I am thinking of purchasing a Laptop computer and navigation software and would like to know what my good chpoices are? Also is there a waterproof or at least weather proof monitor available that I could mount where it could potentially get wet?
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Bob
Ideas for Sam....
There are many options you have in regards to purchasing a laptop for navigation. From what I have found you first need to have an idea of the money you would like to spend and then have an idea of what your expectations of the unit would be. I have heard of a new display that should be out soon, like they all say, that will be completely waterproof and it is rumored to be able to function even underwater, but we will have to see. I believe it is made by Tactronics or something of the sort. The Seattle Boat show is my guess when we will see this.
There are many options you have in regards to purchasing a laptop for navigation. From what I have found you first need to have an idea of the money you would like to spend and then have an idea of what your expectations of the unit would be. I have heard of a new display that should be out soon, like they all say, that will be completely waterproof and it is rumored to be able to function even underwater, but we will have to see. I believe it is made by Tactronics or something of the sort. The Seattle Boat show is my guess when we will see this.
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Bryce Grefe
laptop and displays
PinPoint Systems Marine Navigation Hardware and Software and Electronic Nautical Charts makes ruggedized processors and remote displays. Kinda pricey it seems, URL http://www.pinpointsys.com/index.htm Good luck. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
PinPoint Systems Marine Navigation Hardware and Software and Electronic Nautical Charts makes ruggedized processors and remote displays. Kinda pricey it seems, URL http://www.pinpointsys.com/index.htm Good luck. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
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Carl and Juliana Dupre
High Tech Toys for Boaters
Try < www.capjack.com >. This is "Capt'n Jack's High Tech Products for Boaters" (Hey!! That's the people doing this forum!!). They have several models of computers and displays, including not only 'Pinpoint' but also 'Ocean PC'. I have never seen the 'Pinpoint', but I saw the 'Ocean PC' at the Newport Boat Show; very impressive, but also very pricey. The ultimate 'Ocean PC' system, marinized PC with waterproof, daylight-readable remote display looked like about $6K-$8K, depending upon the computer specs. Most of that is the display; you pay a LOT of money for that daylight-readable, waterproof display! Then there is the other approach. Buy a budget standard portable PC (can now do this for ~$1000; take your pick of vendors) and a non-waterproof high-contrast remote display (~$1600 for an Ocean PC model; there must be others out there) upon which you apply 'frugal waterproofing' (plastic covering or keep under the dodger and hope). Hmmmm..........$2600 sounds a lot better than $6K-$8K. Or, cheaper yet, forget the remote display and simply take the whole standard portable up on deck with 'frugal waterproofing' (screen readability may be an issue). We have discussed computers with a number of sailers, and most are having good success with a standard non-marinized portable PC, provided you keep it dry and take it home with you. Modern portables are pretty well protected against shock and vibration, and my work model has survived one good dousing with a cup of coffee. The big risk is the remote display and the 'frugal waterproofing'. We are pondering this whole situation ourselves, and have not yet decided which way to go. There is a LOT of money at stake on either approach; spent up front with the robust approach, or potentially lost with the frugal approach. That's what we know at this point; we would also like to hear some other thoughts on this topic. Carl and Juliana Dupre s/v 'Syzygy"
Try < www.capjack.com >. This is "Capt'n Jack's High Tech Products for Boaters" (Hey!! That's the people doing this forum!!). They have several models of computers and displays, including not only 'Pinpoint' but also 'Ocean PC'. I have never seen the 'Pinpoint', but I saw the 'Ocean PC' at the Newport Boat Show; very impressive, but also very pricey. The ultimate 'Ocean PC' system, marinized PC with waterproof, daylight-readable remote display looked like about $6K-$8K, depending upon the computer specs. Most of that is the display; you pay a LOT of money for that daylight-readable, waterproof display! Then there is the other approach. Buy a budget standard portable PC (can now do this for ~$1000; take your pick of vendors) and a non-waterproof high-contrast remote display (~$1600 for an Ocean PC model; there must be others out there) upon which you apply 'frugal waterproofing' (plastic covering or keep under the dodger and hope). Hmmmm..........$2600 sounds a lot better than $6K-$8K. Or, cheaper yet, forget the remote display and simply take the whole standard portable up on deck with 'frugal waterproofing' (screen readability may be an issue). We have discussed computers with a number of sailers, and most are having good success with a standard non-marinized portable PC, provided you keep it dry and take it home with you. Modern portables are pretty well protected against shock and vibration, and my work model has survived one good dousing with a cup of coffee. The big risk is the remote display and the 'frugal waterproofing'. We are pondering this whole situation ourselves, and have not yet decided which way to go. There is a LOT of money at stake on either approach; spent up front with the robust approach, or potentially lost with the frugal approach. That's what we know at this point; we would also like to hear some other thoughts on this topic. Carl and Juliana Dupre s/v 'Syzygy"
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Ron Doescher
Laptops
You have two options, basically. A standard run-of-the-mill laptop that's designed for the "Road Warrior" and/or personal home use ($$), or a Marine-qualified unit ($$$$). For occasional use on-board, in a protected area that won't get wet (like down below at the nav station), a standard laptop could do fine. In addition to the usual concerns about shock, vibration, and getting doused with seawater and irradiated with UV, there is one other -- mold/mildew. That last one is always a problem in a marine environment. These growths can ruin the circuit boards, electronic components, pad switches (aka keyboard), disk drives, floppies, etc. And, their destructive presence isn't generally obvious until too late unless you regularly
You have two options, basically. A standard run-of-the-mill laptop that's designed for the "Road Warrior" and/or personal home use ($$), or a Marine-qualified unit ($$$$). For occasional use on-board, in a protected area that won't get wet (like down below at the nav station), a standard laptop could do fine. In addition to the usual concerns about shock, vibration, and getting doused with seawater and irradiated with UV, there is one other -- mold/mildew. That last one is always a problem in a marine environment. These growths can ruin the circuit boards, electronic components, pad switches (aka keyboard), disk drives, floppies, etc. And, their destructive presence isn't generally obvious until too late unless you regularly
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TOM MCNAMARA
COMPUTER AND REMOTE MONITOR
WE LIVE ABOARD THE 450,99 AND HAVE A LAP TOP ON BOARD. I HAD THE "CAPN" AND FOUND IT VERY EASY TO INSTALL ROUTES.SO I TOOK IT TOPSIDE WITH ALL THE NECESSARY EXTENSIONS AND CONNECTIONS,BUT FOUND THAT I COULD NOT SEE IT. SO I BOUGHT A MONITOR [$650]THAT I COULD SEE,A CORDLESS KEYBOARD AND MOUSE[$125]AND MY COMPUTER STAYS BELOW AND I AM HAPPY."MCBUBBA720@AOL.COM
WE LIVE ABOARD THE 450,99 AND HAVE A LAP TOP ON BOARD. I HAD THE "CAPN" AND FOUND IT VERY EASY TO INSTALL ROUTES.SO I TOOK IT TOPSIDE WITH ALL THE NECESSARY EXTENSIONS AND CONNECTIONS,BUT FOUND THAT I COULD NOT SEE IT. SO I BOUGHT A MONITOR [$650]THAT I COULD SEE,A CORDLESS KEYBOARD AND MOUSE[$125]AND MY COMPUTER STAYS BELOW AND I AM HAPPY."MCBUBBA720@AOL.COM
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Don Alexander
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