NE Sailboat wrote:
Roger ,, I hear ya ................. Why? Because I can't see ya!

I am investing in a handfull of those reading glasses one buys at
Brooks Pharm. And a couple more magnifying glasses.

When did they start writing so small?

I will do some shopping now that the new year is here. Garmin 76Cx ??
Sounds like a plan.

I have a 60cs, wouldn't be without it. The Bluecharts are just great, and
you can run Mapsource with the identical charts on you laptop down at the
chart table, with a cheapo GPS feeding the data to it. Always use a
neckstrap though, it's all too easy to put the damn thing down where some
jack-booted gorilla will flatten it.

What is it with Garmin, seems like they change the model number on
these GPS's about once a week.

It's called marketing, and is based on the concept that there's one born
every minute.

West has the old models for like $200. This is weird, it is like
selling a black and white tv for the price of color.

On the laptop computer front. I agree, the power they take is tough.
My plan, so far just a plan, is to buy a cheapoo laptop, and then
shop on Ebay for a couple of backup batteries.

A much better idea is to buy an rather more upmarket laptop with a Pentium
"M" processor and Centrino wireless technology. They use less than half the
amps that an older laptop uses, and will run on their internal batteries for
up to 4 hours. If you are marina-based, you can use the e-mail facilities
and surf away on the Internet, often at someone else's expense (but we won't
go into that!).

I bought a portable DVD player at Christmas time for the boat. It is
on its way back to the store. The power these babies suck up is
amazing. And the extra batteries are $72 bucks, and that is for 3-4
more hours of power. Heck, one movie goes 2 hours.

One other thing,, the portable DVD's, they get real hot when using.
There is no fan, unlike a computer.
I think the heat kinda screws them up.
Most laptops will run DVD's better than a DVD player these days.

Do the laptops have a fan? I have never used a laptop.

If you find one without a fan, it must be an eighties model. If it's still
running, buy it, Sotherbys are always looking for good antiques.


The solar panel. I have talked to a couple of cruisers who used
them. One guy had been out cruising for 7 years! He said he started
out with a wind unit, used a water unit, and then went to solar. He
said the solar is the best. No maintenance.

The problem is cost. For a decent solar panel and regulator with
diode .. $1,000

Could it be the Power Generating Untilities have got it wrong about wind
farms? Should they be looking at solar panels instead?

I am looking for a second hand one. If I find one, I am going to use
it as a portable unit. I will set it up on deck, make a perch
somehow, and run the wire to the battery, etc. Most of the good ones
have the regulator as part of the panel .. the diode is just
something you put in the line. Dont really need the diode if it is
portable because it won't be connected after dark.

I am also thinking of replacing one battery with two gold cart
batteries. Lots more capactiy, same voltage.

That's a great idea! Battery technology is advancing at as fast a rate as
the boffins can invent new gadgets to use up the energy, so why not take
advantage of this?

See ya ..


"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I just bought the Garmin 76Cx for Christmas for my new boat partner
(Isn't that sort of like buying your girlfriend a new set of socket
wrenches as they joke on "Cartalk"?). I bought that one because it
fits the mount I already built for the boat and my aging eyes need a
color screen. It's hard to see how you could get more bang for the
buck though. The only reason I can see for buying something else
would be to get a larger screen. Your laptop can supply that. Take
note though of other threads on how much laptops draw. I've given
up trying to run one on a sailboat for just that reason. Solar
would keep it going but it's just not something I want to complicate
my life with. Charts and the GPS will get me where I want to go.

--
Roger Long