Laptop or chartplotter?

single

single

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Over the last 15 years i have used laptops as electronic navigation, but now the second one has died due to liquid damage! I do like the laptop mainly for screen size and other uses but its not ideal. I'm also having a refit in the wheelhouse so its a good time to build into the design the new nav equipment. I have thought of Panasonic toughbook or chartplotters but maybe some sort of stand alone screen built into the console? So any suggestions?
 
Hi Single,
I use a laptop below,but also run a Lorenz 7" sun viewable stand alone plotter at the wheel pedestal for filthy weather.It seems to withstand rain and spray.
Like yourself I'd like to upgrade,so I'm hoping to rig a wireless setup,combining sea talk,Nmea, etc to output over wi-if to iPad and iPhones.
iNavX is the presently preferred Apple based programme I intend to use.
My Son has I think, an otter box clamp type case for his boat's iPad.
The laptop has crashed a few times in Celtic Sea conditions,the sort that had light bulbs falling out of the deck head!
I'd still like to retain the big screen of a laptop,but one with solid state memory would be better.
A little Asus eeePC 900 will run cMap,but because of its 3/4 sized screen,the charts are distorted.
Lots on here will advise,some really good cheap solutions too.
 
Laptops, networks, tablets, etc., are fine for occasional use in dry conditions, and a bit of interesting fun... but for serious regular use, a proper chart plotter near/at the wheel is pretty much essential.

I used a 5" Lowrance for UK to Malta and back in 2007-2010 and it was excellent. Waterproof, high res screen, accessible from anywhere in the cockpit. I also used a laptop strapped to the saloon table, and visible from the wheel but, if I had to let one go, it would have been the laptop.
 
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maby said:
We have both. If I could only afford one or the other, I would go for the chart plotter.
Click to expand...

Because I like electronic gadgets we have a Garmin 4010 Chartplotter at the helm, Laptop, Ipad and Iphone all with Nav software and GPS. Overkill of course, but as has been said, a bit of fun. I am working on getting them all talking via WIFI at the mo (not because we need it - just to see it done). Daft thing is that I could have bought another networkable Garmin plotter to hard wire to the main one for not much more money - but where's the fun in that.
 
I have a Garmin 600 down below, a Tescos Hudl 2 (£99 and truly awesome) with Navionics mounted in a waterproof case in the cockpit and my iPhone in waterproof case also with Navionics just in case. In addition I have my trusty Yeoman plotter down below and an extra charged up (old) iPhone in a waterproof case in my grabbag!

The trouble with tablets etc is keeping them charged up. Hudls battery life is about 35 seconds (I may exaggerate slightly) when being used full tilt as a plotter...
 
maby said:
We have both. If I could only afford one or the other, I would go for the chart plotter.
Click to expand...

+1

Cockpit isn't a sensible place for anything critical not waterproof and I don't see the sense in having the screen down below where it can't be seen from the cockpit. Our stand alone chart plotter lives under the sprayhood and can be seen easily from the helm.
 
I use a SH chartplotter which I can highly reccommend, their after sales service is superb. Also a Sony tablet with Navionics which is waterproof/showerproof and has lasted well.
 
I have used a Samsung 10" tablet with Navionics in an Otterbox case on a RAM Mount under the sprayhood. Not totally waterproof but have never had a problem with it. I also have the powercord always in as the battery is getting a bit tired(also prevents the screen powering off after 30mins.) I also have 2 seperate gps, paper charts and a Yeoman plotter. Been used for 2 years now and very satisfied with it. Before I tried a 10" mini laptop which to be honest I didn't really get on with - it was so sloooooooooow. My friend has a Sony 10" tablet which is waterproof and I'll be able to compare them when we go to Holland in the summer.
 
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