notebook computer as gps chart plotter on small boat

[Tim.M]

Does anyone here use a notebook computer and software as a gps chartplotter on a small recreational boat? The nice big screen chartplotters are thousands of dollars, so I'm wondering if I could connect a gps to a notebook computer. Are notebooks hardy enough? Does pc software exist that is as good as the hardware chartplotters that can be had under $1000?

[KnottyBuoyz]

Yes too all your questions. We've used one for years. Some of the drawbacks are: size, may be too big for your boat; wires, they're everywhere unless yours has a real good battery; screens aren't usually bright enough for daylight use; screens are too bright for night use; cooling, overheating will shut them down.

[mydauphin]

Only thing new is little atom notebooks, many running on windows, about$300. They don't have cd roms but with big flash drive you could download charts to them. Also if your staying close to shore, consider Google earth has a nautical chart overlay. You can download area that you are going to be traveling to and then use little gps hookup to tell you location. All for under $500. But if you go far - take 2 gps, and paper charts. I still like paper charts next to me. In a pinch , I don't want to be fiddling with buttons.

[masalai]

I have 2 mini-itx form factor (smaller than 2 reams of paper) using this motherboard :- http://www.advantech.net.au/products/AMD-Turion-and-Sempron-Processor-based-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-with-6-COM-and-Dual-LAN/mod_1-2JKDYC.aspx - - -
* AMD Turion™ 64 X2 mobile processor-AMD M690E
* Two 200-pin SODIMMs, 4 GB DDR2 800 SDRAM
* dual display for HDMI, LVDS
* 8 serial ports )2 x ps2 & 6 x USB2+
2 x DVD burners, - - 2 x 500G HDD, - - 2 x 1920x1080 23" diagonal widescreen monitors - easy to adjust brightness and contrast, run Linux OS & mapping software from Germany using data from a garmin 60, also links through HF & VHF as well as plays my music, movies, stores my videos & images.. and prints via a brother printer (my office) and runs on about the same power as a notebook and does not have those highly reflective notebook screens...

[Chuck Losness]

I have been using a Dell Inspirion laptop for several years. It sits on my chart table. The nav program is a cmap program that a friend gave me for working on his boat. I really like it. It is simple and easy to use. The charts are very accurate in the USA. It would show me in my slip when I was in San Diego. The charts for mexico are off a little bit but this is true of every nav program including the fancy, expensive chart plotters because they are all based upon the old paper charts. Don't let any slick willy salesman tell you otherwise because he's just blowing smoke.
I use a Magellan 315 handheld GPS. It connects to the computer and receives external power through a cable that I purchased at Fry's Electronics in San Diego. You also need a serial port to usb adapter for my setup to connect the GPS to the laptop. I power the laptop with a 700 watt xantex inverter.
The program has different screen settings for day, dusk, twilight and night. At night I mostly use the twilight setting because the night setting is too dark.
Hope this helps you out.
Chuck
S/V Hale Moana

[Manie B]

Thanks for the info because i will be doing the same thing very soon

Yes too all your questions. We've used one for years

please tell me what this is

Google earth has a nautical chart overlay

i have just downloaded Google Earth 5 which is great with many nice new features but i cant seem to find what you are refering to

i have been up and down the entire menu on the left bottom of the page nl. Primary database and looked at the whole lot eg. weather - ocean etc. but no nautical chart ?
also tools but still no luck :?:

[Tim.M]

Thanks all. I'm intrigued by the idea of using google earth - I see it has a realtime gps connect option and I see I can download the noaa charts for free in raster format from http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/ChartServerV2.0/jsp/index.jsp?type=BSB - I don't know how to do anything with these file formats however. I found http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/chartreproj.html which will take the bsb .kap file and export it to a tiff which google earth can overlay, but I can only see how to do this one by one. And then it appears I need to enter the coordinate data for each small section individually into google earth.

Is there a much easier way?

