Sailing and MACs

[scapula]

Could anyone put me in touch with someone who knows about sailing with MAC equipment on board. Thanks

 

[GlennG]

What in particular?

A Mac works just like any other personal computer. The one thing I have problems with is keeping the thing charged when away from mains. Apple sell an "Airline Adapter" which looks like a cigarette lighter adapter, but won't work until the voltage is 15V, i.e. not on my boat!

I plugged in my trusty 250 Watt inverter, but alas this won't shove enough mains up the Apple mains adapter, so keeps shutting down. I've a feeling it's probably something to do with an inductive load rather than sheer Watts.

So I must remember to get onto eBay and get a larger inverter.

Aside from that, there's nothing special about a Mac.

 

[scapula]

Do you know of a good navigation package that runs well on a Macbook Pro?

 

[yesod]

gpsnavx or macenc with charts from x-traverse

 

[scapula]

Thanks I will investigate these options.

 

[BabaYaga]

So I must remember to get onto eBay and get a larger inverter.

There is also the option of using a 12V to 18,5V adapter, but it will not be available from Apple. However, probably a more power efficient solution.
I have used one from a company called Deltaco for my MacBook this summer, has worked fine.

 

[GlennG]

There is also the option of using a 12V to 18,5V adapter, but it will not be available from Apple. However, probably a more power efficient solution.
I have used one from a company called Deltaco for my MacBook this summer, has worked fine.

Thanks for the tip.

I do find the MagSafe connector a brilliant simple, easy to use and secure connector, but at the same time exceedingly frustrating in that there's no third-party power components such as this available.

 

[GlennG]

Don't forget that you can run the various virtual machine applications if you just happen to have a Windows set of charts hanging around. There's at least three; VMWare, Parallels and the free VirtualBox.

I quite like VMs as you can keep the machine 'powered on' but suspended which means they'll start up quickly and in the same state as you left them in. Ideal for route planning software.

 

[Simes]

Hi Scapula,

There are a good number of folk using Macs at sea.
We run a couple of Mac Books on board. For Nav and planning I run "Polar Navy" and Open CPN. Open CPN is a super chart plotter for a freebee, easy to use with no "blubber ware".
Have a look at the MacSailingf.net site (http://macsailing.net/fbb/).

You are right that power is a problem, we power via a larger 500watt inverter. Given that we get 8 hours of run time for 2 1/2 hours of charge it is not really a problem.
What I want is a way of bringing RADAR into my Mac?

Simes

Lots of good info.

 

[scapula]

Hi Simes,

Really good to hear from someone using MACs on board. I will certainly check on Polar Navy and OpenCPN.

Thank you

Scapula