I have an opportunity to buy the navigation system listed below. The asking price is $895. I'm wondering what people think of this, especially if anybody is familiar with the Nobltec electronic charts. I have seen some Practical Sailor reviews of different electronic charts, but they didn't mention Nobltec. Any comments or suggestions? Thanks. WHAT'S BEING SOLD: GPS, Plotter, Tides, Charts, 3D Depth and Laptop GPS, Plotter, N. West, Vancover Isl, Alaska Charts GPS, Vector Charts, 3D Views, BC, N. West. w/Laptop GPS, Charts-SM Bay, Catalina, Mexico, USA+ Laptop GPS, Plotter, N. West, Vanc Isl, AK, , USA Charts+ Laptop Complete Navigation for your boat. GPS Chart Plotter 3D Bathymetric Bottom View Mpas Depth by Chart Tides and Currents Connect to Radar or Autopilot Great laptop Nobltec Visual Suite (version 6.5) with Bathy 3D, Vector and Raster marine charts and 2006 detailed charts for entire west/east coast USA and 100's of Detailed Charts for Southern Calif, North West, North & South East USA, Flordia, Bahamas, Caribbean, Cuba, Gulf Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, Vancover Island and Alaska. Easier to use than a plotter. Take advantage of your laptop features; mouse, keyboard and large screen. GPS receiver module plugs into the usb port on your laptop, everything you need to navigate your boat. Laptop works like a plotter giving real-time location and boat movement along with location details, depth, current and tide predictions. Includes: 1. Dell D600 laptop, 14" screen, Centrino 1.6GHZ, 30G HD, 512 ram, Wi-Fi, DVD, Fast, Light, windows XP Pro. 2. GPS waterproof Sirf Star III GPS receiver module w/6' usb cable (usb powered) feeds gps signal to laptop or desktop. 3. Nobltec 6.5 Visual Suite software installed. 4. Vector Charts and 3D Bathy Maps. 5. 100's of Raster charts for USA and Canada coastal waters Value over $3,500. Sell for $895 with laptop
navigation system
- Thread starter John
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John, Where do you sail and how far do you travel?
How much of this system would you ever use? How much would be hopelessly out of date by the time you did use it? This sounds like the modern encyclopedia sales pitch. "not only do you get the complete set of encyclopedias but also the companion set of childrens learning books(you do want the little brat to be smart?) and that's not all we include a complete set of hardwood shelves at no extra charge."
How much of this system would you ever use? How much would be hopelessly out of date by the time you did use it? This sounds like the modern encyclopedia sales pitch. "not only do you get the complete set of encyclopedias but also the companion set of childrens learning books(you do want the little brat to be smart?) and that's not all we include a complete set of hardwood shelves at no extra charge."
Hi John, I've been cruising several thousand miles...
all around PNW including BC waters these past several years using a Garmin 178C with external antenna and sounder. I use their BlueChart system on data cards for all my navigation needs. Up to now I've had no need for a lap top, but I do have the system connected to our autopilot. It depends upon your needs, but you can pick up a 178C on e-bay for a lot less than what you are considering spending. This model has been discontinued, but still supported by Garmin. I have no means for comment on the products you listed. Terry
all around PNW including BC waters these past several years using a Garmin 178C with external antenna and sounder. I use their BlueChart system on data cards for all my navigation needs. Up to now I've had no need for a lap top, but I do have the system connected to our autopilot. It depends upon your needs, but you can pick up a 178C on e-bay for a lot less than what you are considering spending. This model has been discontinued, but still supported by Garmin. I have no means for comment on the products you listed. Terry
Some Versions of......
Nobeltec can only display Nobeltec charts, and their current release is 9.0. You can buy a better laptop for about the same price (larger screen, more RAM, larger hard drive, etc.), and a different nav program that uses NOAA charts that are free. Coastal Explorer is a nicer program that uses NOAA raster, and vector charts, plus some others. Now the only charts you would have to buy are the Canadian charts. They would include all updates for navigation aids, and hazards that have changed. There are some that are going to mention a free navigation program (Sea Clear), but in my opinion it has a steep learning curve, and since I am using a program that I paid for I am somewhat Jaded about ease of use. Do some research on the components before you lose that much money.
Nobeltec can only display Nobeltec charts, and their current release is 9.0. You can buy a better laptop for about the same price (larger screen, more RAM, larger hard drive, etc.), and a different nav program that uses NOAA charts that are free. Coastal Explorer is a nicer program that uses NOAA raster, and vector charts, plus some others. Now the only charts you would have to buy are the Canadian charts. They would include all updates for navigation aids, and hazards that have changed. There are some that are going to mention a free navigation program (Sea Clear), but in my opinion it has a steep learning curve, and since I am using a program that I paid for I am somewhat Jaded about ease of use. Do some research on the components before you lose that much money.
