Laptop chartplotter?

Woody · 02-18-2005, 07:21 AM

I'm starting to research boat jewelry for "On Mans Trash".

I'm wondering about the more experienced dogs opinion about using a laptop for chartplotter? I have a laptop I picked up pretty cheap last year and I found a USB GPS receiver on the web. With the right software, it looks like it might make a sweet setup.

I know it's a extreme environment for a laptop, but I'm confident I can build something to cushion the computer from the pounding. The salt water is another thing, maybe a plexiglass enclosure?

rojo · 02-18-2005, 07:38 AM

Been using a laptop on the boats for 8yrs now. Still the same laptop and gps works great. keep it dry and out of the direct sun. I use a small inverter plugged into a a 12v socket. have 1 gps for the laptop another for the fishfinder and radar...Roger

8bait · 02-18-2005, 07:58 AM

I have used one now for two years, I put a membrane over the key pad think that helps, the software I am using is not the correcr software when Iam offshore the only thing I get is the coodinates displayed, been looking for the offshore software package thats within reason price wise, works great within about1/2 mile from shore or in the river. I also have an Inverter aboard that I plug the power supply into, I think the computer battery life is only about 4 hours, actually I have two Inverters aboard and run all kinds of 120VAC apliances, Coffee pot, etc, etc. Good Luck, Tig :smile: :smile:

ht Lines

O Tshawytcha · 02-18-2005, 08:03 AM

I ran a laptop at bouy 10 all season and it worked great. Spend the $$ and get Nobletec software. It's awesome!

GRIFF

corrirod · 02-18-2005, 10:36 AM

Hey Woody, talk with Tailchaser. He's got a pretty neat system that was pretty affordable. Or maybe he'll post it here?

backlash442 · 02-18-2005, 12:33 PM

I bought a Garmin unit for the laptop. Think it's called GPS 18. I can use it on the boat but no room to put it. I bought it more for the Suburban when traveling. It's pretty cool but have yet to take a trip with it though.

Mr. Fisherman · 02-18-2005, 04:30 PM

I have the Maptech Software but still need a laptop. Maybe Woody will go shopping for me? :grin:
I can't wait to play with it on my boat, looks like it is going to ROCK!

barnettm · 02-18-2005, 06:18 PM

I have been using a laptop and freeware for several years now. Go to www.sping.com to download the free chartplotter program called "Seaclear". Then learn how to capture map images from www.terraserver.com and turn them into maps that Seaclear can use. It takes a little computer savvy but is all very doable.

Poi Dog · 02-18-2005, 06:42 PM

There is a company out of Seattle, Ram Mounting, that makes various types of gimbal style ball mounting systems for GPS units, radars, and laptops. I have one for both my GPS/fishfinder and Radar and I really like the system. I think they cost me about $30 - $35 for each mount. They also make one specifically for laptops, but I don't know what they cost. There are pictures of the mounts at Ram's website: http://rammount.com/laptopcomp.htm. Ram doesn't sale retail, but they can refer you to a retailer. I ordered mine from an online vender - I think it was GPS City, but I don't recall for sure.

Woody · 02-19-2005, 04:34 PM

I took my laptop outside to see how well I could see the screen outside. Wow, it was really crappy in the sunlight. Even in the shade, I could hardly see the screen.

How, do those of you who used laptops deal with the glare?

rustyl · 02-19-2005, 06:09 PM

You can get laptop screens made for viewing in sun light. If forget the name of the technology, but it makes a big difference. My laptop screen is just about worthless outside.

Gus Orviston · 02-21-2005, 03:54 AM

LCDs for notebooks are made for outdoors, the power required works against battery life. Basic display these days only draw 3W. there are some for the outdoors, maybe look at the toughbook, it is designed for outdoor use. Also you HDD is bound to be touching head to platter in the ocean. I have Thinkpad and it has a motion detector to stop the head from doing just that, it will lock out the arm so it won't make contact and crash the drive. Even if you drop it from 3 FEET! It will detect the motion... I work on my thinkpad going to and from work (I have a driver here China) and just driving down the road will lock out my HDD temporarily, so be careful using them that way. Mostly you probably won't ever notice it - since you are mostly reading off the maps.

gus

Zodiac-Fisherman · 02-21-2005, 07:25 AM

Look at what i found here.. :blush: :blush:
http://www.gpsnavx.com/

I might have to get this software, for a little over a hundred you can get a USB GPS attena, and it comes with the software. Could be a interesting gadget to play with while out at tuna town.

