Navigation upgrade

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boatingdave

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Looking to upgrade my Nav kit. Looking for opinions on PC versus dedicated hardware or hybrid I.e. Passage planning on PC (also have MAC) to transfer to vessel. Currently have old radar and gps with a small Navman 5505 chart plotter as interim. Also have iPad with chart plotter app but not waterproof so limited use on a fly bridge!
 
boatingdave said:
Looking to upgrade my Nav kit. Looking for opinions on PC versus dedicated hardware or hybrid I.e. Passage planning on PC (also have MAC) to transfer to vessel. Currently have old radar and gps with a small Navman 5505 chart plotter as interim. Also have iPad with chart plotter app but not waterproof so limited use on a fly bridge!
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http://www.mesltd.co.uk/ :)
 
If you want the kit on the flybridge and if it gets wet up there ( I'm a raggie so dont know these things) then you have no sensibly priced alternative to a dedicated marine plotter. Yes I know there are computer terminals that are waterproof but they are silly prices. Mind you is your Mobo is ( say) a 65 footer, then maybe the price isn't silly.

Modern lappy plotting software is very good and ,more easily used since we are all familiar with PCs. The lappy can also be available for TV and for entertainment.

Personally I have all three on board - laptop inc CMap, Raymarine plotter and paper. When I need to plan its paper every time. When the going gets difficult its paper too. When going up an estuary like Padstow, then I end up with the pilot book in hand and the bins. In short the plotter gets used mid journey when I dont really need much more than info for the autohelm. The Lappy is a back up and entertainment.

In many ways, if plotters had been invented first we would be raving about paper charts as the latest thing with many benefits. But I do maccept that plotters have real advantages on a Mobo doing 30knots and jumping about.

Incidentally, I would have doubts about HDD reliability with serious vibration and shocks.
 
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Thanks for the response. I think the consensus is dedicated hardware. Problem I have with that is that as soon as you put boat anywhere in a product description the price doubles! Ahem, I'm at the lower end is probably best to say, can't really afford to keep the boat but can't afford to skimp on any of the safety stuff either. I have had prices for waterproof monitors but as you imply the price makes the whole thing unrealistic, especially if I consider a solid state PC.
I have the portfolio of charts for the channel and use charts for planning primarily but am considering decent navigation equipment as an aid to the cruising I am hoping to do in the next few years. Very new to the Bristol Channel, looking forward to exploring.
 
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