[masalai]

Here are some sites for those who would consider Linux for its inherant robustness and NO Virus OS which for non-commercial users is free and downloadable...
http://tuxmobil.org/linux_gps_navigation_applications.html for resources and links
http://www.gpsdrive.de/index.shtml My current favourite
http://www.ncc.up.pt/gpsman/gpsman.html
http://www.mgix.com/gps3d/?download holds promise but seems to have gone quiet?
http://www.tegmento.org/gpsylon/ more resources... There is also a thread in boatdesign.net that uses sourceforgenet as a home...

[Chuck Losness]

Google earth is a great tool. I use it all the time particularly to check out anchorages that I have not been to. You can look straight down and you can tilt the view so that you get a feel for what you will see as you enter the anchorage. I do not integrate it into my nav program and don't know if I even could. But I have put in way points a couple of times and it gives you an idea of features on land that you might be able to use as range marks and the lay of the land/sea. It is just another tool to use along with all your other navigation tools.

[Tim.M]

http://demo.geogarage.com/noaa/ has overlaid the noaa charts on google maps, but I don't see any option to get this into google earth.

http://earthnc.com/online is interesting in showing rocks, buoys, lights, etc. -- but noaa raster depth charts cost $35 per region.

Are there other cool options out there?

[whoosh]

we used nobeltec admiral 7 , way over top for small boat, but voted best nav software years in a row
I once stood on beach in Turkey with magellan 315, , when I put the position on google earth was 15 miles inland , google earth tells you not to use for navigation

[Stumble]

I have used all kinds of mixtures of PC's and dedicted equipment, and with the sole limitation that computers are not normally weather proof they are much better than the custom hardware for almost everything.

I have been using an Apple laptop for years, and currently designing a ystem based around a 24" Imac. Basically the Imac will be running a copy of MacENC (http://www.navsoftware.com/marine-navigation-software/macenc-marine-navigation-software/prod_8.html?px_source=google&px_campaign=google:search:1143948247:macenc:macenc&px_medium=search&px_phrase=macenc&gclid=CKrq6sSS_JkCFWNM5QodSHYhFw) and I plan on having an ipod touch running INavX which ties into it. This will allow me to run everything from the auto pilot to the chart plotter from the ipod through WiFi. Plus by putting the computer downstairs I can protect it from water by flush mounting it behind a piece of lexan.

The real advantages though are that since you now have a 24" screen you can dispose of the TV, and still keep all of the functionality of a full fledged desktop. All at a price of around $2K.


As for the software... I have used all of this stuff, and it is probably the easiest to use piece of nav data around. Plus, since you get the charts for free from NOAA it makes it very easy to keep them updated, even for areas where you don't travel often. Heck if you get a Cellular card and cellular repeater for it you can even get relatively cheap internet within 20 miles of shore for about $100 a month.

[masalai]

Stumble, I wish, - - that service following the coastline to 20 miles out - "Only in America" - rest of the world - ??? in SW Pacific not much luck - satellite at 10 + times that....

But the Apple offering is mighty attractive but more than double that here in Australia.... mine is about AU$1400 with 2 screens (US$1000)

[Manie B]

thanks for the input guys

i have got a lot to learn now

but Google Earth 5 is by far the smartest toy in my library now - the possibilities are endless with all the other downloads

for us in a 3rd world country this is like heaven

we battle to get paper charts
if you wanted to leave now you could wait a month or two for a paper chart to Mauritius and it would cost an arm and a leg - even second hand is a bitch

with our weak currency electronic charts are simply out of the question

so yeah this kind of thing is like a gift from heaven when you are not in the civilised world :D

[whoosh]

thanks for the input guys

i have got a lot to learn now

but Google Earth 5 is by far the smartest toy in my library now - the possibilities are endless with all the other downloads

for us in a 3rd world country this is like heaven

we battle to get paper charts
if you wanted to leave now you could wait a month or two for a paper chart to Mauritius and it would cost an arm and a leg - even second hand is a bitch

with our weak currency electronic charts are simply out of the question

so yeah this kind of thing is like a gift from heaven when you are not in the civilised world :D

manie my dear chap dontcha read wot I said ? google earth positions are well out,
stu

[masalai]

20 miles or more positioning error on Google earth options are better than a schoolbook atlas, in a country where paper charts are not available - - - period...

