I have been using an old IBM Thinkpad and OpenCPN for years and it all works great. You get spoiled and “real” marine chartplotters seem quite lacking. OpenCPN is free and all the charts are free too. The only drawbacks are that a laptop is NOT anywhere close to waterproof, it isn’t in the cockpit, and they draw more power than a plotter. My old beast draws around 4-5 amps.
From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Joel Aronson via CnC-List Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 6:00 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Joel Aronson Subject: Re: Stus-List Windows laptop for chartplotter? Download OpenCPn, the currents plug in and the charts, add the GPS dongle and buy a 12v power supply on Amazon. $50 should cover the dongle and power supply - assuming you have a cigaretee lighter/12v power outlet. Joel On Tuesday, September 8, 2015, jtsails via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote: Danny, the only GPS I carry on my boat is a small handheld garmin, I just don’t see the need for a big chartplotter. I’ve chartered boats that had them several times, but even then I found that I only used my handheld to navigate with since I am familiar and comfortable with it. Most of the time, in my home waters I don’t even use the handheld but I’ve sailed this area for 40+ years and probably know the waters more accurately than the chart plotter anyway. I can’t count the number of times I see people stuck on sandbars because they followed the GPS instead of the marks! James Delaney 1976 C&C 38 Oriental, NC From: Josh Muckley via CnC-List<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','cnc-list@cnc-list.com');> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 5:19 PM To: C&C List<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','cnc-list@cnc-list.com');> Cc: Josh Muckley<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','muckl...@gmail.com');> Subject: Re: Stus-List Windows laptop for chartplotter? Yes, it is a great option for the cost conscious. The NOAA website has all of their charts available in vector and raster formats. They also have links to free and paid software for viewing the charts. You'll need to provide a GPS input. There are lots of options (long term and short) but the quickest and easiest is to buy a usb gps dongle. A laptop is very power hungry. The chargers usually draw 90w or ~7.5 amps. It's worse if you have to use an inverter. 12v chargers can often be found on amazon or ebay for pretty cheap, $10. Most laptops are also not in any way waterproof. PM me if you need more info. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Sep 8, 2015 5:05 PM, "Danny Haughey via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','cnc-list@cnc-list.com');>> wrote: Hi Guys, The boat I'm in the process of buying does not currently have chartplotter. Instead of rushing into the purchase of a new one for the delivery home I was thinking to use a windows tablet with an external GPS antennae/dongle and charts loaded from someplace to be determined. I think I'd get a cheap handheld garmin as well. GPS store has one for $169. I have windows tablet with the specs of a laptop. i5 processor and 4gb ram and I have an older android tablet with decent specs for it age. Is this a viable option to at least get the boat home and try and find a good deal on a plotter over the off season? It would also be a carry on and use and alleviate the need to install anything before the trip. Any and all advice is always appreciated! Danny Still headed toward a closing Massachusetts _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','CnC-List@cnc-list.com');> To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com ________________________________ _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','CnC-List@cnc-list.com');> To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com -- Joel 301 541 8551
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