Fixing a laptop to the chart table.

[AndrewB]

Do you use a laptop at sea? How do you secure it? I need ideas on how best to fix mine safely to my flat, half-Admiralty sized chart table. There is clear bulkhead directly behind the chart table. The laptop and any fixings need to be easily releasable so the chart table can be used with paper charts.

My preference is for a method that doesn't make too much of a permanent mess of the chart table surface.

 

[WayneS]

We used to use one of THESE

A bit pricey but worked a treat.

W

 

[Sy-Revolution]

self adhesive velcro?

 

[Beadle]

I have the same problem. This season I'm going to use velcro, at least I am when I can make time to get to the boat. I think it should be OK. My seat backs are velcro'd in place an never move.

Its cheap and shouldn't damage the chart table.

 

[alastair]

Agree with the velcro solution. No damage to any of your surfaces.
To get the adhesive to work best make sure the boat and laptop are at room temp, or a bit warmer. Let the velcro strips ahdesive 'cure' for 24 hrs before fitting the laptop in position

 

[ParaHandy]

I used araldite to glue two, one each side, short lengths of webbing to the underside, rear, of the laptop. Each had a clip sewed on. Attached to uprights at the back of the chart table were two corresponding tapes with male/female clips which the laptop clips connected to. Worked for several years now and allows the laptop to be easily lifted up etc

 

[Eeyore]

Agree with WayneS....I use the fourth one down on his list, it works fine and leaves the chart table free for use whereas the other systems prevent use of the chart whilst the laptop is on the table. My RAM is fixed to the rear bulkhead and allows the laptop to swivel out and be seen from the helm - useful for C-Maps when entering foreign port single handed.

 

[shmoo]

We keep ours inside the chart table. Laptop open and on, chart table (usually) closed. Currently I use a patch of tea-tray type non-slip but will put some beading on chart table sole when i get round to it.

We like to keep the paper chart on the table top, to do hourly plots. Also, inside the table protects it from unexpected splash coming down companionway.

AIS collision alarm is wired into gismo that sends VHF to cockpit speakers, so we can still hear it.

 

[ccscott49]

May I suggest another way? Why not get a wireless keyboard and mouse, mount a cheap flat screen on the bulkhead, behind the chart table (brackets easily and cheaply available for this) and put the laptop away in a bag, or inside chart table or wherever and connect up, then all you have to do, is put the keyboard and mouse away for the chart table to be in full use. Keyboards and mouse and 15" flat screens are cheap these days, even cheaper on E bay. Many ways to skin a moggie!

 

[Conachair]

I mounted a couple of thin pieces of ally angle to form a little sort of slot which the laptop fits into.

_______________________________________________________________________
|_ Laptop _|

I could then go into display settings and turn the display upside down so that you can put the laptop into slot upside down and just hinge the screen down if you needed to use it, most progs just need the mouse not the keyboard. Though in reality that's to much messing about and I have it set up normally and store it in the slot using a bit of non slip on the chart atble if it ever gets used. More irritating is the way it doesn't recognise the gps and the mouse goes mad when it comes out of hibernation. There was a thread on how to get rid of this but I never did sort it out.

 

[jerryat]

We've used that non-slip stuff they advertise and sell at the boat shows for the last 15 years or thereabouts. Often demonstrated on a tray stopping drinks glasses sliding off at the shows.

Our laptop has stayed put in some really lumpy weather, never moving a fraction, though when the boats starts being flung out of the water, we pack it away. We thought about Velcro, but didn't want the sticky residue and marks left on the chart table.

 

[fireball]

The back of our chart table is open to the saloon - so we have made up an ali bracket for the laptop to sit in - opened up flat so the screen is above the table. It does mean the keyboard is blocked - but we've got one of those £20 flexikeyboards and a mouse - keeps the chart table clear for charts.

 

[davidbains]

As a temorary measure, a loop of fishing line over the screen will prevent the laptop reaching the floor!

 

[Jonny_H]

We have a laptop stand which bolts to a bulkhead (or the back of the chart table in our case) we can swing it out the way when needed, and it keeps the chart table clear. The laptop sits on rubber feet on the tray and seems very secure, but we have made a simple velcro strap to secure it finally.

Jonny

 

[AndrewB]

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I was going with the velcro solution but really it needed a couple of anchor points dug into the chart table to hold the ends. But I really like the brackets illustrated, think I might be able to make up something like Jonny_H's from stock parts not too expensive. Nice clear pic, thanks Jonny, the globes are a nice touch!

 

[Jonny_H]

The globes are a back-up in case we get really lost !!!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Jonny

 

[ChrisE]

As an alternative you might like to try drilling a couple of holes in the chart table and running a piece of cord around the 'hinge' of the laptop, you tighten the cord under the table. This method has kept our laptop free from harm for the past 10 years or so...

 

[Jonny_H]

If anyone is interested our stand (pictured above) is about £20 from www.cpc.co.uk

We like it as it keeps the chart table lid clear for proper charts, plus you don't need to move the laptop with potentially wet hands to get to tide times and almanacs etc that we keep in the chart table.

Jonny