Manie, make sure that the area you want to go to is held in cache on your computer and still works when NOT connected to the internet:D:D:D:P
Do NOT rely on any chart for accuracy, as you will surely be caught out.... It is an effective aid, compiled from photographs and those can be dated by trying out various display options on the left panel and by marking and saving spots you effectively can have images of key points on-route for reference....

[Manie B]

Well this is outright the most fun i have had other than searching for "crew" :P

last weekend when i was sailing of Durban we had a very "interesting" sail. Main down to the 3rd reef, #1 jib up, wind howling at force 6 gusting to force 7, ALL crew down on their knees feeding the fish over the lee rail, the instructor (half my age - fit and able) at the wheel AND this old fart (thinking that he is also 24) playing bowman ala "volvo" (dont forget the 4 knot current coming down from Madagascar) The seas were "confused" at 12ft plus

get the picture?

i was very proud of myself that i could bring the jib down onto the boat and not having to go and swim for it in the Indian ocean

anyway for those of you that know the rhyme TVMDC i cant actually remember it but it is something like "true virgins mostly dont come" or what ever.

So here i am surrounded by vomit trying my best to get a couple of fixes with the handheld compass and actually thinking of working it all out - needless to say that is when you are very thankfull for gps

so now back to "Google Earth 5" mine is out by about 50 yards. I have set my Garmin on "nautical" hence all is in feet and miles. The principal of the sailing academy will give us lashes if we come that kilometers bull with him - he is seriously old school:D

so here you can decide if you would trust my "calculations" or my computer skills :D

jeez i can open a new file for maps (right next to crew):D

and when i am of to go and drink with Frosty and Mas i can mail then google maps of my intended route:idea:

sh1t the list is endless

[whoosh]

how did you get the grid up on g earth?

[whoosh]

20 miles or more positioning error on Google earth options are better than a schoolbook atlas, in a country where paper charts are not available - - - period...

Manie, make sure that the area you want to go to is held in cache on your computer and still works when NOT connected to the internet:D:D:D:P
Do NOT rely on any chart for accuracy, as you will surely be caught out.... It is an effective aid, compiled from photographs and those can be dated by trying out various display options on the left panel and by marking and saving spots you effectively can have images of key points on-route for reference....

that is a really strange comment, wait until you try navigate with that sort error on the coast , you need to know pretty much where you are all the time, , if not buy a sand yacht:) no doubt much of you usage will be in Coral country and you dont go nther e without good paper, and good software especially in a plastic boat
after you have a few thou miles under your belts, you will see:)

[masalai]

I wont be navigating that way - just acknowledging the errors that can be found in ALL charts, electronic and paper - depends on where.... Even GPS data can be out (deliberately by USA control - "reds under the bed paranoia" - - and otherwise by atmospherics)

Cook and others successfully navigated without charts - drawing them as they went, and I am a cartographer.... and will to some extent be making my own charts for my own benefit in some areas... I will carry a full set of necessary paper charts on my cruise area....

