laptop gps system

[rperla]

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive gps system with software for a laptop computer. For marine use.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: laptop gps system

Just understand, if you're boating in salt and using a standard laptop you're taking a risk. The circuit boards are most likely not protected (conformal coated) from corrosion or moisture. The laptop cooling fan will be pulling in very moist, salt laden, air and depositing it right onto to those unprotected circuit boards...

 

[18rabbit]

Re: laptop gps system

How’s the new boat doing? I remember you posting a query a while ago regarding twin engine problems and motoring in circles.<br /> <br /><br />From time to time the laptop GPS question has popped up here, but not often. You may want to search this forum. Usually when I think of GPS I think of chartplotting as well. I presume that is where you are headed?!?<br /><br />Nobeltec’s Visual Navigation Suit is still the top dog for laptop navigation applications. It has received the NMEA (Nat’l Marine Electronics Asso) award for best navigational software for the last 3-years in a row. It also has a top dog price tag. Also worth looking at is Fugawi, and Transas’ NaviGator Pro +. I’m sure other’s will post other s/w ‘solutions’. Note: don’t know why it is but whenever talking about software, everything is now a ‘solution’…as if you had a ‘problem’.<br /> <br /><br />C-Map is making a small card reader that plugs into a computer’s USB port to enable the use of C-Map charts for planning. It’s called PC-Planner. It does not interface with GPS input, intended for planning a route at home, but then your plan can be interfaced with GPS on the boat. Never used it, only read about it.<br /><br />In general, laptop marine electronics tends to be the apex for navigation applications, radar, sounding, GPS, etc. Using a marine-grade laptop is going to important, as Ralph mentions, especially if you are on the boat frequently. There are a few out there, about $1k more than a normal laptop the last I looked.<br /><br />If you get a laptop GPS application, please post back here and let us know you decided on and why it worked for your application.<br /><br />Good luck!<br />

 

[rperla]

Re: laptop gps system

ralph and rabbit, thanks for the feedback. by the way, the mechanic discovered that my hour meter was grounding the electrical system which inturn was causing the one engine to keep dying. Problem with the one engine is solved, both motors ran great last weekend.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: laptop gps system

If you buy a Garmin Chart-plotter GPS you can use Garmin's PC software, "Mapsource Waterways & Lights" software to plan your routes and download them (and the maps including all aids to navigation, wrecks, etc) right to the GPS. You can also upload your trips from the GPS to your PC. It works great and I wouldn't be without it. It makes navigating no harder than following a "road" image on your GPS.

 

[amirm]

Re: laptop gps system

You only need a "marine" laptop or PC if you leave it exposed and onboard. If you are going to take your laptop on the boat in protected area and only use it that way with zero chance of spray, then any laptop would work just fine. This is what I did for 2+ years and had no problems at all.<br /><br />I used Nobletec software and it worked pretty well but it is expensive. The best way to pick one is to download the demo, and see if you can easily navigate the program. If you can not, don't buy it as when you are on a boat, the last thing you want to do is figure out how to use the software.<br /><br />Amir

 

[islandboat]

Re: laptop gps system

I have the Garmin 232 gps. The mapsource software is very good. I also purchased the Garmin Bluechart software. Simple and more accurate shoreline references while on the water. Bluechart is basically an electronic verson of the marine charts. As an example, I think the price was around $180 for all "charts" from Tampa to New Orleans. I've used this software for years and it is good for saving all routes and waypoints on the PC. <br /> If you want to use just a laptop, Garmin makes a gps antenna for use on a laptop and all you need to do is install the software to the laptop. The antenna and software become the gps for the laptop.