. Good idea with the sat radio, and cassettes? I don't think music comes in cassettes anymore. See if the cd player/satellite radio comes with an mp3 player- if you like to download music its the way to go.
The loran really isn't needed, look at some new boats very few come equiped with loran. Good idea with the sat radio, and cassettes? I don't think music comes in cassettes anymore. See if the cd player/satellite radio comes with an mp3 player- if you like to download music its the way to go.
You don't need it
LORAN will be around for a while, but it isn't a worthwhile backup if you also have a H/H GPS. I removed my LORAN when I bought a Chartplotter and sold it on eBay for a good price. There was still a demand for that model. ;D
LORAN will be around for a while, but it isn't a worthwhile backup if you also have a H/H GPS. I removed my LORAN when I bought a Chartplotter and sold it on eBay for a good price. There was still a demand for that model. ;D
Loran!
Get rid of it! Too big for a paper weight, too small for an anchor, bad shape for a bowling ball. If you have a small dog ...... Jon McClain
Get rid of it! Too big for a paper weight, too small for an anchor, bad shape for a bowling ball. If you have a small dog ...... Jon McClain
Keep It
Well, you have two people who are saying remove it, but I say keep it. A LORAN is a completely separate back-up source of navagational information, that does not depend on the GPS system being up and running. GPS "outages" do happen from time to time, and I have always found it to be very reassurring when making a night run across Lake Huron to have the Lat/Lon on the GPS agree with the LORAN. I might not suggest you go out and buy a LORAN if you didn't have one already mounted (though I would), but I DO suggest it would be silly and shortsighted to remove what could be an essential bit of navigational kit just to make room for a CD player. Steve Christensen
Well, you have two people who are saying remove it, but I say keep it. A LORAN is a completely separate back-up source of navagational information, that does not depend on the GPS system being up and running. GPS "outages" do happen from time to time, and I have always found it to be very reassurring when making a night run across Lake Huron to have the Lat/Lon on the GPS agree with the LORAN. I might not suggest you go out and buy a LORAN if you didn't have one already mounted (though I would), but I DO suggest it would be silly and shortsighted to remove what could be an essential bit of navigational kit just to make room for a CD player. Steve Christensen
I'm with Steve
If it works, keep it. I have one in my boat and everytime I get to thinking about taking it out, I turn it on and it tells me where I am. As long as the antennas are operational, it is an excellent redundant system and completely serparate from the GPS. Back up systems are good!
If it works, keep it. I have one in my boat and everytime I get to thinking about taking it out, I turn it on and it tells me where I am. As long as the antennas are operational, it is an excellent redundant system and completely serparate from the GPS. Back up systems are good!
my 2 cents
Keep it! The safety is always more important than the music ( although this may keep your sanity intact). You don't need your stereo at your nav table. Place it conveniently somewhere else, and keep the Loran. You don't need it untill you need it, just like an insurance.
Keep it! The safety is always more important than the music ( although this may keep your sanity intact). You don't need your stereo at your nav table. Place it conveniently somewhere else, and keep the Loran. You don't need it untill you need it, just like an insurance.
it's a great time to upgrade the obsolete stuff...
If you believe in redundancies then now is actually a good time to upgrade some of those obsolete technologies--I've seen some pretty spiffy Loran and RDF units for sale on eBay for peanuts. I bought a nice RDF with battery back-up for $10.
If you believe in redundancies then now is actually a good time to upgrade some of those obsolete technologies--I've seen some pretty spiffy Loran and RDF units for sale on eBay for peanuts. I bought a nice RDF with battery back-up for $10.
Not exactly an answer to your question
but I saw a nav table which was really neat. There was the usual hinged table top with pencil and misc. storage beneath. There was a thin hinged plexiglass top for holding a chart (folded) beneath it. There were velcro straps to secure the chart. To one side was another hinged top which serves as the attachment for a laptop and another hinged plate below it for a very thin scanner. To use the laptop, just flip it down and open the screen. To use the scanner, fold the screen, flip up the laptop and do the scan. To use the chart table for paper charts, just flip the laptop and scanner up out of the way and put the chart opened up under the plexiglass. Do your manual charting with a grease pencil on the plexi. This low tech setup allowed for the use of all of these items in a reasonably convenient way while keeping them in place and well secured. You could adapt this concept in a similar way but it would require some modification of the left side of your nav station. I would keep the loran - maybe move it out of the way of other more frequently used items.
but I saw a nav table which was really neat. There was the usual hinged table top with pencil and misc. storage beneath. There was a thin hinged plexiglass top for holding a chart (folded) beneath it. There were velcro straps to secure the chart. To one side was another hinged top which serves as the attachment for a laptop and another hinged plate below it for a very thin scanner. To use the laptop, just flip it down and open the screen. To use the scanner, fold the screen, flip up the laptop and do the scan. To use the chart table for paper charts, just flip the laptop and scanner up out of the way and put the chart opened up under the plexiglass. Do your manual charting with a grease pencil on the plexi. This low tech setup allowed for the use of all of these items in a reasonably convenient way while keeping them in place and well secured. You could adapt this concept in a similar way but it would require some modification of the left side of your nav station. I would keep the loran - maybe move it out of the way of other more frequently used items.
I vote to keep it
For all of the reasons below. Recent Cruising World Mag did a short article on Loran and talked about the upgrades to the system that are planned and the usefulness of the system. Loran is also less of a "National Security" issue and althought it is highly unlikely that the Feds would take the system back - there may be times when not all areas have coverage. I like the old system for coastal nav since the positioning is very quickly done with the Loran Charts.
For all of the reasons below. Recent Cruising World Mag did a short article on Loran and talked about the upgrades to the system that are planned and the usefulness of the system. Loran is also less of a "National Security" issue and althought it is highly unlikely that the Feds would take the system back - there may be times when not all areas have coverage. I like the old system for coastal nav since the positioning is very quickly done with the Loran Charts.
Birch Bay Patrick - Ummmmmm......???
seems like a really great idea..... sorta think I kinda got it.... but... sure wish there was a picture. Where did you come across this setup? The laptop is the one thing I probably wouldn't want in the setup because I have difficulty typing on it. It has to be at a particular place so the angle to the hands or I mess things up but for everything else it seems like a really great idea. All my new stuff is wireless so it would work.
seems like a really great idea..... sorta think I kinda got it.... but... sure wish there was a picture. Where did you come across this setup? The laptop is the one thing I probably wouldn't want in the setup because I have difficulty typing on it. It has to be at a particular place so the angle to the hands or I mess things up but for everything else it seems like a really great idea. All my new stuff is wireless so it would work.
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