The grid is set up in "preferences" or something like that in the drop-down menus on the top... as is decimal degrees which is the easiest way to send "waypoints"

[Manie B]

click view - click grid

how did you get the grid up on g earth?

i am working thru the "manual" and you can set/personalise the "font" sizes as well - just haven't got there yet

and remember to click on the little "N" at the top of the navigation bar and it automatically turns your current view up 'square" and straight with north at the "top"

please keep posting new findings to this thread it will be a great help to many people

what i am looking for is a "nautical layer" overlay that gives water depths along the coastline as contour lines and general info that could be on normal paper charts.

the stuff found on layers / ocean is very 'touristy" eg. surf beaches and dive spots

so lets hear if you guys come across "sailor" stuff :D

[Manie B]

Another overlay that will be super cool is one showing a rose over different locations to show variation and the year eg. 22 deg 58' W (9'W) = 1999

wazzup gents ;)

[Manie B]

sh1t all i need is the boat

Durban and hook a left to Mauritius
then stop over at Telok Sebang to see if we can plant trees for Mas's oil refinery
then up to Frosty for a beer and a babe :D

5400 nm @ 8 kn (maybe 180m/day) = approx 30 days and i am at Frosty's pub

stay a week or so
hair off the chest nonsence :D

then down south to Mas to learn all about them trees
clean living for a week or three :D

6000 nm - maybe 40 days

and who cares after that :P
easy peasy :P

[Manie B]

sorry i forgot

Telok Sebrang

maybe i discover my own island :P
man could get lucky somewhere along the line eh?

[Manie B]

sheeeeaaat i only see now

territory of bloomin OZ

anyway Mas they were planting Coconut trees once upon a good time

anybody know if the 96? hour OZ rule also applies (see TCP)

have fun:D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_%26_Keeling_Islands

[masalai]

Manie, in crossing near the equator you may be slowed to a stop in the doldrums so, if you seek to avoid crossing south in the "roaring 40'S" then follow further north to Diego Garcia (a British possession leased out for a Yank base" then follow up through Maldives, across to the tip of India and Frosty via ******* / Nicobar (India) but check it out as to seasonal winds & weather as there could be lots of "into the wind" stuff if ill-timed or afflicted by climate change....

That is otherwise known as Cocos or Keeling Island a possible waypoint on your route south East towards OZ but remember to have your visas sorted and ownership of your boat fully documented, receipts for materials (donated and given) and photographs of the build with you in it, (sealed in laminated bags) and carry in hidden compartments pure gold as reserve capital... and also be prepared for the 96 hour rule - send a fax from your last port before Aussy then say "progress report from xxxx if possible but sailing boats have difficulty in predictive schedules and if early hang around about 100 miles offshore:D:D:D:D bloody pathetic bureaucrats can be found in many places - sadly....

Around -10.488 deg S lat, 105.639 deg E lon is Christmas Island - another Australian place with lots of red land crabs.... both have strange histories and culturally diverse populations (aside from teeming bureaucrats).....

[Manie B]

Hi Mas all in the name of fun :D

but i do take your comments to heart :cool:

anyway i am hoping to illustrate the MANY uses of GE5 and hoping by posting examples that the other septics will actually get into it and USE the frikken tool.

it is only by usage that you can learn all the many different applications and then to start shearching and asking questions about the things you cant find

i am still looking for a "sailing" overlay that gives SOME of the info on paper charts eg. variation as indicated on the rose and depths contours.

[pistnbroke]

have a look at www.fugawi.com best mapping software and you can scan in and import charts .....Not fucawi thats the lost tribe of africa !!!

[masalai]

Yes broke-engine, but I use Linux, which makes that app a bit of a problem but can be overcome... and it is quite a good app....

[Manie B]

the fugawe is most certainly one helluva site
but i see only 10 days free trial - pity

all round seems very good :D

[mark775]

I'm with Woosh on the Nobeltec. A little much to learn for the weekender but so damned good you begin to trust it totally - therein lies a problem but I'll take "too good of navigational aid".
I have two HP Pavilions in a closet. Internet, games and movies for the kids on one, Nobeltec on the other. Never a problem since leaving the "placemat" crumb-catcher, coffee saucer, leaning post of laptops. Laptops truly suck if you have visitors that can access them.