Right now
I really don't have a need for such a system for the sailing we are doing (mainly in the SF Bay). However, our plans are to do some cruising in a year. This is likely to include the coast of Mexico and maybe more. So what I'm doing is keeping an eye out for stuff I'd need which seems to be at a good price. (That's how and why I bought the used radar system that I got.) One question I have is if anybody is familiar with the Nobeltec electronic charts. Also, I take it that the version the seller has - version 6.5 - is a bit older. I'm not sure how much difference that makes.
I really don't have a need for such a system for the sailing we are doing (mainly in the SF Bay). However, our plans are to do some cruising in a year. This is likely to include the coast of Mexico and maybe more. So what I'm doing is keeping an eye out for stuff I'd need which seems to be at a good price. (That's how and why I bought the used radar system that I got.) One question I have is if anybody is familiar with the Nobeltec electronic charts. Also, I take it that the version the seller has - version 6.5 - is a bit older. I'm not sure how much difference that makes.
Electronic or paper maps
They both cost $$$$ to keep current. The cost differential is minimal between them. The issue then becomes how do I want to display the data, what data do I really need, and how reliant do I want to be on electronics in a salt water environment. I note that racing sailors commonly bring 7+ GPS units so they can make sure that they have at least one at the end of the race. These are waterproof units designed for marine use. That is an extreme environment admittedly. That Dell laptop will take exactly one splash of salt water before it folds. Is a storm at sea when you want your only source of map data going south? One thing I find totally unacceptable is I can't gather the crew around the computer screen to discuss options for the next leg of the cruise. I can do that with a paper map and a table. GPS is a great tool and I'd not go to sea without one. They TOTALY rule when connected to an autopilot/vane steering system. But you don't need a lot of fancy displays for this feature. I'd buy an autopilot/vane steering first however if I had to by one or the other. Map data --- bathymetric data is cool and all but besides giving you a more densely spaced set of data what is the advantage to having it? Another way of looking at it is do I really need those 3-D displays of the bottom? I find the depth number and contours lines printed on the chart sufficient. The marina/restaurant/facilities data on the newer GPS are cool however.
They both cost $$$$ to keep current. The cost differential is minimal between them. The issue then becomes how do I want to display the data, what data do I really need, and how reliant do I want to be on electronics in a salt water environment. I note that racing sailors commonly bring 7+ GPS units so they can make sure that they have at least one at the end of the race. These are waterproof units designed for marine use. That is an extreme environment admittedly. That Dell laptop will take exactly one splash of salt water before it folds. Is a storm at sea when you want your only source of map data going south? One thing I find totally unacceptable is I can't gather the crew around the computer screen to discuss options for the next leg of the cruise. I can do that with a paper map and a table. GPS is a great tool and I'd not go to sea without one. They TOTALY rule when connected to an autopilot/vane steering system. But you don't need a lot of fancy displays for this feature. I'd buy an autopilot/vane steering first however if I had to by one or the other. Map data --- bathymetric data is cool and all but besides giving you a more densely spaced set of data what is the advantage to having it? Another way of looking at it is do I really need those 3-D displays of the bottom? I find the depth number and contours lines printed on the chart sufficient. The marina/restaurant/facilities data on the newer GPS are cool however.
laptop with Seaclear II
I recommend a cheap laptop with Seaclear II. 1. Seaclear's free (http://www.sping.com/) 2. charts for Seaclear are free (http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm) 3. replace laptop when it breaks
I recommend a cheap laptop with Seaclear II. 1. Seaclear's free (http://www.sping.com/) 2. charts for Seaclear are free (http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/Raster/download.htm) 3. replace laptop when it breaks
I have the same setup as Barometer!
With the laptop and Seaclear, I can plot my route at home if I want. Got my laptop off of E(vil)Bay for $300. A used Dell Latitude 600. I use a Garmin GPS12 with a serial connection to the laptop. I will eventually get one of those mouse usb gps antennas. Then my GPS12 can go back on the autopilot. I also have paper charts on board.
With the laptop and Seaclear, I can plot my route at home if I want. Got my laptop off of E(vil)Bay for $300. A used Dell Latitude 600. I use a Garmin GPS12 with a serial connection to the laptop. I will eventually get one of those mouse usb gps antennas. Then my GPS12 can go back on the autopilot. I also have paper charts on board.
excellent, Brian!
I just realized you're in what used to be my ship's first homeport, San Diego. Brought her through the Canal in '78 into SD. She now rests with the fishes (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c1a_1188112215). USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) My avatar shows her.
I just realized you're in what used to be my ship's first homeport, San Diego. Brought her through the Canal in '78 into SD. She now rests with the fishes (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c1a_1188112215). USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) My avatar shows her.
(Thanks Jim)- Status