RussWinn
New Member
I heard recently that you can use your laptop as a chartplotter with its own GPS. Is this true and what do you need?
Captain Birdseye
Captain Birdseye
Laptop for chartplotter
- Thread starter RussWinn
- Start date
shmoo
Well-Known Member
You can use a laptop as a chart plotter. I am not sure that you want to use "your" laptop as a chart plotter. They have quite a hard life. Get a cheap second one to use; mount it inside the chart table rather than on top. Its more likely to stay warm and dry there and less likely to end up on the cabin sole. Carry a spare. If your plotting software needs the CD in all the time get CD-drive spoofing software since the CD drive is likely to be an early casualty.
Modern laptops may need USB-serial connectors for GPS,AIS NMEA since they may not have serial ports any more
Modern laptops may need USB-serial connectors for GPS,AIS NMEA since they may not have serial ports any more
SvenglishTommy
Well-Known Member
You cant really use a laptop as a chartplotter in the cockpit. They cant take the wet if it's rough or raining, and you cant see the screen if it's sunny, also the power consumption is very high compared to a dedicated plotter. I use mine for planning, and even though I do have a usb gps and could use it as a plotter, I just have a hand held gps mounted in the cockpit, which is enough for me.
I did look into rigging upa seperate waterproof screen in the cockpit so I could use it as a plotter, but in the end I gave up as it would probably be cheaper, and much easier to just get a plotter, and I still dont really understand what chart plotters are for.
I did look into rigging upa seperate waterproof screen in the cockpit so I could use it as a plotter, but in the end I gave up as it would probably be cheaper, and much easier to just get a plotter, and I still dont really understand what chart plotters are for.
Talbot
Well-Known Member
As has already been said, Both have their uses and has been covered very thoroughly in previous threads. basically:
laptop - big screen , great for planning, susceptible to damp, higher power consumption, useful if using AIS at same time (www.shipplotter.com is recommended software for this) cannot use in cockpit.
chartplotter - useable in cockpit from helm, waterproof (if you get the right one!) smaller screen so easier to fit, lower power consumption (mine is 0.5 amp) However, newer plotters are available in much larger sizes, which is great if you have the space, but they also use more power
basically you need to get what is right for you and your boat. I have the plotter at the helm (Navman 5500) which I like + laptop, which I only use when planning, or for AIS when crossing the shipping lanes. the laptop lives on the chart table, but by leaning fiorward I can see the screen, and it provides an audible warning of an AIS contact that is going to be a problem.
laptop - big screen , great for planning, susceptible to damp, higher power consumption, useful if using AIS at same time (www.shipplotter.com is recommended software for this) cannot use in cockpit.
chartplotter - useable in cockpit from helm, waterproof (if you get the right one!) smaller screen so easier to fit, lower power consumption (mine is 0.5 amp) However, newer plotters are available in much larger sizes, which is great if you have the space, but they also use more power
basically you need to get what is right for you and your boat. I have the plotter at the helm (Navman 5500) which I like + laptop, which I only use when planning, or for AIS when crossing the shipping lanes. the laptop lives on the chart table, but by leaning fiorward I can see the screen, and it provides an audible warning of an AIS contact that is going to be a problem.
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
I'm a paper chart type myself but I do have a lappy and a usb gps for it. The whole lot is powered by the laptop battery and a 18 volt converter from Maplins.
Works well on the shortish trips I mainly take. On longer trips you spend a lot of time in the middle of nowhere when you dont really need any plotting info other than the CMG and BRG from the normal ships gps - so the lappy gets switched off to conserve power. It is run in a power conserving mode anyway.
TBH its biggest advantage is that most of us already have a laptop and so dont need to buy a plotter. Better still if its the company laptop since they are well known to be showerproof. Plus it is easiest to plan a voyage on a bigger screen than comes with most plotters, it can do TV with a card, and SSB weatherforecasts, and games for the kids, and e mail etc. Lot more flexible than a dedicated plotter.
Works well on the shortish trips I mainly take. On longer trips you spend a lot of time in the middle of nowhere when you dont really need any plotting info other than the CMG and BRG from the normal ships gps - so the lappy gets switched off to conserve power. It is run in a power conserving mode anyway.
TBH its biggest advantage is that most of us already have a laptop and so dont need to buy a plotter. Better still if its the company laptop since they are well known to be showerproof. Plus it is easiest to plan a voyage on a bigger screen than comes with most plotters, it can do TV with a card, and SSB weatherforecasts, and games for the kids, and e mail etc. Lot more flexible than a dedicated plotter.
Malcb
Well-Known Member
Had to make the same type of decision myself. After trying a laptop, using a usb GPS, I came to the conclusion that it was great for using below, but it was completely useless in the cockpit. The screen is impossible to see in sunlight, or any bright daylight. I need the plotter in the cockpit as I sail single handed most of the time.
I use a Navman 5600 in the cockpit, positioned just under the sprayhood. I do my planning on a laptop (and also on my home desk tp) using a c-map card reader.
Personally, I do find the Navman a bit small for planning, although it is possible. It helps if you try to preplan and make sure that you have most, if not all, the waypoints entered already.
I use a Navman 5600 in the cockpit, positioned just under the sprayhood. I do my planning on a laptop (and also on my home desk tp) using a c-map card reader.
Personally, I do find the Navman a bit small for planning, although it is possible. It helps if you try to preplan and make sure that you have most, if not all, the waypoints entered already.
happybonzo
New Member
Have a look for a Panasonic Toughbook / Studbook, not sure of the spelling
They do come up on Ebay sometimes c/w a 3 month warranty. Get the right one and you can stand on it, pour oil on it, use it for repelling boarders - I kid you not, one of these things stopped a 9milli round in Iraq and when they replaced the hard drive it still powered up
They do come up on Ebay sometimes c/w a 3 month warranty. Get the right one and you can stand on it, pour oil on it, use it for repelling boarders - I kid you not, one of these things stopped a 9milli round in Iraq and when they replaced the hard drive it still powered up