[Tim.M]

So I can get Nobeltec http://www.nobeltec.com/products/prod_suite.asp for around $500 for the software but each chart package from https://www.nobeltec.com/store/ costs $499 so a starting cost of $1000 plus the notebook. Not terrible. I saw some supposedly well weather sealed "industrial" notebooks being sold used on ebay that might be a lot more durable than your off the shelf dell for a wet environment.

[Catabolic]

I can't agree with Tim.M's comment - "Not Terrible!" It may not be in $US, but for anyone outside the US it translates to a significant, and rarely justifiable expense to the average (impecuneous) yachtie. There has to be a less expensive way - what charting software programs will utilise the commercially produced charts, rather than have to utilise "locked" proprietory and expensive hardware?
How do I get my notebook to read my Magellan electronic charts?
There are numerous relatively inexpensive charting programs available, but they are not a lot of use outside the US (where the government makes charts available via the web) unless you are willing to scan existing paper charts, which defeats the object really. If anyone has found a realistic solution that is not locked into a specific manufacturer, please tell us!

[masalai]

Catabolic, this page has links that may help http://tuxmobil.org/linux_gps_navigation_applications.html , in particular look at the free map source quality on http://pygps.org/#mapview , http://www.waypoint.org/ , http://www.dfwmaps.com/ , http://www.wikimapia.org/ , http://openaerialmap.org/ , http://www.baum.com.au/~jiri/clew/manual.html , http://j2memap.landspurg.net/ , http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Gosmore , I will run http://www.gpsdrive.de/ , and use paper maps - gradually building up my own map database and local detail...

[erik818]

I'm using a freeware called SeaClearII and currently an ordinary laptop computer. I bought a GPS reciever with a USB conector. I will buy one of those new tiny laptops with 8" displays to use instead of my (company property) laptop.
GPS receiver: <EUR 50
Laptop: EUR 300
Seaclear: FREE

SeaClear can use several digital chart formats. My charts are in the BSB/KAP format, which I believe is a standard of some kind. It also supports scanning paper charts. The program has enough basic navigation facilities for my needs, and I would say for the need of most private boat owners. I normally navigate with paper charts and have GPS and SeaClear as a backup in case I ever loose my position.

Search for SeaClear on the internet and you will find several sites where you can download the program.

Sea charts may be freely available on the internet for the area you are interested in. Last time I checked, for the Stockholm archipelago the cost for buying them in digital format was approximately the same as for paper charts (EUR 100 - 200). An advantage is that you get free updates to the digital charts. The Pirate Bay seems to know where to find them for a better price.....but updates are not likely to be included.

I also like the origin of SeaClear. A programmer needed software for basic navigation. He couldn't find anything simple and cheap, so he wrote a navigation program that is now freeware. I like the arrogance and "how difficult can it be?" attitude.

All in all, with legally purchased digital charts, the total cost is around EUR 500 for a laptop based GPS navigation system.

Erik

[Manie B]

Sigh :(


all these things always look so good


http://www.sping.com/seaclear/


IF you are in Europe or USA


for the rest of us trying to find a safe harbour on the southern tip of Africa or the lesser know islands elsewhere

absolutely frikken nuttin :mad:

[Tim.M]

I can't agree with Tim.M's comment - "Not Terrible!" It may not be in $US, but for anyone outside the US it translates to a significant, and rarely justifiable expense to the average (impecuneous) yachtie. There has to be a less expensive way - what charting software programs will utilise the commercially produced charts, rather than have to utilise "locked" proprietory and expensive hardware?
How do I get my notebook to read my Magellan electronic charts?
There are numerous relatively inexpensive charting programs available, but they are not a lot of use outside the US (where the government makes charts available via the web) unless you are willing to scan existing paper charts, which defeats the object really. If anyone has found a realistic solution that is not locked into a specific manufacturer, please tell us!
Don't get me wrong - it's a lot for me too and I'd prefer if it were cheaper. But I'm comparing it to off-the-shelf chartplotter units. For $750 you can get a 7" screen. If you want a 12" screen you're looking at $2500! The prices get very high if you want a nice clear view. Of course they're water tight and probably consume less power than a notebook for that price too...

