|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Rosalie B. (no email)
Date: Thu Nov 04 2004 - 12:25:38 EST
On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 05:26:38 -0600, you wrote:
>At 08:24 PM 11/2/2004, Crazy Sail <> wrote:
>>My question is in regards to software/charts for a notebook. I have a
>>GPS/Chartplotter that will hook to my notebook. What is the recommended
>>software to view and plan navigation from a notebook. I will not venture
>>out without paper charts I just think it would be a helpful tool.
>>Glenn.
>
>Hi All! I'm Baaaaak.... (More later)
>
>Glen, there are quite a few choices of software. A few I'm familiar with
>and have used:
>
>Offshore Navigator: http://www.maptech.com/
>
>Memory Map Navigator: http://www.memory-map.com/ This one also has a Pocket
>PC component and it the one Maptech uses for Pocket PC.
>
>Oziexplorer: http://www.maptech.com/ This is shareware, is very
>inexpensive and works well. Some folks seem to not like it, but I've found
>it's fast, easy to use and does a lot of things. It reads the Maptech and
>other charts.
>
>If your GPS is a Garmin, their Mapsource Bluechart does well and you can
>upload charts to the GPS. http://www.garmin.com
>
>Why would you need paper charts? (Okay, here come de flames!!) Seriously I
>spent 2-1/2 years and 6,000 NM cruising without ever pulling out any of the
>paper charts on board. Now, I did have backups. A couple extra GPS's, a
>backup laptop, and later on a Compaq IPAQ with Navman sleeve. This could
>also be used with any of the GPS's. Also a backup, smaller, inverter to
>power the laptops. A hint, don't have any of the backups connected to the
I do not think that you can count on having things unplugged to save
you from getting your equipment fried. It may help, but it may not.
>electrical system and unplug the laptop(s) when not in use - We got hit by
>lightning that fried almost everything connected!
>
We use electronic charts extensively (all the time). We've only used
Capn and have used it through several iterations. I like their
support.
We find that the electronic charts, which are copied directly from the
paper charts, are either sometimes inaccurate, or that the GPS is off.
It is not unusual for us to find ourselves apparently sailing on land
on the chart (both electronic and paper).
We have two GPSs (and they do sometimes need batteries), and I've
always had at least two laptops. I started with a Toshiba, and when
it was in the shop getting a new hard drive I got a 2nd hand Compaq.
Then I got a Dell as a backup. The next year I left the Compaq (which
was very old) home, and took the Toshiba and the Dell. Last year I
got another Dell as backup, and had two Dells and the Toshiba. The
Toshiba has gotten so flaky that I can't get it to run reliably
anymore.
We always have paper charts out in the cockpit along with the computer
hooked to the GPS. (We've never had a chart plotter) We do keep the
computer down below on the nav table (which is visible from the
cockpit) if we expect bad weather, but we've gotten into bad weather
and the computer has survived OK in its enclosure, although there was
one rainstorm where I had to protect it with my body <g> by holding
the bimini so that water didn't drip on it for about an hour and a
half. I was wet right through to my underwear as if I'd been
swimming, but the computer was fine.
We also always have someone in the cockpit keeping a lookout. We also
do not hook the GPS to the autopilot and nothing is hooked to the
radar. However, we do coastal cruising where stuff that you might hit
is closer to you and quicker to get into trouble. YMMV.
grandma Rosalie
S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
|