Dig these links..
http://www.yachtingnet.com/yachting/...nics/article/0,12727,703637,00.html

Sounds like there are alot of options out there for those of us who have Laptops. You will need a GPS attena (USB most likely), and maps to load into your navagation program.

Dylan

tailchaser · 02-21-2005, 08:23 PM

Sorry I'm tardy on the response. We seemingly devised a pretty sweet setup using a laptop and chartplotter in one unit. On the big boat we keep the laptop under the bunks and in a soft case so it doesn't get banged around. Using an external port we connect the laptop to a flatscreen monitor that's mounted in the cabin. The gps external port is connected to the laptop and we use the nobletec system that will track realtime on a color 13" screen. Very cool and very reliable. All of the W.Coast charts are loaded on a cd so we can pick and choose the area to a very fine detail and jump from buoy to buoy inside the harbor. Every imaginable setting is there to use on the screen and I almost forgot about the 3-d bathemetric depth charts that come with it. It's so detailed we can zoom into the harbor and locate which line of slips we dock the boat.

I would never buy a chartplotter if I already had a laptop knowing the capability of this system. The only thing that would require an install is a DC converter for the laptop.

tc

sharptooth · 05-06-2005, 08:41 AM

Here is an authoritative magazine for GPS info. This is heavy, deep and may seen boring but lots of interesting information on GPS II and GPS III systems slated to be put in by the Europeans.

It is not necessarily recreational magazine but lots of depth.

http://www.gpsworld.com/gpsworld/

Netscape · 05-06-2005, 08:52 AM

Hey Woody, If you'd paid me more for the laptop I would have put my secret anti-salt spray on the circuits.

Seriously, glad to hear it's still perking along. Big question, how are you going to get it away from the wife??

.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-06-2005, 08:59 AM

Well I bought Microsoft streets and trips 2005 with GPS Holy cow! great software adn teh GPS works awsome!
I'll bring it to the next TA meeting at Santanas that I am able to attend.

Woody, I still have some tyvek for you. Do you still want it?

Woody · 05-06-2005, 09:00 AM

That was such a killer deal Netscape. I use it at home to connect to my LAN and surf the net, and recently I've been using it at work. It's still working perfectly. Thanks again!!!

I'm rethinking the laptop GPS idea. One; I don't think the hard drive could handle the bouncing from the rough seas, and Two; even if I encased the computer somehow, the salt would still find it's way in.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-06-2005, 09:05 AM

Oh yea, I bought a used Toughbook on Ebay. Should hold up well. The screen looks good in the daylight even and it has a touch screen. I got an infverter too and look forward to taking it to Alaska with me.

Netscape · 05-06-2005, 09:31 AM

Woody,
When I had the puter hooked up to the telescope I covered both the screen and the keyboard with "FoodSaver" bags. The clear side worked well and kept the late night moisture out. Did not have a heating problem but u might want to leave a small vent area for intake & exaust. Try holding the "fn" key down while pressing F1 or F2 keys to lighten or darken the screen. Don't belive the hard drive will be affected with moderate bouncing,IMHO

. As to some salt getting in due to the needed air circulation, I don't know.

5 Salt · 05-06-2005, 05:27 PM

I am with Gus Orviston on the Hard Drive issue. Budget laptops cost less for a reason. Little things like freezing the arm due to motion is what make the IBM the way to go if you can afford. Beyond that, parking your Laptop somewhere out of harms way in/on a soft surface will save you lot of headache. Two main causes of problems with all pc's are Drive failures and RAM memory errors.

Tailchaser's idea is exellent as well - remote monitor w/laptop tucked away safely. Most laptops manf's will sell you a DC power supply the can plugged to a lighter socket for extended use and the power to drive the remote monitor.

I like to keep mine in one of those giant ziplock bags that nobody would buy from Englunds - they were on sale last time I stopped by for my $100.00 shopping bag. They are the low budget dry bag if you will. I couple of small holes in the side for air flow and you are set.

Ling Sling · 05-06-2005, 06:45 PM

Another option would be those smaller mini ATX computers. They don't take up a lot of room, and are a heck of a lot cheaper then a notebook. Parts (which will eventually fail in the salt) are cheaper and easier to come by. I like the idea of having a seperate screen (preferrably a touchscreen) as well. I would look for an industrial monitor, or even used a industrial computer too. Depending on what you can find, they can be built like a tank, and can stand up to a lot more abuse.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-07-2005, 01:18 AM

I bought a used Panasonic toughbook with touch screen. The testing these go through i svery impressive. The touchscreen in actual use is a bit dissapointing but I am looking forward to seeing how it all holds up.
The more I use the software with the USB GPS the more impressed I am with it.