Laptop Nav

[wiggy]

It might seem like a silly question but how do folks out there keep laptops on the chart table when sailing and still make it usable and visible or are all laptoppers powerboaters?
My boat is fairly small with a dedicated nav area but I am lost as to how to easily stop laptop ending up on the floor. Also inverter or 12v to 17v step up? Which is the most efficient?

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[jimi]

I get two loops of bungee andput them around the chart table lid and the fold between the screen and the keyboard bit. Laptop survived a knockdown, remaining in position even when the contents of the chart table itself were flying through the cabin.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[malcp]

I have a shelf / bracket that I made up that clamps onto the semi bulkhead in front of the chart table. This mounts the PC above the chart table which has a Yeoman plotter on it. The PC is secured to the mounting shelf with a bungee as jimi suggests. Works well, and allows the chart table to be used for paper charts of Yeomans.

I use a small step up PSU the like of which are available specifically for PCs. They are small and tuck out of the way.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by malcp on 06/02/2004 09:23 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Rich_F]

I fitted an LCD flat screen monitor behind the Nav area, and bought a compact, wireless keyboard/mouse.

This lets me keep the computer mounted securely out of sight.

Rich

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[MainlySteam]

I do rather similarly to Jimi but use a piece of of about 15mm wide light webbing which instead of going right around under the chart table lid, is attached to saddles each end on each under side of the lid and is adjustable using one of those plastic slide buckle arrangements like one sees on shoulder bag straps (from whence the strap came as a trial - and I have never gotten around to making the permanent one up yet!). The strap is placed so that the computer can only slide towards the back of the chart table a little way before the bulkhead stops it sliding further and out from under the webbing. I carry a piece of that non slip rubbery stuff to put under it if it insists on sliding sideways (it has pretty sticky feet all by itself, however).

I also have a shelf it can go on, closed up, with a seperate keyboard and monitor to plug into it but usually never bother.

I use a 12v dc step up power supply (Vanson SDR-70W which are cheap and available in UK I believe) but carry the ac power supply as a backup - I would be totally confident that the dc unit is the most efficient, especially if the invertor is a bigger unit, but I have never checked. As is usual for such power adaptors, if you use the PC for weather fax or similar you may need to wind its output cable through a ferrite clipon block 3 or 4 times to stop it radiating hash into the radio. I do not know how well regulated all the dc step up power supplies are but the Vanson holds it output voltage dead stable during all the voltage excursions experienced during discharge and charging of the boats batteries so is not a threat to the computer's battery.

John

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[Talbot]

Industrial velcro! Biggest problem is getting the beast off/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[claymore]

That was my idea and you copied it from me - I demand my fee.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[jimi]

Knew I should'nt hacve listened to you .."Awa.. get knocked down!" Ye said .. so ah did .. ah've goat ma lawyer Parahandy QC workin' oan ra compensation claim the noo!

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..

 

[robind]

Maplins for the 12 volt to 18 volt dc adaptor, and I have stuck a non-slip table mat top the bottom of my computer, works well
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[robind]

Maplins for the 12 volt to 18 volt dc adaptor, and I have stuck a non-slip table mat top the bottom of my computer, works well
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[david]

Re: Laptop Nav (PIC)

I can't get the pic to work using the image tags, so here is the url.

This is how mine is fitted

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/16cca84e/bc/NELL/__sr_/Nauticat+38+inside+helm.jpg?phAF8IABaPHlxj1x>http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/16cca84e/bc/NELL/__sr_/Nauticat+38+inside+helm.jpg?phAF8IABaPHlxj1x</A>




<hr width=100% size=1>David

 

[catmandoo]

Obvoiusly cannot sit on lap . Chart table position not good posture if you want to read charts and make notes at same time . Suggest you make wide and long transparent shelf (plastic) with bracket /holder to mount it on above chart table at chest level .and use mouse below . You will however need padded body bump bar in front to take shock of you bashing it (shelf) when boat pitches. You could also permanently lean against this This way you could have laptop at eye level renamed chest top and cups of tea /coffee located below will not spill onto computer . Might be also worth angling slope of shelf towards you . Experiment a bit for best position and shape .

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[wiggy]

looked on maplins site which did you buy?

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