napisal(a):
As a result Ive posted a few messages on the "nuts and
bolts" for doing such a thing

From all of this discussion I have learned that I have two choices:
Use a cheap, fixable and adptable Desk top PC with an LCD monitor to
hold power usage down, and an inverter to supply the power, or
use a laptop.
The first choice uses more epower, the second choice loses on
varsatility and fixability.
For me Computers is a learn-as-you-go thing and therefore I am leaning
to the cheap PC route. Maybe I can use the LCD monitor also as TV for
watching movies and therfore would get a larger monitor thatn usually
comes with a laptop.

I have a solution - get a desktop PC AND a laptop. With a decent laptop
you can do almost everything while sailing. And on a mooring, you plug
110/220AC, take the desktop out and work with all the flexability you
need. It's not so much money that one can't spend, but it solves both
problems, if you really need the desktop.

Using desktop with batteries is a stupid thing on a small boat - it
consumes 100Watt easily, plus the LCD another 30-40Watt, since it's
bright and not designed to save power. And you cannot suspend it. Laptop
consumes 60-80W and has several levels of power saving.

And remember, that the inverter generates a quite fair power loss.
--
Samotnik
www.zagle.org.pl - rejsy morskie