Printer on board?

Jonny_H

Jonny_H

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The house clearance is well under way ... two trips to the tip last night with the contents of the loft!!

One thing I've thought about is the printer for the computer. We have a small Canon Inkjet printer, cartridges are quite cheap (£5 for Tesco own brand equivalents). It runs off 240v, but we have a small inverter (300w/600w peak) - I haven't checked but assume this would run it ok.

My question is therefore, is it worth taking with us or not? I read Lemain's post on PBO re not having paper charts and someone wisely commented that you can print screen dumps of electronic charts - sounds like a good idea, but does it justify the space for the printer, spare cartridges and a ream of A4 paper? I suppose Weather Faxes could be printed too which may be convenient.

The printer itself doesn't owe us anything (£30 a couple of years ago) so I wouldn't be averse to taking it to a charity shop if we don't take it, but what do others think, worth while having on board, or a waste of valuable stowage space??

Jonny
 
Crew lists, very easy for customs to read with all passport numbers and great when you have friends staying, weather faxes when you want to share them with other cruisers.

A4 sheets with charts are really good as you can put them in plastic sleeves, for use in the cockpit with Chino pencil to keep plot up dated.
 
Agree with that. I brought a £50 cheapo in Guernsey & then was gutted to find that in England for £50 you can get a printer with a scanner! Crew lists etc very handy, looks better than a hand-written crew list, printing off faxes etc.
 
Thanks - I think power should be ok, just found this on the internet:

Power Consumption Operational: 8 Watt
Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep: 1 Watt

I think I'll stock up with a few cartridges and find a gap for it then - thanks guys.

Jonny
 
If you have any kind of internet access on the boat, then a combined printer/scanner is very useful, cos you can sign and return documents, by printing an e-mail attachment, signing, scanning, and e-mailing back.
 
Not to mention internet banking and all the other things you normally do online. I'd say take it.
 
Yes, take it. We found ours quite useful.
You will need to find somewhere to store your printer paper without it going limp and uncooperative in hot damp conditions. Tupperware and silica gel sachets perhaps.
 
Well, its now in the 'boat' pile! Just got a load of spare ink cartridges off ebay too (even cheaper than Tesco own brand!) as I assume finding the right ones once away will be tricky!

Thanks guys - as always a uesful source of info from those in the know!

Jonny
 
Ive not long ago bought a cannon i80 with a battery for 100 euros since then ive seen others without battery for less since the new 100 series is on the market the ink is very inexpensive i paying 20 euros inc p&p for 8 cartreges or 800 pages more or less

Since ive had mine ive found it very useful indeed the paper ill keep in a box with silca gel as suggested

I asked at the pharmacy and bought a large plastic bottle of silica gel for 15 euros about half the size of a large bottle of water.That ive put into two cotten bags one in use the other in the sun!
 
Occasional use, but invaluable. Smallest one best, so can tuck away somewhere yet be accessible. No point in having anything like that that's stored in the bottom of a locker and takes 5 minutes disinterring to get to, then 15 minutes careful repacking to put back! You'll find you just can't be @rsed . . . (if you're like us). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Take it.

Make your own Christmas cards, print off stuff from the forum! sailing directions from various sites, photos to send home to Grannies, stuff to fax home to the bank, DVLA, NHS and all the other people who send you incorrect payment demands months after you've left even though you settled EVERYTHING.

Run ours off a cheap inverter no problem
 
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