[Tim.M]

OK, I've downloaded seaclearII and I've downloaded the raster BSB charts from the NOAA site. I extraced the zip file and now have a folder BSB_ROOT. In BSB_ROOT I have a series of 5-digit numerical folders corresponding to the charts I selected which each contain a BSB file and several PTC and KAP files. I do not seem to be able to display the KAP files directly with SeaClear_2.exe. I can open and view the KAP files with MapCal2.exe in the sc_ii folder; I've tried resaving them form here, but don't understand how to get them to show up in the available charts in SeaClear_2. Can anyone help me - I don't seem to be able to follow the PDF Manual to get this to work. I must be missing something really simple.

[Boston]

I have 2 mini-itx form factor (smaller than 2 reams of paper) using this motherboard :- http://www.advantech.net.au/products/AMD-Turion-and-Sempron-Processor-based-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-with-6-COM-and-Dual-LAN/mod_1-2JKDYC.aspx - - -
* AMD Turion™ 64 X2 mobile processor-AMD M690E
* Two 200-pin SODIMMs, 4 GB DDR2 800 SDRAM
* dual display for HDMI, LVDS
* 8 serial ports )2 x ps2 & 6 x USB2+
2 x DVD burners, - - 2 x 500G HDD, - - 2 x 1920x1080 23" diagonal widescreen monitors - easy to adjust brightness and contrast, run Linux OS & mapping software from Germany using data from a garmin 60, also links through HF & VHF as well as plays my music, movies, stores my videos & images.. and prints via a brother printer (my office) and runs on about the same power as a notebook and does not have those highly reflective notebook screens...

you been holding out on me Mas
the lap top idea is perfect
B

[Boston]

I have used all kinds of mixtures of PC's and dedicted equipment, and with the sole limitation that computers are not normally weather proof they are much better than the custom hardware for almost everything.

I have been using an Apple laptop for years, and currently designing a ystem based around a 24" Imac. Basically the Imac will be running a copy of MacENC (http://www.navsoftware.com/marine-navigation-software/macenc-marine-navigation-software/prod_8.html?px_source=google&px_campaign=google:search:1143948247:macenc:macenc&px_medium=search&px_phrase=macenc&gclid=CKrq6sSS_JkCFWNM5QodSHYhFw) and I plan on having an ipod touch running INavX which ties into it. This will allow me to run everything from the auto pilot to the chart plotter from the ipod through WiFi. Plus by putting the computer downstairs I can protect it from water by flush mounting it behind a piece of lexan.

The real advantages though are that since you now have a 24" screen you can dispose of the TV, and still keep all of the functionality of a full fledged desktop. All at a price of around $2K.


As for the software... I have used all of this stuff, and it is probably the easiest to use piece of nav data around. Plus, since you get the charts for free from NOAA it makes it very easy to keep them updated, even for areas where you don't travel often. Heck if you get a Cellular card and cellular repeater for it you can even get relatively cheap internet within 20 miles of shore for about $100 a month.

go mac
its the only reliable alternative
way to even list the program thanks

[Tim.M]

Is there a waterproof sealed mac notebook?

[Boston]

Ild be surprised if its not in the works
I tried to work with pc when I got into computers and it was a nightmare
the minute I got a mac all the trauma went away and I could actually get some work done
I know we can go round and round about this for a long time but I waste no time on viruses or spyware and my computer works every time I turn it on
perfectly
pc was a brawl from the word go and never quit torturing me until I finally gave up on it completely
why, you got a waterproof virus proof spyware malware proof idiot proof pc

( all in good fun mate Im sure your referring to some kind of submersible nave aid, hell Im betting the scuba people have the best one. But for big screen and ease of use and preponderance of information; Ill go computer if its at all possible )

cheers
B

[Tim.M]

I was looking at some industrial pc notebooks that claim to be weather sealed (don't think they would be waterproof, but splashproof much more than a normal notebook) Something like a mac air with ssd drive would be ideal, but at $1799 it's $1000 overpriced for my wallet.

[Tim.M]

Truth or fiction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFDT_I2Up4

[Tim.M]

http://golden-shellback.com/ is the stuff

[Tim.M]

P.S. I don't think I need a mac for the mac virus-immunity as I don't plan to run porn or illicit software on my notebook chart plotter :)

[erik818]

Tim,
It could be that SeaClear isn't finding the directory with charts that have been set up by MapCal. The .exe-files MapCal and SeaClear2 must be in the same directory. This is also where the .ini-file will be located. In this directory MapCal will set up a subdirectory with charts.

Erik

[Tim.M]

Thanks Erik. I got a directory created named "traces" but that is the only directory MapCal created. Maybe I need to try again with MapCal.

[erik818]

I also have a directory named "charts" under the directory where the SeaClear and MapCal exe files are. This is the directory with all BSB and KAP files. Maybe you should create such a directory and put the files there for MapCal to find.

Erik

[Ramona]

OK, I've downloaded seaclearII and I've downloaded the raster BSB charts from the NOAA site. I extraced the zip file and now have a folder BSB_ROOT. In BSB_ROOT I have a series of 5-digit numerical folders corresponding to the charts I selected which each contain a BSB file and several PTC and KAP files. I do not seem to be able to display the KAP files directly with SeaClear_2.exe. I can open and view the KAP files with MapCal2.exe in the sc_ii folder; I've tried resaving them form here, but don't understand how to get them to show up in the available charts in SeaClear_2. Can anyone help me - I don't seem to be able to follow the PDF Manual to get this to work. I must be missing something really simple.


Tim,
I operate a commercial fishing vessel on the South Coast of NSW. I have been using Seaclear since 2003. I have a desktop computer with a 17 inch LCD screen and have admiralty digital charts for the whole east coast. I notice that other vessels in this port are switching to Seaclear as well instead of other expensive programmes. The advantage with Seaclear is its a computer programme and as such can be modified and info can be shared with your friends.
The downside is that instruction manual. The developer is Dutch I believe and while I appreciate his efforts, I wish some one would rewrite the manual.
Two sections that worry everyone is setting up the comms port for the GPS and setting up the chart files. Once done its a magnificent bit of kit. I'm trying to get a new converts machine up and running at the moment. If you Google Seaclear,comms port Gps, you will have plenty of hits from people with exactly the same problem. What we need is someone to make a tutorial on U tube.

[idpnd]

For those of you on linux, check out opencpn (http://bigdumboat.com/cpnabout.html), it works fairly well with the official US charts and C-MAP (CM93) charts, as well as (unencrypted) raster format charts. (Also works on windows and mac btw)

[DaveJ]

You can get water friendly touch screens cheap, hide the laptop inside the boat where it can't get wet, and run the cables to the touch screen where ever you want it (you could even have multiple screen, 1 inside, the other mounted outside near the helm) and use the touch screen as your interface with the laptop software, no mouse or keyboard required.

Doesn't matter if it gets wet, and if it does stuff up, you only need to replace the screen. Just check out ebay, there are alot of cheap options going from $150US up. Or if you want something more classy try this site http://www.cdt.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_26&products_id=102 abit more expensive, but you know its going to work well.

Dave,

[farjoe]

Doesn't matter if it gets wet, and if it does stuff up, you only need to replace the screen. Just check out ebay, there are alot of cheap options going from $150US up.
Dave,

Could you indicate what keywords you are using on Ebay to come up with suitable screens?

I am finding it hard to find one which is readable outdoors.

[DaveJ]

thats the catch, finding one that is suitable for outdoors use, try using google to find a model that you would like, then see if it is cheaper on ebay.
Another option is getting a normal display that is for outdoors use, and get a touch screen overlay, more work on your behalf but also allows you the flexability to talor it to your needs.
I have not done alot of reasearch in this area, just enough to know its possible without too much effort, then you sweet talk the guys who are making openpilot to make all the commands more useable with touch screen interface so its easier to use and more intuative and you will have a great setup.

[masalai]

They are available but not cheap... - see pioneer-computers-australia http://www.pioneercomputers.com.au/products/products.asp?c1=89&c2=137 they used to have some hardened notebooks, but why do you need to go swimming with one? - I use my own build in a mini-itx form-factor and standard lcd screens - works OK on my cat - else get the "ex-lease" cheap notebooks put Ubuntu OS and Open Office, Wine, Firefox & Thunderbird - 200 loss if you are stupid enough to capsize:D:D:D:D ... Buy the MATT finish screens, the HI_GLOSS ones are next to useless unless you live in the back of a darkened cave...

[farjoe]

- I use my own build in a mini-itx form-factor and standard lcd screens - works OK on my cat - ...

the standard lcd screens i have seen are useless in bright sun light. what about yours?

[Luckless]

the standard lcd screens i have seen are useless in bright sun light. what about yours?

Wouldn't a small protective hood be useful anyway? A small open box that your back is likely to cover the opening while reading for it.

[masalai]

Did I not specify the MATT finish... - Not the HI-GLOSS... In a brightly lit place - even under a large shady tree, on a bright day the "modern crystal bright" screens act as an excellent mirrors and offers a distorted image/reflection of your self and what is behind you, making normal viewing of the screen content almost impossible... I also have a projector ready for mounting overhead (to watch movies etc at night on a screen hung between the aft davits...) look at some of the HDMI or whatever high definition standard screens are available domestically 1920 x 1080 is the pixel size and up to 36 inches diagonal, so long as the pixels are not obvious - if so get a smaller screen.... cheaper than a laptop and upgrade by replacing the motherboard or box & contents altogether.... the powersupply is either 12 volts or an external 'mains' unit... Do not use microsoft if you are internationally cruising as it will likely inhibit use of foreign video formats and present problems and issues insisting on asking you to update or upgrade your OS & viral defence issues - on the other hand UBUNTU, or your favoured Linux flavour, once you learn the 'unix' system of doing things is far more internationally adaptable, reliable and robust & configurable as all the software is "open source" (you can re-write parts of an application if you wish and know how)... - Linux does not change executables or scripts in operation unless you specifically instruct and agree by using your "administrators password"... Microsoft changes things without asking every time you boot, during operation, and, shut down...

I use a gps as a gps - a far cheaper option, but the computer still could do some of those functions with the appropriate receiver & software... Not mature enough for primary application yet

A bit of learning, but with sufficient knowledge, you will have confidence in your equipment and be able to say "I can fix this" and if you were wrong, re-install from CD/DVD and you are in operation or know it is a hardware problem and can put those bits together... (even if someone else must be paid to assemble, as it is delicate stuff and susceptible to static electric damage and other things...)

It is unwise to keep, or put, electronic stuff in the open especially in bright sunlight as the heat can do terminal (death) damage, as it does to humans by way of skin cancer, but, hopefully, we have the sense to get out of the sun, electrical stuff does not have that option, if humans leave it in the sun/weather, then that is where it stays, until a human removes it (theft?) :D:D:D

[Ramona]

Wouldn't a small protective hood be useful anyway? A small open box that your back is likely to cover the opening while reading for it.

I use a modern 17 inch lcd in the cabin on my fishing vessel. I made a small protective hood thinking the sun would make viewing difficult at times and it also acts as a brace to the window frame. As it turns out the sun has very little effect and it is very tolerant of viewing angles. I can see the screen and view it easily from the back deck, about 18 feet away. The older gps lcd plotter mounted in the cabin as a back up is very hard to see even up close. Technology is wonderful